Is Catholicism inherently homophobic?

[Svartalf]

eh... I'd guess it's more influential than you'd guess in Italy, not that it has any formal power there. Basically, the Church is powerless in Western Europe, as the inability of the mostly catholics opponents to gay marriage to prevent it being authorized in France shows, in spite of relatively major demonstrations.

[Scot Dutchy]

I think the influence they have extends beyond the pews, not least because they describe themselves as compassionate and loving and stake a normative claim to default rectitude - Catholics are 'nice'. As I said, their hateful bigotry is insidious and offers cover to other more 'out-there' Christian denominations - even if they're not throwing gay men off high buildings they are still involved in normalising homophobia and intolerance.

Only 5% of roman catholics put their bum on a pew at least once a month. In the south the old heartland of catholicism they are non existent. The only abbey left is the one that makes beer.

[Sean Hayden]

Until they say homosexuality isn't a sin they'll be at least justifying homophobia.

[Brian Peacock]

Exactly.

[Scot Dutchy]

Who is really bothered about the rcc?

[laklak]

Only in regards to the laity.

[JimC]

There are main divisions within Catholicism, and not all Catholics accept the same ideals. A main division would be pre-Vatican II Catholics, and post Vatican II Catholics. Some priests are open to gay marriage, etc. So, if folks are going to accuse critics of Islam of Islamaphobia because they are scorning a religion of which there are many different schools of thought, then the same is true of Christianity and Catholicism. Even the Roman Catholic Church has divisions and differences of opinion.

Saying Catholicism is homophobic or racist or sexist is the same as saying Islam, or Sunni Islam, is homophobic or racist or sexist. Is there any reason the former would be acceptable but the latter not?

The central doctrines as expressed by the church hierarchy certainly are homophobic, even if many individual catholics (and some priests) are not.

[Brian Peacock]

Who is really bothered about the rcc?

The Church don't just keep their business to themselves though do they? They like to tell us how compassionate and loving their condemnation of all LGBT people is, not just members of their flock.

[JimC]

Who is really bothered about the rcc?

The Church don't just keep their business to themselves though do they? They like to tell us how compassionate and loving their condemnation of all LGBT people is, not just members of their flock.

And they try to influence government policy from the pulpit, and via press releases, saying that civil marriages (which are none of their fucking business) should only be between man and woman. I don't really care if they forbid gay marriage in a church, that is within their right I suppose, but they can fuck off trying to force their bronze age morality on secular society.

[rasetsu]

I can't find any figures, but from what In understand, the RCC poured a lot of money into the marriage equality fight here in the United States.

Roman Catholic Church Leadership Poured $2 Million Into Fight Against Marriage Equality

"The $2 million represents a significant share of the contributions used to fund anti-gay marriage campaigns in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington."

http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/religi ... reprise-of

"Contributions from Maine individuals amounted to $400, less than one percent of the amount raised [in Maine]."

[JimC]

And they did their best to squash it in Ireland, but after all the child abuse stuff, their credibility was very, very low, and most people ignored them, and voted yes to gay marriage...

[Tyrannical]

Murderaphobic, adultryaphobic, and stealaphobic too.
Homophobia is probably the most miss used word in the English langauge; a phobia is an irrational fear or aversion.

[JimC]

Murderaphobic, adultryaphobic, and stealaphobic too.
Homophobia is probably the most miss used word in the English langauge; a phobia is an irrational fear or aversion.

An absurd post. It is certainly not irrational to fear or oppose murder or stealing in any society. One could argue that adultery (not including couples in open relationships) is potentially damaging, but I'll call that one 50/50. Homosexuality by consenting adults, on the other hand, is no one's fucking business except the participants, and so phobia is a reasonable description.

[Brian Peacock]

Murderaphobic, adultryaphobic, and stealaphobic too.
Homophobia is probably the most miss used word in the English langauge; a phobia is an irrational fear or aversion.

Yeah, the term can be contextually problematic when looked at like that - but we all know what it means, so your point is....?

[Scot Dutchy]

Who is really bothered about the rcc?

The Church don't just keep their business to themselves though do they? They like to tell us how compassionate and loving their condemnation of all LGBT people is, not just members of their flock.

And they try to influence government policy from the pulpit, and via press releases, saying that civil marriages (which are none of their fucking business) should only be between man and woman. I don't really care if they forbid gay marriage in a church, that is within their right I suppose, but they can fuck off trying to force their bronze age morality on secular society.

Maybe there are societies where they have some influence on governments but that is very much waning. In northern Europe it was never the case. This country was the first to have equal rights for all. The law was passed in 2001. We always had civil only marriages from the time of Napoleon. No other form of marriage was legal. No church had any influence on the decision. In the past religious folk would get engaged at the civil wedding usually in the town hall and normally a year later they would have a "wedding" service in a church. The church vows had no legal significance. Remember this is for all marriages. There are the odd gay couple that do want a church blessing.

These days marriages take place in some grandiose locations but very few if any church services take place afterwards.

One other point habits die hard. I am going to an Irish wedding in September and because of tradition it will take place in the church. I think it will be a few generations before these traditions die out.