The Catholic bishop of Limburg, Franz Peter Tebartz van Elst, has removed a priest from office after reports that the latter had “blessed” or “consecrated” the partnership of a pair of homosexual men.
Fr. Peter Kollas, a dean of priests in the city of Wetzlar, participated in the “blessing” of the two men who had undertaken a civil “marriage” ceremony.
The event, Friday August 15, was also witnessed by a Protestant minister and about 150 guests, local news reports.
The bishop, appointed to the diocese of Limburg by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, said that Catholics “have a duty to protest the legal recognition of homosexual partnerships.”
In a statement appearing on the diocese’s website, Bishop Tebartz-van Elst said he had removed Fr. Kollas as dean of priests to avoid further “damage” to the Church’s reputation.
Good.
I agree. I welcome such prompt, clear action upholding the biblical teaching and the historic teaching of the Church, along with the bishop’s unequivocal words in his public statement. That’s what we expect of successors of the apostles.
I only wish that Anglican bishops in the industrialized, secularized West (Global North) always acted so swiftly and faithfully.
David Handy+
Hooray for Herr Bischof Tebarts van Elst!
If this happened in the U.K. or Canada, would he be subject to civil or criminal action by the government for such blatantly homophobic behavior?
Why should he be subject to ANY action?
4. Daniel wrote:
[blockquote] If this happened in the U.K. or Canada, would he be subject to civil or criminal action by the government for such blatantly homophobic behavior? [/blockquote]
Daniel,
How in your view may one act against homosexuality on the basis of principled moral rejection without generating the charge of homophobia?
carl
Removed the guy? Just like that? No panels, commissions, indaba groups, convocations, conventions, reports, votes, conferences, resolutions, studies, exegeses, moratoria, covenants, reflection statements, etc? Clearly this so-called “Catholic Church” is just a polity-poor flash in the pan.
I hope GAFCON see the merit of this and makes it standard for all bishops and with failure to comply the Primate of the province would remove both the priest and bishop and defrock and excommunicating both.
[I]The bishop, appointed to the diocese of Limburg by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, said that Catholics “have a duty to protest the legal recognition of homosexual partnerships.”[/I]
That’s why the RCC is out of the adoption business in Great Britain and holding the line in Limburg.