Pope Francis Supports Infamous LGBTQ-Touting Fr. James Martin in Handwritten Letter
Fr. James Martin, a major proponent for the normalization and celebration of sodomy, which the Bible and the Catholic Church teach is intrinsically evil, received a handwritten letter from Pope Francis praising his work.
“Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God.” —1 Cor. 6:9-10 The word being translated here “liers with mankind” in the original Greek, ἀρσενοκοῖται, means literally “men engaged in sexual activity with the same sex.” St. Paul’s condemnation of homosexuality is perfectly in accord with the Old Testament as well. The reason homosexuality used to be called “sodomy” was because the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God because of their sexual perversion, particularly homosexuality (which is highlighted in Genesis).
Yet Pope Francis, in defiance of Catholic doctrine, is now endorsing a heterodox priest and his scandalous actions, including an LGBTQ conference. According to the American TFP:
“According to Vatican News, the Holy See’s news portal, the ‘letter was sent to coincide with the Outreach LGBTQ Catholic Ministry Webinar, which was held on Saturday [June 26, 2021]. Fr. Martin posted the letter on his Twitter feed on Sunday.’
Gerard O’Connell, the Vatican correspondent for the Jesuit America Magazine, confirms this information and adds some details: ‘Pope Francis has again encouraged the ministry of James Martin, S.J., to L.G.B.T. persons, and with words that could also encourage others in this work. He did so on the eve of the Outreach 2021 L.G.B.T. Catholic ministry conference … of which the Jesuit priest was the main organizer. Some weeks ago, Father Martin … had informed the pope about the conference in a private mail and explained its purpose…’
It is clear from The Tablet’s reporting that Father Martin solicited the pope’s support for the LGBTQ conference and that he shared the letter with the webinar participants. . .The choice of the conference’s keynote speaker says everything about the event’s orientation. It was none other than ‘Sr. Jeannine Gramick, S.L., co-founder of New Ways Ministry.’ She spoke on ‘Fifty Years of LGBTQ Ministry.’ Another speaker was ‘Fr. Bryan Massingale, a gay priest and theologian.’
As is well known, in 1999, with Pope John Paul II’s approval, Sister Gramick was ‘permanently prohibited from any pastoral work involving homosexual persons’ by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. . .
The Vatican News article quotes the pope’s letter as stating: ‘God’s ‘style’ has three elements … closeness, compassion and tenderness. This is how he comes closer to each one of us. Thinking about your pastoral work, I see that you are continually seeking to imitate this style of God. You are a priest for all men and women, just as God is a Father for all men and women. I pray for you to continue in this way, being close, compassionate and with great tenderness.’
To say that a priest who labors to change Catholic doctrine on the intrinsic evil of the homosexual act is ‘continually seeking to imitate this style of God’ is tantamount to claiming that God now desires that sin. . .”
Some claim that Pope Francis does not really support homosexuality per se, since, under him, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith decided against blessing homosexual “couples.” Yet it has been a consistent strategy of this pontificate to issue an orthodox decision today, and contradict it in practice tomorrow.
Pope Francis gave an award to a major pro-abortion advocate around the time he was also expressing support for the pro-life movement. The pope has furthermore met with Fr. Martin and practicing homosexuals before, with every indication of his approving of them, rather than reproving them. It is one thing to reach out in charity to LGBTQ individuals and tell them to convert, always treating them with the respect due every human, but Fr. Martin has made it clear he does not want such people to convert. He wants the Church to endorse their sins. And Pope Francis is clearly setting a seal of approval on this behavior.
“By their fruits you shall know them,” said Jesus Christ, and the old saying is, “Actions speak louder than words.” By taking special pains to support Fr. Martin and his infamous conference, Pope Francis has made his real position clear.