“The Kingdom of God is not an exclusive club. It opens its doors to everyone, without discrimination. Many of our brothers and sisters tell us that, whatever the origin and cause of their sexual orientation, they certainly haven’t chosen it. . They are not bad apples. “
On gay couples, Cardinal Hollerich, in an interview with L’Osservatore Romano, added: “I do not think there is room for a sacramental marriage between persons of the same sex, because there is no procreative goal that characterizes it, but this does not mean that their emotional relationship has no value. I would be more interested in discussing other aspects of the problem. For example: what causes the conspicuous growth of homosexual orientation in society? Or why the percentage of homosexuals in institutions ecclesial is higher than in civil society? “, he added.
Opposition to euthanasia and abortion – However, the cardinal then expressed all his opposition to euthanasia and abortion: “Believing in eternal life, however, means believing that eternal life is already here, now. And as such it must be lived and enjoyed. I am very frightened. in this sense from an upright functionalist conception of life, so if it doesn’t work you throw it away. I was terrified to see in the Netherlands the extension of the practice of euthanasia also to the psychologically ill. This too is the result of the pervading consumerist ideology: a once if the television broke you would take it to the repairman, and your shoes to the shoemaker; today you throw them away. And they would like to do the same with life, if it doesn’t ‘work’, if you become a burden on society they throw you away. for the beginning of life: it worries me to hear in the European Parliament who invokes the attribution of the status of ‘fundamental’ right to abortion, because if it is a fundamental right then it is an absolute right and therefore no longer admits a refusal of such ciency. This is also absurd. Let us always remember that life, even if limited, is beautiful “.
“Francis is a radical Pope” – “I believe that today in Europe we are suffering from a pathology, that is, that we cannot clearly see what the mission of the Church is – continued Hollerich -. We always talk about structures, which is certainly not a bad thing, because structures are important and certainly need to be rethought. But there is not enough talk of the Church’s mission. Which is to proclaim the Gospel “. “In Europe we often hear that Francis is a liberal Pope. Pope Francis is not a liberal: he is radical. He lives the radicalism of the Gospel”.
“Wondering what it means to be a Christian today” – The cardinal then gave an example of that Church which is no longer in step with the times: “You see, you cannot keep a young person separated from the world, in a monastic life for six years and then complain that he ends up assuming our own diversity, it is necessary to understand, or rather re-understand, what it means to be pastors today. As indeed we must all ask ourselves what it means to be Christians today. This is the point. And this question is also the key to this pontificate: to accept the inadequacy of a pastoral care daughter of past epochs and rethinking the mission. A choice that has heavy and courageous theological implications “.
“The Church speaks to a man who no longer exists” – “I do not want to sound tranchant but, with great frankness, our pastoral care – the cardinal underlined – speaks to a man who no longer exists. most of the time he ignores it. This implies a great openness on our part, and also a willingness, even though firm in the Gospel, to allow ourselves to be transformed too “.
