Crowd Aghast as Catholic Bishop Teaches Catholic Doctrine!

Major props, yo, to Bishop Jamie Soto, who had the audacity to tell an audience of homosexuals that homosexual activity is actually sinful. The article from CalCatholic mentions that several people walked out. Have we really gotten to the point where a bishop saying this kind of stuff is going to catch folks off-guard?

But there was noting ambiguous about Bishop Soto’s remarks to the group. “Sexual relations between people of the same sex can be alluring for homosexuals, but it deviates from the true meaning of the act and distracts them from the true nature of love to which God has called us all,” Bishop Soto said. “For this reason, it is sinful. Married love is a beautiful, heroic expression of faithful, life-giving, life-creating love. It should not be accommodated and manipulated for those who would believe that they can and have a right to mimic its unique expression."

A lot of people who read about this will probably say some very bad things about Bishop Soto. Stuff claiming that he lacks "pastoral care" or that he is "cold" or somehow empty of "compassion" for those he was addressing. Of course, none of this could be further from the truth. Bishop Soto's job is to save souls. Ignoring sin that could jeopardize those souls would be a crime. Treating such sin as if were not sin would be even worse.

The people who speak badly of His Excellency may want to note how he dealt with the audience after he was done speaking.

The chairman of the conference then announced that the bishop would answer questions at a reception that would be held in another room. That led to widespread expressions of disapproval from members of the audience, who said they wanted to be able to express their responses immediately. It was agreed that those who wanted to speak would line up. The bishop was told twice by the chairman that he was free to leave if he wanted -- or to stay and listen. Bishop Soto stayed and sat quietly listening to every response.

He could have cut and run. He didn't. He treated everyone with respect. Yet even this did not stop an alleged Catholic from attempting to denigrate this pastor's efforts:

While the audience members were responding to the bishop’s remarks, a board member of the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries came up to one of the tables in the room and said, "On behalf of the board, I apologize. We had no idea Bishop Soto was going to say what he said."

Shame and apologies over the Truth spoken in love. Being ashamed of Christ's teachings will get you nowhere, Board Member. Except maybe the Outer Darkness. Bishop Soto realizes that. You should, too.