Fr. Michael Rodríguez of El Paso on Homosexual Behavior

Folks, this is worth your time watching:


It's only fair to include the words of H.E. Armando X Ochoa, Bishop of El Paso, in reaction to Fr. Michael's words, also published in El Paso Times:

As Bishop of the Diocese of El Paso and chief teacher of our local church, I would like to share some pastoral reflections on certain issues that are important for the well-being of all God's people.

First of all, I would like to state that previous columns claiming to speak for Catholic Doctrine were the personal opinions of individuals and do not necessarily express the belief of the Catholic Church.

I continue to pray for peace along our region and offer my condolences to the families on both sides of the border who have lost loved ones to the ongoing unrest. I am also concerned for the families who have had to leave everything behind to escape the violence in Ciudad Juárez. It is my ongoing prayer that our two border cities can work closer to build a more peace-filled community.

The Church has been unmistakable about its consistent defense of the unborn. It continues to call every Catholic and person of good will to understand the Church's teaching on the death penalty and other end-of-life issues. Every child has a right to life.

Likewise, the Church is a supporter of the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. These teachings come from a tradition that wants to promote the good of society. My concern in writing this reflection is not to change these teachings, but to offer a more pastoral understanding in dealing with them.

When we talk about abortion and homosexuality, we are talking about human beings dealing with all kinds of concerns and unresolved challenges. Our Church does not want to simply judge and condemn, but first to offer Christ's love and compassion. God's first and primary law is love and how love of others is at the same time our love for God.

As Church we want to journey with everyone as they search for meaning in their lives. We believe that Christ offers this meaning. The use of harsh words of condemnation is not the approach Christ invites us to have toward one another. Intolerance closes the door to learning and deeper understanding of each other.

Furthermore, it leads to divisiveness within the body of Christ. It is time for us to learn how to work with each other, even when and if we disagree. Too many people have suffered because of a profound lack of compassion and a perceived arrogant intolerance.

Recently, in our scriptural readings, we have seen that when the Israelites entered the Promised Land after the exodus, they encountered the Canaanites, whom they considered to be a sinful race which was to be exterminated. This mind-set persisted until the time of Christ.

With his arrival, he indicated that this outlook was no longer to be held by his followers. Jesus' own response to the marginalized was always one of love. He constantly preached that love is not exclusively for those who are dear to us. He proclaimed that we must love our enemies and pray for our persecutors.

Our love for others is to be like his own, all inclusive. Every individual is made in the image and likeness of God and for this reason all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

God is the judge of our lives, and we are called to spread his Gospel of compassion and justice.

While it is important to offer a teaching on human sexuality which may not be popular in modern society, the Church, nonetheless, upholds that each person be treated with dignity and respect.

I urge all of our pastoral agents to reach out to individuals with a homosexual orientation and their families with compassion. This can be done without compromising Church teaching in any way because our pastoral care demands no less from us.

In my own private, lay opinion, which I submit to the magisterium of Bishop Ochoa for further enlightenment and correction, I find that what Fr. Michael Rodríguez stated in no way clashes with what Bishop Ochoa states in his riposte, nor with what I understand the explicit teaching of the Catholic Church to be as I find it in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I'm not exactly sure why H.E. Bishop Ochoa considered it fitting to publicly undercut one of his priests when the priest spoke the truth on this grave issue and I hope the good bishop issues a clarification about it in the near future. (Was it something Fr. Michael said? Was it something he didn't say? Was it the way he said it?)

- Hat tip to Creative Minority Report

- If you suffer from same-sex attraction and want to live your live in accordance to the Gospel and the teaching of the Catholic Church, contact the Courage Apostolate and stay away from Dignity USA and other dissenting organization "Catholic" in name only which will only lead you astray.