Remember that song, “Jesus Loves Me”? Well, if you’re lesbian, gay or transgender, apparently Jesus doesn’t love you enough to grant you life after death in heaven.
Recently, Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan from Mexico stated in an interview with Pontifex, “Transsexuals and homosexuals will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Interestingly enough, in the same interview, the “good” cardinal continues to say that “this does not justify any form of discrimination [against them].”
If that is the case, I wonder why the Roman Catholic Church, in concert with other Christian jihadists, actively and routinely dump millions of dollars into political campaigns designed to harm and disenfranchise a number of God’s LGBT children? Sounds like active politicking for discrimination to me. Perhaps Jesus just told them that feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless really aren’t worthy-enough causes to donate more money to.
In any event, I do think that someone needs to rewrite that song “Jesus Loves Me.” I would hate to see the Roman Catholic Church caught up in yet another lie. Maybe the Church could collaborate with Buju Banton on a modern remix of the song. Banton has written and performed many reggae songs where he affectionately sings about how gay people should be shot in the face. On numerous occasions, Banton has stated, “There is no end to the war between me and faggots.” That sounds like a message delivered from the pulpit.
Bryan D. Freehling Lahaska Transgender Remembrance
I would like to bring to your attention several misstatements attached to the photograph of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, [“Remembering our brothers and sisters,” Nov. 27-Dec. 3]. First, this is not the third Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is the 11th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. Second, the Transgender Day of Remembrance is not “to honor transgender men and women who lost their lives to violence.” This day is set aside to honor all humans who have been brutally murdered due to anti-transgender bias. Not everyone on the list is transgender. Everyone on the list was murdered due to anti-transgender bias.
Susan Collins Jenkintown
In December 2009 a website published a statement by Cardinal Lozano in which he said that, while the Church regarded homosexuality as an insult to God, THIS DID NOT JUSTIFY DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GAY AND TRANSSEXUAL PEOPLE. The cardinal quoted Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans[5] as indicating that homosexuals and transsexuals will never enter the kingdom of heaven. He later clarified that THIS DID NOT MEAN THAT NO INDIVIDUAL HOMOSEXUAL CAN BE SAVED, since existence of grave fault requires not only grave matter but also full knowledge and consent, and since being homosexual is often due not to personal fault but to education and environment. Saying that people are not born homosexual, he attributed homosexuality to reasons such as education and failure to develop one's identity during adolescence.
An answer from the Head of the Universal Church:
Whatever Cardinal Lozano’s views are about ‘The Gays’, the Pope office was prompt to clarify the issues:
HOLY SEE Press Office spokesman Federico Lombardi SAID THE WEBSITE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AN AUTHORITY ON CATHOLIC THINKING "on complex and delicate issues such as homosexuality". For the teaching of the Catholic Church on the matter, Lombardi referred to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2357-2359, which states that, while "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered", THOSE WHO HAVE HOMOSEXUAL TENDENCIES "MUST BE ACCEPTED WITH RESPECT, COMPASSION AND SENSITIVITY" AND "EVERY SIGN OF UNJUST DISCRIMINATION IN THEIR REGARD SHOULD BE AVOIDED"
How do you know that the Books in the Bible are true ('canonical')?
ANSWER: because the Catholic Church told you so.
Historically, it was The Holy Catholic Church (translated as The Holy Universal Church, as that is what Catholic means) who told us so.
It was The Church through her Magisterium who established the Canonical Books.
So, maybe you should re-think what you wrote.
And, maybe -just maybe- remember St. Paul's experience at Damascus.
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If you do not know what I am talking about, let me fill you in:
St. Paul (who at the time went by the name Saul) wanted to destroy the Christian Church (the Catholic one, as there have been no schisms then). He went about taking into prison and stoning the Christians (you remember St. Steven, right?). Well, on his way to making an arrest at the City of Damascus, a huge light surrounded him, he fell from his horse and heard a voice, saying, “...Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” and he answered, “Who are you, Lord?” And the voice answered, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.” Acts 22:7, 8.
Tada…I see light shining in your cute brain: According to Jesus, He and the Church are the same.
Remember: God Loves You!
Thank You.