This may just get the good Cardinal sidelined. He makes ill-advised racist remarks and implicates Pope Francis in them. One must keep in mind that he is German and for a German to say these things has a very serious racist connotation and arrogance, xenophobia to it! He truly is a lose canon! If a television sportscaster or news reporter said this, they would be fired!
What are your thoughts on what he said in this interview and do the Africans deserve an unambiguous apology from Cardinal Kasper?
ZENIT: It has been said that he added five special rapporteurs on Friday to help the general rapporteur, Cardinal Peter Erdo. Is that because he’s trying to push things through according to his wishes?
Cardinal Kasper: I do not see this going on in the Pope’s head. But I think the majority of these five people are open people who want to go on with this. The problem, as well, is that there are different problems of different continents and different cultures. Africa is totally different from the West. Also Asian and Muslim countries, they’re very different, especially about gays. You can’t speak about this with Africans and people of Muslim countries. It’s not possible. It’s a taboo. For us, we say we ought not to discriminate, we don’t want to discriminate in certain respects.
ZENIT: But are African participants listened to in this regard?
Cardinal Kasper: No, the majority of them [who hold these views won’t speak about them].
ZENIT: They’re not listened to?
Cardinal Kasper: In Africa of course [their views are listened to], where it’s a taboo.
ZENIT: What has changed for you, regarding the methodology of this synod?
Cardinal Kasper: I think in the end there must be a general line in the Church, general criteria, but then the questions of Africa we cannot solve. There must be space also for the local bishops’ conferences to solve their problems but I’d say with Africa it’s impossible [for us to solve]. But they should not tell us too much what we have to do.
12 comments:
I do not see anything "racist" in those remarks. Cultures are different. Looks like the Africans have a lot more sense than we do.
Contrast with what Card Dolan said about the African Bishops:
"We in the Church in Europe, the Church in North America, we suffer sometimes from a lethargy, don’t we? Not Africa! … The bishops of Africa are prophetic in reminding us that the role of the Church is to transform the culture, not to be transformed by the culture. …
I’m afraid sometimes we in the West might say, "Oh, I guess we ought to dilute things, I guess we ought to capitulate, it’s obvious this teaching’s being rejected, oh my Lord, we’re not popular." And the Africans say, "Well, you know what? We’re not supposed to be. What we’re supposed to do is propose the truth and invite people by the love and the joy of our lives to embrace the truth. And take it from us, brothers, it works."
http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/3437/cardinals_kasper_and_dolan_and_the_african_bishops.aspx
Here is my post on the matter. http://voxcantor.blogspot.ca/2014/10/is-cardinal-kasper-racist.html
Not only was I divorced with a decree of nullity and a single father who raised a son to adulthood, I am not truly married to a fine Catholic woman from Capetown, South Africa.
I am truly offended and the racism was so obvious.
Silence is consent, it is time for the Holy Father to end this charade and rid Rome of this octogenarian.
He must recant and he must repent.
What a disgrace, I am so amazed that this insanity is playing out before us.
Satan is on the march.
Viva Cristo Rey!
gene psst stop making him look good
Well, I can't stand Kasper, I just did not see anything racist in his remarks.
The greatest growth in the Church is in Asia and Africa. We should take instruction from what they are doing.
Many, hopefully all of us when we were young were instructed and taught by our parents in what was right behavior and what was wrong behavior,what we should do and what we shouldn't do. Sometimes our fathers and mothers would be lenient and at other times strict. There were times if the situation warranted it where we would be severely punished. If there were no discipline imposed, it would not be good for us. If a child is disciplined exclusively or excessively then it could end up as being abusive. If not disciplined at all a child would more likely than not end up wayward and rebellious, although given the overwhelming bad influences in society today this could happen anyway. To me, discipline is the more important of the two,given that greater discipline is of more benefit than greater leniency.This is analogous to the task Pope Francis has taken on with the calling together of the Synod. I would hope and pray that in the final outcome discipline (conversion from sin) will be given a little more weight
You didn't post anything when the Cardinal said that we can't use the word adultery because it offends people. He is denying Christ Himself by saying that.
Granted what he said about the Africans is a disgrace but so is his advancement of receiving communion in the state of mortal sin.
when will you wake up and see the reality of what is going on. My god it's been over a year of this and you only sound a little worried now!
Gene: I agree with you (refreshing isn’t it?) – I also saw nothing racist in Kasper’s remarks; cultures_are_different, and it is wise to remember this.
The implication of Cardinal Kasper's unfortunate remarks is based upon Africa's conservative position on homosexuality and natural law. In the Cardinal's view (a secular view of the West and therefor indeed racist) is that Africa is backwards in this regard (meaning conservative Christians there including cardinals and bishops at this synod) and because of their African ignorance they should not have a voice.
This is racism pure and simple and the dictatorship of secularism in regards to things sexual. It is another way of calling Africans as being from the dark continent!
Well, perhaps it was an implication, but I rather saw it as a liberal wringing his hands over devout, believing Africans refusing to yield their faith to humanist/secularizing forces within the Church. Africans in their home countries are not to be confused with the politically jaded Blacks in this country. Many Africans are devout, thinking people who place high value on family and morality. These people make us look like primitives in that regard.
Anon 2, Yes, agreement between us is a rare and beautiful thing…LOL!
As a student of comparative cultures and comparative law, I am very sensitive to, and largely respectful of, the often pronounced differences among them, and this is how I read Cardinal Kaspers’ remarks.
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