Pope Francis Compares Trans People to Nuclear Weapons

[Jigsaw.]

Pope Francis compares trans people to nuclear weapons

Joe Morgan 19/2/15

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/pope-francis-compares-trans-people-nuclear-weapons190215

Head of the Catholic Church claims those who transition are opposing 'God's order of creation'

Pope Francis has compared trans people to nuclear weapons, saying both do not 'recognize the order of creation' The head of the Catholic Church has claimed people who 'manipulate' their bodies are similar to 'Herods' that 'destroy, that plot designs of death, that disfigure the face of man and woman, destroying creation.'

The comments were made in a new book published in Italy, Pope Francis: This Economy Kills, calling on Christians to safeguard God's order of creation

[Jill F]

Questions:

What about intersex people?
What about people who "manipulate" their bodies with tattoos, piercings, plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery, or surgery to save one's life?
People who dye their hair?

Nuclear weapons?  Seriously?  Am I a weapon of mass destruction?  That's actually kinda badass!

[ErinWDK]

This is disapointing.  I was hoping for better from Pope Francis based on how he has spoken of other things.

UM...  Everthing that goes into a nuclear weapon comes from the created cosmos...  There are other things that are present in creation that are not really useful for the common good.  But to compare trans* people to any of these things makes me sad.


Erin

[suzifrommd]

Comments from OP split out of original message:

Saw this wasnt posted here and I just came across this..

I really thought he was a good Pope, he seemed to be making a lot of progress towards minority issues and even trans stuff. Now Im not so sure..

[Tysilio]

I don't know which is stranger: the claim that nuclear weapons don't follow the order of creation (I presume that for a believer, God is at least somewhat responsible for those pesky laws of physics ), or the idea that trans people are like nuclear weapons.

I'd love to be a weapon of mass destruction: of bigotry, intolerance, hatred, and the like. 

[AbbyKat]

At first, I was flattered because being as powerful as a nuke is pretty sweet but then I read what he actually said:

'Let's think of the nuclear arms, of the possibility to annihilate in a few instants a very high number of human beings,' he says.

'Let's think also of genetic manipulation, of the manipulation of life, or of the gender theory, that does not recognize the order of creation.'

'With this attitude, man commits a new sin, that against God the Creator,' the pope adds.

'The true custody of creation does not have anything to do with the ideologies that consider man like an accident, like a problem to eliminate.'

'God has placed man and woman and the summit of creation and has entrusted them with the earth,' Francis says. 'The design of the Creator is written in nature.'

'If we fail in this responsibility, if we do not take care of our brothers and of all creation, destruction advances,' he added.

I'm not sure he's actually even saying anything about transgender people here.  "Gender theory" is very vague.  If not for the spin on the article, had I read this objectively, I'd think he was talking about future worries of genetic manipulation or cloning or something.

Am I missing something?  Is this within a context where he's more specifically speaking about transgender folks?

[Miharu Barbie]

Pope Francis has compared trans people to nuclear weapons....

Hell yeah!  I'm a mushroom cloud layin' mother hmm hmm!  I'm Super Fly TNT!  I'm the Guns of the Navarone!

(apologies to Jules Winnfield.  ) 

[Tysilio]

Abysha, you make a good point. It's pretty hard to critique something based on out-of-context quotations.

[Joelene9]

... And this pope was looking good. He did say earlier that he cannot judge gay people. Now I really know that I am not gay! 

Joelene

[Jill F]

People have told me for a long time that I am "the bomb".  Now I know why!

[mrs izzy]

Religion is a belief based on a book.

So if I can believe in a god only know by writings.

I should be able to believe myself being real.

I stand in front of my own mirror with my own reflection.

Enough of that from me.

I never would judge anyone who wants to hold a belief.

Time for them to stop judging me for being me.

[Eevee]

Great. This is just what my parents wanted to hear. They pay attention to this stuff, too. They really didn't need more ammo.

[Shawn Sunshine]

Just another item to add to the list of what the Catholic church has gotten wrong about humanity. I was raised Catholic.

[mrs izzy]

Great. This is just what my parents wanted to hear. They pay attention to this stuff, too. They really didn't need more ammo.

I feel so bad for the poor children born IS.

Seems then they must be products of the devil in the context of there ignorance thinking.

[rosinstraya]

......."and if you want to hate these people 'not of god's creation' - be my guest'".

Thanks for that. For my part, I have no respect for these fools who claim to have "the word of god" in their ear. They just divide, rule, and count the $.

[King Malachite]

It's a good thing I'm not Catholic then.  Otherwise, I might be inclined to care.

[LordKAT]

The problem with Catholicism, (and Mormonism) is the money and power they hold.

[Rosa]

At first, I was flattered because being as powerful as a nuke is pretty sweet but then I read what he actually said:

I'm not sure he's actually even saying anything about transgender people here.  "Gender theory" is very vague.  If not for the spin on the article, had I read this objectively, I'd think he was talking about future worries of genetic manipulation or cloning or something.

Am I missing something?  Is this within a context where he's more specifically speaking about transgender folks?

I got a little bent out of shape when I saw this on a news source, but like you, after reading what was actually said, I had second thoughts.  First, sometimes I wonder if he actually writes these things or if someone else does, and secondly, it is not clear to me exactly what he is talking about.  Perhaps it is a vague was to  refer to transgender people, but I don't know. He recently had a one on one visit with a transgender person and that person felt it was positive and hopeful.  Recently the pope also said it is not for him to judge.  Yet, in addition to  being head of a huge and diverse church, he is also head of state, which is political.  I think that like all politicians, he may sometimes try to say what he believes while at the same time trying to slant it for his audience, not for votes, but to try and convey that he is there for both the conservatives and liberals in the church - no easy task.

Perhaps I am too hopeful, but this pope seems more genuine to me than some of his predecessors. I also realize, though, that the leadership of the church is vast and he may not always be able to do and say exactly as he would like.  (Popes have been killed for such things when they ruffle to many feathers of those in power - but I hope he does some feather ruffling).   Only time will tell. 

[Makenzie]

Remember,there are probably a few Catholics on the forums.Please keep that in mind when posting your replies

[Damara]

People have told me for a long time that I am "the bomb".  Now I know why!

Haha! Jill! So funny! I agree sounds more epic to me than anything! BOOOM!

But also yah.. people modify their bodies for health and non health issues ALL THE TIME. So the qualm with trans people doing it makes zero sense.