Gay Catholics who respect the Pope.

[trotsky]

PLEASE, can someone help me understand this mindset?

The Log Cabin Republicans, I can see. They're generally rich and white, meaning the anti-tax, anti-social program rhetoric resonates well.

But how in the hell does someone belong to a church and support its leader so strongly when he is on record as saying that:

Homosexual marriages are part of "a new ideology of evil"
(http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050222/2005-02-22T201215Z_01_L22608092_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-POPE-BOOK-DC.html)

?!?!?!?

Anyone? Bueller?

[Lars39]

1. I've thought about that one quite a bit.

All is right in their world; they live in a fairly liberal small town.
If everything is okeedokey for them, it must be so for everyone else.

They're not into international politics that much; everything is local for them.
Have a thread that points out the unjust policies of the Catholic Church
and denial kicks in; "but that's not what our local parish/priest is like!"

Black and white thinking(fundamentalism) to some extent, too.

Not that I'm thinking of any Duers, of course. O8)

[trotsky]

2. "Not in our parish" - yeah, I hear that too.

Problem is, if the Vatican knows your parish is deviating from the party line, you're in big trouble. This is not something the RCC just "allows" for areas that are more liberal. In other words, their little parish is breaking the rules and would not be considered true Catholics by the #1 dude himself.

"Cafeteria Catholics." Not exactly church doctrine.

[Misunderestimator]

8. That pretty much sums up my impression as well...

not that I know anyone like that... ;)

[Dookus]

3. We have a number of them

right here on DU. They're not LCR's, they're not conservative, but they love the Pope.

I will never understand it.

[trotsky]

4. Yep, seeing their posts is what prompted me to ask.

Confusing as hell. :shrug:

[Az]

5. Its called compartmentalization

When different beliefs or conditions in the mind clash typically one position or another drives the other out. But sometimes too much backing exists on both sides. Too much of their psyche is wrapped up in both positions. Such a condition would lead to an increasing level of stress that would quickly become self destructive. As a defense mechanism the mind will create a blind spot where two collide.

There are side effects to this. Stress whenever any probing occurs concerning this conflict is a common occurrence. It is not an optimal solution and there will be a continuing source of stress for them perhaps even leading to serious mental conditions.

[Taxloss]

6. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

eom

[JI7]

7. some of them agree with the pope on abortion , birth control etc

especially abortion and late term abortion which they oppose.

[terrya]

9. I will never understand that mindset.

This pope and this church is relentlessly, unceasingly hostile to gay and lesbians. I will never understand how gay and lesbian Catholics can support this pope and his anti-gay agenda.

[Warpy]

10. it's the same mindset of women who sit and listen

to thundering sermons about artificial birth control being a heinous sin and refilling their birth control pill prescriptions on the way home.

One thing Catholics are taught is to respect that "still, small voice within" as the voice of god. Most of them are listening to that one a lot more than they're listening to a senile old man in Rome who thinks he's godlike.

Most Catholics realize the hierarchy at and above the level of bishop is thoroughly corrupt. Most Catholics realize that celibate old men who insist on making heavy pronouncements on sexual matters of any description really don't have a clue what they're on about.

And that's why gay men may still be Catholic. Their faith doesn't depend on slavishly following a pope, although it's what the pope would like.