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"Belgian diocese won’t deny cardinal endorsed homosexuality"
lifesitenews.com
"Cardinal Josef De Kesel has told an LGBT group he met privately that he finds it acceptable for gays and lesbians to live out their sexual desires, according to the Belgian LGBT magazine Zizo-Online.
The publication claimed on Wednesday that De Kesel – who succeeded 'archconservative' Bishop André-Joseph Léonard as Archbishop of Brussels-Malines in 2015 – made a number of statements favorable to the LGBT cause. It reported those remarks within quotation marks. Zizo spoke of a 'historical change of course' even though the Cardinal has never expressed such views beyond private circles.
The online magazine reached out to the archdiocese for a reaction but was told there would be no more comments.
LifeSiteNews called the Archdiocese of Brussels on Friday and in a further email exchange, obtained a written statement from Cardinal De Kesel’s spokesman, Geert De Kerpel. He told LifeSite that the archdiocese would not comment on the contents of the Cardinal’s conversation with representatives of HWLM because it was a 'personal meeting,' but he did offer this clarification (in English):
'A small delegation of a working group on homosexuals in Malines asked for a meeting with Cardinal De Kesel. In this personal conversation, he listened to them, expressed his concern for their well-being and expressed his respect for them. He tried to answer their questions. It was a personal meeting. He wants to be close to them and help them in their situation...'...
Zizo kicks off with a reminder that Pope Francis himself has mitigated the Roman Catholic Church’s stance on LGBT sexuality, recalling his 'historic declaration' of the question 'Who am I to judge?'...
He goes on to say that while De Kesel – who was named to the see of Brussels and given his cardinal’s hat by Pope Francis – has never officially spoken about LGBT sexuality, he is often faced with questions on the theme from the press.
It appears he was more talkative during his April 24 meeting with HLWM, in which the Cardinal is quoted as saying: 'The church must respect gays and lesbians more, including in the way they live out that sexuality.' To this, Zizo remarked: 'It appears that the top of the church is now prepared to accept LGBT relationships.' It added that the Cardinal 'appeared truly to care about the well-being of gays and lesbians and he also talked about his meeting with a trans woman.'
Zizo goes on to say that according to De Kesel, the Church needs time to learn to understand homosexuality...
Cardinal De Kesel is also said to have remarked that he himself has changed his views: 'Twenty years ago I would have spoken differently from what is now the case. At that time I would have followed the official teaching of the Church more. My attitude has become much more ‘understanding’...respect takes the central place.'
And so Zizo deduces that same-sex attracted persons may act out sexual feelings...
De Kesel is said to have rejected the idea of church weddings for gay or lesbian couples, but also that of a blessing. 'Or did he?' writes Zizo.
'Once more we quote from what HLWM reported,' which was the Cardinal’s alleged assertion that... 'A blessing is perhaps not the right word. Because it looks too much like the ‘blessing’ of a marriage. I would rather speak about a ‘thanksgiving celebration,’ or a ‘prayer celebration.’...'
That would have an enormous symbolic value in the church, comments Schoenmaekers, remarking that there is as yet no way to know what such a ritual would look like. But here is what the Cardinal is alleged to have said: 'A church prayer for the relationship between two men or two women is certainly possible, as long as it doesn't begin to look like a church wedding. That is why an exchange of rings, for example, would not do.'...
Cardinal De Kesel is also alleged to have said: 'Let me be clear: I have absolutely nothing against civil same-sex marriage. But I do have objections to a church same-sex marriage. The sacrament of the church marriage is something between a man and a woman, with an eye to procreation. That is not the case with gays and lesbians.'
Church rules for dealing with gay or lesbian couples 'are still in full development,' the cardinal allegedly concluded."
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