Bishop Nguyen of Parramatta walks it back

A few weeks ago, we posted on the Bishop of Paramatta's long, winding statement on homosexuality. The Diocese issued a Tweet to deny it. That post, here on Vox, had over 4,084 direct hits. More read it who came in directly to the blog address. Amazing.

http://voxcantor.blogspot.ca/2016/09/francis-appointed-bishop-of-paramatta.html

Yesterday, the Bishop, issued a statement to clarify his previous remarks.

Let us have a look.

Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD STL, 

Bishop of Parramatta

14/09/2016

Ann D Clark Lecture

My Ann D Clark Lecture entitled ‘Pope Francis and the challenges of the church today’ delivered on August 18th 2016, has caused considerable debate and discussion, not only within the Diocese of Parramatta but also beyond.

I would like to thank everyone who has read the text of the lecture and responded with their considered comments.

To avoid any misunderstanding as a result of misrepresentations of the lecture, especially in the secular media, I offer the following clarifications:

The lecture was an effort on my part to articulate an understanding of the vision of Pope Francis of what the church is and our response to this vision in the light of the challenges we face today.

Part of that vision as I understand it, is about being inclusive. It is the ability to create and nurture a welcoming space for all people, including those who have been alienated such as our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

• The lecture appealed for respectful language and pastoral engagement with them, based on the fundamental dignity of every person and the teaching and example of Jesus.

• It is a misrepresentation of my lecture to equate the sexual identity of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters with their lifestyle or behaviour. (As in the case of the article by The Australian – ‘Catholic bishop calls on church to accept homosexuality’ 07/09/2016 and The Australian – ‘Cut & Paste’ 14/09/2016).

• To accept a person’s sexual identity does not mean to condone his or her behaviour which are contrary to moral norms and the church’s teaching.

• Thus, my lecture can in no way be construed as a challenge the teaching of the Catholic Church, which as a bishop I wish to maintain in union with Pope Francis and my fellow bishops in communion with him.

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv

Let's take a look at his bullet points.

• The lecture appealed for respectful language and pastoral engagement with them, based on the fundamental dignity of every person and the teaching and example of Jesus. 
• What language, is His Excellency writing of? That the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the inclination is "objectively disordered" and the acting out is "intrinsically disordered?" The facts are what they are. Up until the early 1970's and the political lobby of the "Gay Liberation" movement, it was considered a psychiatric disorder. The word "homosexual" is just over a century old. Prior to that, the acts were considered sodomy and grossly sinful by Catholics and Protestants and Jews throughout the world. Where are the Catholics today who, believing the Church's teaching, go about throwing eggs or insulting people that suffer with same-sex attraction. This bishop, and the others at the disgraceful Synods who talked about the change of language, are deceptive. Frankly, they are liars and most-possibly, closed sodomites themselves. Catholics who go around verbally abusing any persons are committing a sin. We are called to respect people, we are not called to be friends with them. We are not called to accept a "lifestyle" that is abhorrent to the faith and to natural law. Watch for Francis to initiate formal changes to the text of the Catechism. These men are homosexualists, they are either sodomites themselves and may be active, or they are closeted and sympathetic. Either way, they have no business in the priesthood and are engaging in deception.

• It is a misrepresentation of my lecture to equate the sexual identity of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters with their lifestyle or behaviour. (As in the case of the article by The Australian – ‘Catholic bishop calls on church to accept homosexuality’ 07/09/2016 and The Australian – ‘Cut & Paste’ 14/09/2016).
• The good bishop said what he said. His comments stand. He was so enthused over his effervescent discourse that he did not see the incoming missile from this blog and the secular media. Well, he has now and he is trying to walk it back. Their "lifestyle" and their "behaviour" will cause them to spend an eternity in Hell. Where is the love that Bishop Nguyen of Paramatta has for "our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters." If he truly loved them, he would tell them what they are doing. He also would not refer to them by their sins. He would refer to them as "our brothers and sisters trapped in a sinful lifestyle and behaviour."  

• To accept a person’s sexual identity does not mean to condone his or her behaviour which are contrary to moral norms and the church’s teaching.
• On the contrary, it most certainly does! If you fail to teach the truth, then you accept that which is a lie. 

• Thus, my lecture can in no way be construed as a challenge the teaching of the Catholic Church, which as a bishop I wish to maintain in union with Pope Francis and my fellow bishops in communion with him.
• Too late for His Excellency, he said it, it will live forever, your flock now knows what you think; but good on you for trying to walk it back.

Amazing.

Can you imagine, for a moment, what our parents and grandparents would have been able to do if they had the resources of blogs and social media at their disposal fifty to sixty years ago?

At least he knows how to wear his pectoral cross.