Christian Peregin
'Manipulative' reports of Pope's message disappoint Archbishop
Archbishop Paul Cremona
Archbishop Paul Cremona commented on Pope Benedict's controversial Christmas message, which was described by news organisations and gay activists as homophobic and insulting.
The Pope's address, part of which can be seen below, was interpreted by big news organisations like BBC and Reuters as meaning that the world needs to protect itself from homosexuality and non-traditional gender roles in the same way it needs to protect the rainforests for man's own survival.
Answering questions by The Times, Mgr Cremona said he was extremely disappointed by the "manipulative" reports of both the local and foreign media. Many things were falsely attributed to the Pope, whose message should be published in full in order to be understood.
Mgr Cremona added that the teachings of the Church on "homosexual acts" are consistent with those of heterosexual acts, in that sexuality must be a donation of two persons to each other: "Reciprocally, totally and forever, in marriage, in mutual love and help, as well as for the procreation and upbringing of offspring.
"When society does not follow this plan, it damages the institution of marriage and the family, which is the primary cell of society."
Reacting to the Curia's comments, Marisa Xuereb, a spokesman for the Malta Gay Rights Movement said the Pope's message was interpreted within the context of all that has been said about homosexuality throughout the years.
"The truth is, people are always wary of what the Church says (and does not say) about homosexuality because the message, whether explicit or implied, is typically negative," she said, pointing out that while the Vatican and the Maltese Curia rebutted these latest comments on its message as manipulative interpretation, they stopped short of coming out with a clear statement about the role of homosexuality in the ecology of man.
The spokesman also criticised the Church's insistence on separating homosexuality from the homosexual person, saying it is widely acknowledged that sexuality is an integral part of the human personality.
The point was echoed by former Alternattiva Demokratika candidate Patrick Attard who on Saturday excommunicated himself from the Church because of the Pope's words: "It is like accepting a left-handed person as long as he writes with his right hand or accepting a bird as long as it does not fly.
"I do not expect them to say they agree with gay marriage. I expect them to be more specific. Should I be able to visit my sick partner in hospital? Do I have the right to organise his funeral if he dies? Do I have the right to bereavement leave or urgent family leave if my partner is sick or dying? What if I have a homophobic boss who does not allow it? Do I have to end up unemployed over and above these problems?"
Columnist Kenneth Zammit Tabona said that because of the Pope's ill-advised utterances, the media and the gay community were trying to force the Catholic Church into a position it could not take.
Instead, he said, those who want a more liberal society in Malta should tackle the government led by Lawrence Gonzi not the Church.
"The Church cannot declare that gay marriage or homosexual acts are correct, especially in an official statement. For the Church, all sex outside the sanctity of marriage is sinful," he said.
"By attacking the Church with regard to divorce, abortion, bioethics, euthanasia, same-sex partnerships etc, we are allowing the government to hide behind ecclesiastical petticoats. The irony is that the Archbishop has several times told the government quite plainly that it should legislate as is necessary for the country."
Moreover, he said that there is a good chance the Pope was misinterpreted because of the convoluted and obscure language in which the message was couched.
Since the Pope's messages are addressed to millions of Catholics around the world, Mr Zammit Tabona strongly feels that simpler and more direct declarations should be made by the Pope in order for this not to happen again.
"It's high time the Vatican threw this high flown theological mumbo-jumbo out of the window and, like Jesus himself, started speaking the everyday language of normal human beings. Why does the Pope have to speak in riddles?"
Fr Joe Borg, an outspoken priest and blogger for timesofmalta.com, recently wrote about the issue. He said the Church's teachings were not discriminatory towards gay people.
"The Church does not condemn only homosexual acts but it also condemns sexual acts of heterosexuals outside of marriage. There are heterosexuals who disagree with the teaching of the Church on pre-marital and extramarital sex as there are homosexuals who disagree with the teaching of the Church on homosexual acts. Should a heterosexual feel offended when the Church condemns heterosexual acts outside of marriage and says that these undermine marriage and the family and as a consequence undermine society?"
He said the Pope's comparison of the protection of the rainforest and the protection of marriage between man and woman is good and intelligent "but perhaps not very media savvy and friendly".
