Well folks, I thought I had heard it all until I read this:

"Catholic bishops side with gays on equality"

"26.04.2000 - By ALISON HORWOOD"

"WELLINGTON - The Catholic Church has added its support to gay relationships enjoying similar rights to those applying to married couples. "

"The 10 members of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference say there should be a system of registration which gives same-sex couples similar civic and legal rights, including income tax support, legal aid, tax allowances and property entitlements when a relationship fails."

"The conference made the submission in response to a Ministry of Justice discussion paper on same-sex couples and the law. The ministry will report to Parliament before the House conducts a conscience vote on the issue."

"The Christian Heritage Party also made a submission, saying it opposed not only the marriage of homosexuals but any registration which might give them similar rights. "

"The party's leader, the Rev Graham Capill, said last night that he was staggered at the stance taken by the Catholic Church, and that homosexuality should not be tolerated in any form."

""We are playing with semantics. To treat homosexual couples to a form of registration but not call them married is to give them the same status but not the same title.""

"But the Catholic Church says a relationship should be defined by the care, financial independence and shared property involved and its duration. Legislation relating to opposite-sex de facto relationships should include same-sex couples and the existence of a sexual relationship should not be inquired into by the courts. "

"But the bishops did not support gay couples being able to adopt children or "using technology" to become joint parents."

"They said that even if one of the partners was the natural parent of a child, the couple should not have joint legal status. However, where gay couples were caring for a child they should be entitled to parental leave in the same way as married or de facto opposite-sex relationships."

-- Steve Jackson (SteveJ100@hotmail.com), April 28, 2000

Answers

I just responded to the other post you had about an article about that one bishop supporting homosexuality, and now I must say that I am wholly appalled by these wicked men! These are not true men of God, but these are blasphemous, HERETICAL, AND sanctimonious gentlemen! How dare they desire to allow homosexuality, SIN, enter into our Church, which has its roots, its main roots, in FOLLOWING AFTER THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF! Oh, this horrible generation; but hey, look at it this way: these are the last of the last days, and any moment now the Lord will come back to take us, and I am sad and sorry to have to say this fact: that many Catholics who do not know Jesus Christ will be stuck here and deceived by the Antichrist (coming President of the United Nations, as prophecied in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ) and his false prophet, the leader of the one united religion, which will NOT focus on Jesus Christ, as we see in this one world religion being formed even as I type, and our Pope being used to unite religious leaders. No, that is wholly uncalled for, and especially using our increasingly adynamic Pope! Pray that the Church does not accept these wicked men's proposal to accept homosexuality into the Church, who claimed in the beginning its focus was that on what Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, and who is God the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent, and His awesome teachings. Homosexuality is sinful, and is wholly wrong, and God will not have fellowship with any man who engages in this wicked practice; a pervertedness that the devil had introduced to us, sinful man. The person's lifestyle should not be accepted, and it is wholly uncouth and wrong that we, true Christians who CARE for their ULTIMATE future, are being dubbed the "haters" and "biaised", who supposedly "hate" and "despise" them. However, those "Christians" that do prosecute and murder cannot be called true Christians. True Christians pray for homosexuals, and try to show them God's love, and give them that CHOICE and OPPORTUNITY to turn from their wicked sins, however, so many continue in this lifestyle, and they cannot help it because they have been so far dragged into the devil's wicked hands.

Pray. That is all any of us can do anymore...and be a witness of Jesus Christ to these people. Be caring, loving; just as God wants us to be, and follow after Christ, put in your faith, and the Holy Spirit of God Almighty Himself will mold and shape you, and you will find that good works are coming as a result of your faith. Faith is the key, and pray that homosexuals' minds may be open, including those bishops, be them homosexual or just supporting.

Love in Christ always, Anonymous

-- Anonymous (noemail@no.email.com), April 28, 2000.

A vigorous defense of Christian morality is not to be disputed. In the matter of depravity and sexual license, the Old Testament and the New leave little to add. / I have to think that the Scriptural admonitions against homosexuality and Lesbianism are familiar enough to most of this class of people; if ever they hoped to please God. Their compulsive flight into the closet was due to this horrific judgment, surely. *Until the last few years, when apostacy and despair have overtaken so many.*

Even so; it is well for us, who do NOT CARRY THIS PARTICULAR CROSS, to recall-- Our Holy Savior did not spurn those ten pitiful lepers who clamored up to Him in their pain. They were the ''unclean'' and untouchable class; isolated from all contact with the ''CLEAN'' community. Just contemplate for a minute, what it meant to the people of Israel (the Chosen People) for a repulsive, horrible, groaning monster to approach them on the road. Unthinkable!

Yet Jesus mercifully received their desperate petition, (''Make us clean!'') without retreating, or telling them to back away from Him. He treated them with the same love and compassion that He showed all other sinners. In the end, only a single one returned to offer Him thanksgiving. One leper out of ten. It's a grim lesson; but-- at least one man was saved in the end. Because Our Lord refused to reject any of the ten. He wanted to save them ALL.

I'm not saying gays and lesbians are repulsive lepers. Maybe in God's sight I am much less attractive. But sins of depravity ARE repulsive, to man and to God. We have to accept the man; and hate the sin. Jesus did not like puss, or rotten flesh. But He loved those persons. That's all we are called to do. Not scream blood murder for every sign of compassion shown to homosexuals.

In my heart I've always felt; not all homosexuals lead lives of sin. How many countless of them today lead lives of self-denial; chaste for God's sake, silent in a cruel society? --If you really have faith in a loving God, you have to believe it is so-- Have some faith in your fellow man, who shares in God's mercy with you--

-- Eugene Chavez (rechavez@popmail.ucsd.edu), April 29, 2000.

Eugene, Your answer is sweet and kind and generous, and I'm sure I like you very much. Thank you for it. It cheered me right up!

Love, jane

-- Jane Ulrich (carlos.eire@yale.edu), April 29, 2000.

Anonymous: AS Always you are a coward to give your name! How can I listen to a prophet when I don't know who he is? Was that the way of Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, Jesus?

After just a fast reading of your post, several questions came to mind:

a) You call the Catholic Church "our Church". So you are a Catholic now? our Pope?

b) Aren't you part also of this "horrible generation"?

c) How do you know that these are the last of the last days?

d) So the coming President of the U.N. is the Antichrist? Hurry and send this message to the U:N: members so that they take the necessary measures.

e) Who gave you the authority to interpret in an infallible way the book of Revelation? If your interpretation is not infallible it is as good of mine or anybody else's. What value does it have?

f) If Christ is Omnipotent (and all the other attributes) why panic? He said He would be with us till the end. If He is going to be with us nobody else can take His place.

g) You dedicate such harsh words to homosexuals and lesbians. I don't agree with their lifestyle but I try no to judge them. Let the Lord be the judge! Pray for them, would be a better position.

In conclusion, Anonymous, as we say in Spanish "la estas regando".

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 29, 2000.