Italian priest blames recent spate of earthquakes on gay civil unions

[trotsky]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-earthquakes-priest-blames-recent-spate-on-gay-civil-unions-a7401986.html

An Italian priest has said the recent earthquakes that have shaken the country, killing hundreds and leaving tens of thousands homeless, were "divine punishment" for gay civil unions.

...

Cavalcoli said on Radio Maria that the seismic shocks were "divine punishment" for "the offence to the family and the dignity of marriage, in particular through civil unions".

...

Archbishop Angelo Becciu, number two in the Vatican's powerful Secretariat of State, said Cavalcoli's comments were "offensive to believers and disgraceful for non-believers", in remarks reported by Italian media.

...

But Cavalcoli has refused to back down, insisting to another radio station that earthquakes are indeed caused by "the sins of man" and telling the Vatican to "read their catechism".

[JonathanRackham]

1. My distrust of the Catholic church continues.

[rug]

2. A good response from the Vatican.

The radio station distanced itself from the priest’s views and late on Friday the Vatican issued a stinging rebuke, saying the idea of a vengeful God was "a pagan vision" dating from "the pre-Christian era".

Archbishop Angelo Becciu, number two in the Vatican's powerful Secretariat of State, said Cavalcoli's comments were "offensive to believers and disgraceful for non-believers", in remarks reported by Italian media.

Becciu asked for forgiveness from victims of the earthquake and reminded them they had the "solidarity and support" of Pope Francis.

[guillaumeb]

3. Congratulations to the Roman Catholic Church for standing up for freedom.

I nominate the priest for the Pat Robertson award.

[trotsky]

5. Uhh, the RCC is most definitely not "standing up for freedom" here.

They wholeheartedly oppose marriage equality because of their religious bigotry. Whether their god is punishing Italy with earthquakes is what the disagreement is about.

[guillaumeb]

6. Opposition to marriage equality is one thing.

But in this particular case, the RCC official position is that this type of belief, that earthquakes are a sign of divine punishment, is not consonant with the Church's official position.

[trotsky]

7. Exactly my point - it has nothing to do with "standing up for freedom."

Your statement was completely erroneous.

[guillaumeb]

8. The freedom for believers to ignore this one priest with his personal view of how the world works an

his personal view of hw the Creator works.

[trotsky]

11. LOL

Nice try, but no.

[Cartoonist]

4. A vengeful God

So the Bible is a pagan creed. I didn't know that.

[struggle4progress]

10. In short: some religious folk are crazy, others aren't --- much like the rest of the world