Mario Gerada, a member of Drachma, the gay Catholics group, said he hopes the incident will be turned into an opportunity for dialogue between the gay community and the Church, which both have a lot to offer each other.
"The Vatican and the LGBT community need to utilise this opportunity to actually realise how important each other's voice is. Both reacted strongly to each other's voice but both have a lot to say and learn!"
The Pope's message can be read in full on the Vatican's website: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2008/december/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20081222_curia-romana_en.html.
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Joe Zammit
Jan 21st 2009, 17:58
God created us male and female. He has given us brains to use them and a will to decide. As rational human beings we must decide according to nature, not in opposition to it. Otherwise, nature itself will condemn us. Nature speaks loudly on the one possibe marriage: between one man and one woman. A gay marriage is a misnomer. No reasonable person can arrive at a gay marriage because it cannot exist. Lock a door with two locks (without keys) or with two keys and no locks. This is the irrational life of homosexuals. But those who are slaves to their passions cannot reason things out well. I am passing on this sound teaching for the benefit of homosexuals. I love them and I don't want them to remain in their misery for their own good.
Joe Zammit
Jan 21st 2009, 17:48
A valid eternal argument for all humanity: What is unnatural is harmful to humanity. Homosexuality is unnatural. Therefore, homosexuality is harmful to humanity. Of course, those who are sexually blind and slaves to their passions cannot come to this conclusion. They try to quench their thirst, as we say in Maltese, with ham. The Catholic Church invites them to take the first step to conversion. It is possible. Many have converted and bless God and the Catholic Church to have given them the freedom and love enjoyed by the children of God.
Julian Borg
Jan 19th 2009, 15:33
@Joe Zammit
"A simple argument: What is unnatural is harmful to humanity. Homosexuality is unnatural. Therefore, homosexuality is harmful to humanity."
On what basis do you decide what is natural/unnatural when it comes to humans? Do you mean to say that marriage is unnatural, 'cause I've never seen any animal entering into a legal marriage contract?
Homosexuality is not unnatural; homosexual activity/relationships can be found amongst many species - never watched National Geographic? Actually, there's a scientific theory that explains why homosexuality suits nature fine. (But then, you might consider science to be unnatural as well.)
False premises, unsound argument.
Joe Zammit
Jan 18th 2009, 09:59
A simple argument: What is unnatural is harmful to humanity. Homosexuality is unnatural. Therefore, homosexuality is harmful to humanity.
Joe Xuereb
Jan 18th 2009, 08:40
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Or as the enlightened might put it - fools rush in where the devil wouldn't be seen dead.
Or better still, as the message on eight hundred buses in London UK and nationwide, 'God probably does not exist. So stop worrying and start living' (something like that).
@Baldacchino and the rest. With regard to British society being in the state it is in - I have no problem with that. It brings to mind my favourite truism. Nature (ie life, society, etc.) is messy. But it is all we have. It is called living in the here and how. British Society is decadence? By whose reckoning? Who's measuring? What are the mean standards? Britsh Society is in a mess, decadent (according to you). But British Society is working on it so it moves forward. Maltese Society, institution of marriage, etc. is running seamlessly, smoothly. Isn't it? The alcoholic has first to admit he has a problem. Then he can start his way to recovery and being dry. But as long as he continues to deny his problem, he is well and truly stuck in the mire. And still digging (thanks Ramon Casha).
Joe Xuereb
Jan 17th 2009, 22:34
Dense and obscure language, pontifical and biblical, is the hallmark of the manipulator. Some have a vested interest in embracing the manipulation. Many of course do not bother to wrack their brains trying to get through to these pronouncements. They look at a lucid, unequivocal track-record on the matter (refusal to permit contraception, refusal to allow sex before marriage, etc.). These may have been expressed in impenetrable language in their time but they have been filtered down to the present in simplest, most limpid form. It is too late the express these prohibitions and dense language yet again (to renew the confusion, the manipulation, the control). Once people grasp the pure facts, they do not need to read further, they do not (in spite of appearances) expect the institution to change (a charge often levelled at homosexual people). Nor do they, as sentient human beings, buy into the highly manipulative nonsense that is 'I love you, it is your sin I hate'. No. They just walk away. The invite to the party is not worth the papers it is printed on. End of.
Matthew Borg Cardona
Jan 16th 2009, 18:48
Joe Zammit, are you serious? We are no longer living in the dark ages.
Joe Zammit
Jan 16th 2009, 17:52
Christ told his Apostles and their followers that as he was persecuted, also they will be persecuted. But persecutions strengthen the Catholic Church and her message will have a greater impact in society. The Pope speaks and the whole world is stirred. How important, then, must the Pope be! I, for one, am proud to be the Pope's, and of course, Christ's follower. And like me, there are millions who are ready to die to give witness to the truth. The devil has already been won and those who want to follow the devil are heading to their eternal loss and destruction. Blessed are those who let themselves be guided by the teaching of the Catholic Church for they know that they are treading good ground.
Joe Zammit
Jan 16th 2009, 17:42
The Catholic Church is right when she speaks of the nature of the human being as man and woman and demands that this order of creation be respected. Those who defend homosexuality are wrong. They have not yet understood the basics of nature. As our dear Pope has said, rain forests certainly deserve our protection, but man as creature indeed deserves no less. The three values of marriage -- faithful love, procreation and indissolubility -- find their cradle in fruitful conjugal love. The first Christians changed the laws of the state with their customs; we cannot expect today to change the customs with the laws of the state.
L Genovese
Jan 16th 2009, 17:38
If we must argue this out ,then at least let's do it from an even playing field. Let State and Church be separate entities. As it is at the moment minorities, are being discriminated against unfairly by an all powerful Church that , with the connivance of the State, can and does dictate how we all live.This includes those who for one reason or another are not Catholics or Christian.
Religion or no religion,I have a right to personal happiness in this World and that includes living with a partner ,in a relationship that for all intents and purposes is recognised by the Civil Authorities. That is being denied me by a Church of which I am not member. That must be wrong
William P Flynn
Jan 16th 2009, 09:49
(continued...)
Surely these faithful aren't also being "manipulative" of the Pope's speech and intentions; surely the press hasn't also manipulated Catholic stalwarts to say such things?
The Vatican is just backpedalling after the huge backlash when news of the Vatican's voting intentions came out.
Someone should have reminded the Pope that homosexuals are no longer swept into seminaries or closets.They are represented in every facet/layer of society as pastors, parliamentarians, judges, doctors, teachers, authors, journalists, researchers, lawyers, university professors. They are someone's children, friends, colleagues, neighbours, family, workmates. Millions of homosexuals are Catholic within Catholic families and communities. The Pope would be seriously testing his infallibility and credibility if he believes his condemnations are going to change the relationships of homosexuals in the community and in their families.
There is no doubt in my mind that if two homosexuals got married, it would have no effect whatsoever on my own or on my children's heterosexual marriages, or on any marriage I know.
Civilised people everywhere accept differing sexual orientations as normal facts of life.
William P Flynn
Jan 16th 2009, 09:48
Archbishop Cremona was quoted saying the press was "manipulative".
The Catholic church has been the star performer in manipulation over many centuries.
Archbishop Cremona is himself no stranger to the gentle art of manipulation lecturing his Prime Minister and other parliamentarians about the introduction of divorce and what he expects of them.
Lately we have seen bishops all over the world endeavouring (unsuccessfully) to defeat the passing of bills for stem cell research and divorce in democratically elected parliaments by coercing catholic elected parliamentarians.
In the Philippines, bishops can be seen on You-tube, local TV and other media intimidating elected parliamentarians and women. (Bishop Ontiago said contraceptives cause deadly cancers). The Philippine government was introducing a range of women's reproductive-health improvements to counter a crisis of half a million backyard abortions every year (UN figures) contributing to probably the highest mortality rate among child bearing women on earth.
Archbishop Cremona's own faithfuls' comments leave no doubt what they think about homosexuals or homosexuals' place in humanity. A litany of terms like "abominable sinful acts", "Christ can do without their (homosexual's) souls", "detrimental to society", and "no place for homosexuality" " miserable state" have been used. (continued...)
Philip Sultana
Jan 16th 2009, 09:29
I cannot believe what I am reading here and I just couldn't bear to carry on reading. It feels like we're still living in the 19th century or earlier. People of Malta WAKE UP - by what right do you impose your own lifestyles on other people? The Church's teachings are archaic - it's fine if one wants to follow them but Malta still needs more separation between state and Church.
lgalea
Jan 16th 2009, 09:17
Marlene Vella
Thank God they are prevented from donating blood to prevent diseases to which they are more prone than the rest of the population.
"Gay people have to pay higher insurance premiums"
Do you think that insurances are mad? They know the higher risk which these people run and this is backed up by medical research. Ask any doctor and he will tell you Marlene.
Lifelong gay partner = not related, not allowed in hospital
A family consists of a man and a woman. If you do not fit into then equation you are not a family. Rules should not be changed to fit those who do not fit into the equation. They either play the game according to the rules or forget it. You yourself said that the gay partner is not related.
Anthony Baldacchino
That's one reason why British society is in the mess that it's in.
J Farrugia
Jan 16th 2009, 09:10
I cannot see God blessing any gay pride parade. I cannot see God blessing gays or lesbs during their obscene acts. God forgives the sinner but also tells them to repent and not to fall again. But these want to show off, their obscenities in public. And want housing before normal families and other 'rights' which certainly should not be given to such a category. Those who want to show off their newly acquired 'status' are doing a disservice to those g&l who try to lead a normal life without fanfares. They are ruining others chances to succeed in life.
Marlene Vella
Jan 16th 2009, 01:03
No one is asking for any special rights from any church, just those rights of an ordinary tax-paying citizen.
But what do you expect?
Malta, Europe: Gay people banned from donating blood
Malta, Europe: Gay people have to pay higher insurance premiums
Malta, Europe: Lifelong gay partner = not related, not allowed in hospital
etc. etc.
Catholics are free to follow the Pope's teachings, no one needs to be denied any equal rights for them to do so. As how ''media savvy'' the Pope's comments were, please note that they weren't only heard in Malta. There are many countries, where comments like these fuel the perpetration of violence against citizens just because of their sexual orientation. Now how's that for human ecology.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 15th 2009, 23:07
@ Mr Tabone Adami - So, continue illuding yourself into believing that you, for one, are so superior to the rest of us, and that we don't know any better. Go on, continue believing that! ha ha.
Joe Zammit
Jan 15th 2009, 21:38
The Catholic Church makes it clear enough in her teaching that to have a homosexual tendency is no sin at all. Homosexuals are not those with a homosexual tendency but those who indulge themselves in homosexual acts. The tendency alone does not make you homosexual. All of us have some evil tendencies, but all of us are obliged by God to renounce our evil tendencies to please him. All of us can do it. To be unable to build a relationship for all intents and purposes of marriage with a person of the opposite sex does not entitle you to create a relationship with another person of the same sex. Otherwise you would be condemning yourself by jumping from the frying pan into the fire. A sexual relationship with a person of the same sex is lust not love. Through prayer, good advice. visits to the Holy Eucharist in our churches and a good will to please God, your greatest lover and benefactor, you can be enlightened on what to do for your own spiritual and material benefit.
Joe Zammit
Jan 15th 2009, 21:13
If there were no God, there would be no man. If man exists, God necessarily exists. Atheists contradict themselves. They believe in themselves and they think they came from nothing. Atheists are irrational for the simple reason that the whole world of nature around us speaks of God. God exists and in his providence keeps us alive. He wants to take us with him in heaven for eternity. Blessed are those who listen to the Word of God and his Catholic Church for they shall find their natural and spiritual fulfilment. To this end we must lead a life pleasing to God. A life pleasing to God is full of joy that God pours in us. Those people who have been homosexuals once and converted tell you how joyful they are now not then when they were living in sin and filth. Homosexuals, your enemies are those who tell you to remain in your miserable state in life. God and the Catholic Church love you and are your greatest friends.
Anthony Baldacchino
Jan 15th 2009, 18:16
As written on all London buses "There is probably no God so stop worrying and enjoy life"
Joe Zammit
Jan 15th 2009, 17:22
There is absolutely no place for homosexuality in the ecology of man. Man is a natural being and as such he must follow his nature. Human beings have been created by God as man and woman only and the institution of marriage was created by God at the same time of the creation of human beings for the purpose of love and procreation. Homosexuality was never intended by God. Otherwise he would have created only men or only women. So there is no place in society for homosexual unions. These are harmful to humanity because they go against nature.
Joe Zammit
Jan 15th 2009, 17:02
Gay unions, and not marriages for the simple reason that there are not and there cannot be gay marriages, are detrimental to society. Yes, gay unions are harmful to society because they are unnatural. Anything that goes directly against nature harms man. Even if we accept the term 'gay marriage' is harmful. A marriage is a union between one man and one woman for love and procreation. If we introduced in our legislation, GOD FORBID!, if we introduced in our legislation the idea that a marriage can be between two persons of the same sex, we would harming seriously the real valid marriage between one man and one woman. This real and natural type of marriage would lose the real value it is enjoying now.
Joe Tabone-Adami
Jan 15th 2009, 16:24
My thanks to "The TImes" for indicating the Vatican website to all who wish to read the Holy Father's address to the Roman Curia on December 22nd.- and also for printing that part of it which has caused so much commotion and unmerited scorn, especially by columnists who should know far better. My thanks also to our Archbishop, Mons. Paul Cremona, for his brief but meaningful explanations of the Catholic Church's position on the issue of human sexuality.
Allow me, however, to disagree with your reporter's describing the Holy Father's speech as being a "controversial Christmas message". It was neither a Christmas message nor, as far as men of goodwill are concerned, controversial.
As regards disrespectful - and uninformed - comments by some who do not seem to know any better, I would repeat what Senator John McCain called out to his audience when a heckler tried to interrupt him during his speech intoducing election running-mate Sarah Palin: "Never mind the crackle and the statics". It turned out, some will say, that quite a few did just that - whether rightly or wrongly is another matter beyond the present one.
Joseph Micallef
Jan 15th 2009, 14:16
@J Farrugia. If God is the god of Love I hope he is then God blesses gays as well and yes does need their souls and loves them as all others, heterosexual or not - and he loves them and blesses them still even though they have consume their sexuality. Its not up to anyone to decide who God does not need! We can only base our arguments on the knowledge that God is love. Trying to condemn others by putting ourselves in his place while using our homophobic measures is despicable.
C Xuereb
Jan 15th 2009, 14:08
I am a man in a longterm relationship with another man, who I love deeply.
All my life I tried to fit in as a heterosexual. I even tried relationships with women and no one ever thought I was gay.
But now, in a mutual, loving, monogomous and intimate relationship with my boyfriend I can truly say I have found my soulmate - the man God intended me to be with.
I feel fulfilled, happy, comfortable and at ease with who I am, because I know that I am doing what I am meant to do.
I'm not very religious, so quite frankly I'm not that interested in what the church has to say about me. But the comments I read here did hurt me, because they display such ignorance.
I feel sorry for you people who think gay people are frustrated and unhappy. The truth is very different. I think people who go around judging whether someone is being sinful or not are the frustrated ones.
I hope everyone finds the happiness I have found, whether straight, gay, bi or trans. And I also hope that we one day live in a world where such labels don't exist.
Carmel Bayliss
Jan 15th 2009, 14:07
Give Caesar what is due to Caesar and give God what is due to God.
Way back in April 2000, when I founded the Gay Rights Movement with other people, one of our main aims was to get civil rights as married heterosexuals do. We never (like in other countries) had in mind any Church weddings, but CIVIL UNIONS, recognised by the Government. WE pay our taxes and other due to the Government, therefore we want our civil rights from the Government.
I do not understand why all this fuss.
lgalea
Jan 15th 2009, 13:13
J Farrugia, E.Vella, R.Farrugia
You are all correct.
No one is saying that homosexuals and lesbians should be discriminated against.
Homosexuals cannot fit into the equation of marriage and whatever they try to do their union can never be recognized and called a marriage.
The countries who have recognized such marriages reflect the decadence of their society.
Alastair Farrugia
Jan 15th 2009, 13:02
“And if anyone doesnt like it he can just remove himself from the catholic church.”
The Catholic Church does not just want to deny Catholic marriage to gay people. It also tries to prevent governments from providing state marriage to gay people.
Maybe you would not like to see gay couples recognised as such, and treated the same as heterosexual couples. However, they are not harming you, or anyone else, by marrying and calling themselves a married couple. It is the condemnation of homosexuality that creates a lot of unnecessary psychological difficulty for gay people.
I guess that condemnation of thieves may create psychological difficulty for them too, but thieves do harm others.
I think that part of the problem is that, up to a few decades ago, most people would only get to know that someone is gay if the person is involved is some crime or scandal. They would not know about the many gay people who live their life uneventfully (and who do not fit the gay stereotype). The more gay people are accepted as a normal healthy part of society, the more we will see that they are pretty much like everyone else.
R.Farrugia
Jan 15th 2009, 11:25
How very degrading of Ramon Grech calling the Archbishop and the Pope by name and surname only! Doesn't he know that one is the Archbishop of Malta and the other is the Pope! Is that how you win an argument? By degrading others! And how come Kenneth Zammit Tabone has become an authority on the subject?
E.Vella
Jan 15th 2009, 11:19
To Ramon Casha....you can call it what you want but not marriage...name it gay union, gay partners but not marriage for with all the respect you cannot place the union between and woman and a man on the same basis of a union between two persons of the same sex.
Another thing that I cannot understand is how the freedom of speech in interpreted...why all have the right to say their opinion and the church cannot do so to her followers. The Catholic Church maybe has many controversial teachings but is also constant, not as others to be popular do.
The Church, disagree and do everything possible to halt discrimination against any person but the Church cannot approve acts that goes against the dignity of humans. Maybe different wording could have been used but the substance is the same....homosexuality is wrong
J Farrugia
Jan 15th 2009, 10:45
And if anyone doesnt like it he can just remove himself from the catholic church. Christ certainly can do without such souls. The catholic church is not here to please anyone but to keep Christ's teachings in their proper perspectives. It is the faithful who have to adhere to its teachings if they want to save their souls.
J Farrugia
Jan 15th 2009, 10:43
@ Ramon Casha - the pope is right. You are in the wrong. Your arguments do not hold water. First the journalists print just one paragraph out of context, then the journalist takes the opinion of God haters. How about this for bias? The truth is one and there is no other one: for those who have faith in Christ and his teachings, homosexuality is a sin. Intimate relations between two males or two females is abominable and a sin. Christ blessed the marraige of Cana and that is what should be: love between man and woman only. There are no other paterns. All other 'modern styles' are abominable sinful acts. and the majority of our people abhore them. And for your information Paul Cremona should be addressed in the proper style: H.E. Mons Paul Cremona.
martin borg
Jan 15th 2009, 10:37
Reading through the article concerning Archbishop Paul Cremona's defence of the Pope's recent Christmas message I could not help but be impressed by the tone and content of the opinions of the various commentators quoted in it.
It was refreshing to hear views from both sides of the stakeholders involved in what is, undoubtedly a sensitive issue, without the semi hysterical stances that so often characterise debates of this nature.
I found Kenneth Zammit Tabona's observation that ' government should stop hiding behind ecclesiastical petticoats' to be particularly apt , as was his appeal for the church authorities to present its messages in a more intelligible fashion.
On this latter subject he was, perhaps unwittingly seconded by Fr. Joe Borg who, whilst defending the Pope's stand , admitted that it was not 'media savvy and friendly'.
TheChurch (like any other institution) should realise that convoluted messages, no matter how well intentioned, often end up producing results that are in direct opposition to what they were originally meant to do.
Ramon Casha
Jan 15th 2009, 10:19
There's a saying, "When you're up to your neck in mud, stop digging".
How can Paul Cremona say that the church's teachings regarding homosexual acts are consistent with those of heterosexual acts, and then adds that "sexuality must be...in marriage" when the church is also working overtime to deny gay couples the right to marry one another?
No, Ratzinger's words were understood quite clearly.