Catholics can keep their traditional marriages, nobody’s threatening that. The debate is over civil marriage, so religious leaders need shut up about that. The churches don’t ‘own’ marriage.

Christianity did not invent marriage or the idea of it so they should not have any right to say how it is performed outside their doctrine.

Next on the pope’s agenda is tackling the growing witch problem, the issue of trolls inhabiting too many of the catholic bridges and the dragons wreaking havoc on our Christian frontier towns.

We all know what and who was a threat to Society for a long time now King Rat, and it was’nt the homosexuals nor any couple living together out of wedlock!

This is partly why I don’t support Catholicism and religion in general. These people, for years, covered up child abuse and other unimaginable atrocities, yet they sit on their high horses preaching about how gay marriage is an “attack on the traditional family unit”. I’m sorry, but I’d rather see a child being cared for by same-sex parents than abusers. They must be feeling the pinch of not having many altar boys by their sides anymore. If this offends anyone, tell it to someone who gives a shit – makes me mad.

The Catholic Church…defying progress again and again!

Gee, thanks for explaining all that Popey but most of us try not to live by a moral code written by a bunch of wingnuts thousands of years ago. Go and make yourself and say a few prayers and leave the rest of us adults to make our own minds up.

Theres absolutely nothing that the catholic church can do about same sex marriages and living in wedlock… Sure didn’t their God put man on earth with free will!? Each to their own!

If God hates gays so much… You’d think he’d stop creating them. Jees.

Keep it up Catholic Church. Statements like these only serve to underline your stupidity and irrelevance.

While he “denounced” gay marriage, he also took a pop at cohabiting couples: ” [...] insisting that couples living together out of wedlock are a threat to society.” Every single time this issue comes up – EVERY single time – the pope, or one of his hierarchy and/or a number of the faithful will stridently assert that gay marriage is (a) an attack on “traditional marriage” and/or (b) will traditional marriage, the family and society. They never say HOW. Why are they always let away with that? If you genuinely believe it, surely you have worked out the clear reasons and can articulate those reasons? Is it such an ask? Answering the question by citing scripture is NOT answering the question because scripture does not say how marriage/family/society will be affected either – it just underlines the distaste of the author. Heterosexual couples have been living together outside of marriage for decades and the institution of marriage has not been negatively affected by it. Extending *civil* (not religious) marriage rights to same-sex couples will not and *could* not undermine marriage.

Its really uplifting seeing people dismiss his comments, gay or straight. It really shows how far we have come in recent years but we still have a long way to go. As much as i dont understand the catholic religion, i respect the followers and would not treat them any different to anyone else. I just really wish the feeling was mutual

Long before the Catholic church came to being same sex couples were living together and accepted in society, from native americans, to the Celts and ancient Rome. This stance that the church is taking is their own not guided by any god, eventually when they crumble and are only spoken of in history books it will show how deluded and dangerous they are to a peaceful and civilised society

The Church has long since list any right to be preaching on morality.
Nothing he says matters.

If you don’t like gay marriage then don’t get gay married. Otherwise it’s just none of your business.

If you don’t like gay marriage blame straight people. They are the ones who keep having gay babies.

As the gay rights Stonehouse organisation said recently, if you don’t approve of same sex marriage then don’t marry someone of the same sex, ………..otherwise mind your own business.

The church has had its day, its time to move away from its Stone Age beliefs.

“couples living together outside wedlock are a threat to society”! Yet he has no problem with a group of men living together wearing silk robes. What about his vow of chastity, if his god designed us to be procreating surely their vow of chastity is not only stupid but spitting in the face of his god! What I really want to hear is the reaction of the “don’t tar them all with the same brush” catholics. This is the elected leader of their organisation speaking. When will people drop out of this evil, corrupt nonsensical group of misfits!

I have never understood why Roman Catholic priests are forbidden to marry, as Nowhere in the Bible does it say priests Must stay both single and celebat…. a state that is not natural.

Stupid old fool. He’s helping to destroy his beloved religion by alienating most of them. Good riddance!!!

I play piano at my local church every Sunday. If a similar letter is read out I’ll be walking out of the church.

Pointless exercise by Westminster and the Vatican as the Catholic Church does not dictate law in the UK.

Thank God for that!

Any priest/ bishop etc who reads out a sermon expressing the popes views should be prosecuted for incitement to hatred.

Did this shamed outfit ever hear of humanity. They are forever up on the pulpit preaching one thing and doing the opposite. That day is long gone but you are in the dark ages. If you want to change bring women in and also get rid of the seventy and eighty year olds that are at the top of your organisation. It’s about time you started listening to what we have to say not lecturing us.

Yawn @ maryhelen , opinions are more relevant If there based on something current. Not on third party information written thousands of years ago .
There’s nothing hypocritical about anything here , it’s unfair to give religion a ‘free run’ and unnecessary respect just because people believe in it ?!,
Like if I were to believe that the Easter bunny cured my sore tummy just because I believe in him , how ridiculous would it sound ?!,
It’s the exact same as claiming religion does devine things , there’s only the belief and nothing more , just a load of hysterical virgins preaching rubbish and gibberish who claim what they know is the truth !,
Me hole !

” conjures up all sorts of distasteful images” – with respect, that says more about your imagination than it does about the strength of the relationship a couple would like to cement in marriage. While we’re looking to have loving relationships recognized and protected, you’re mentally devising porn scripts. How very morally upright of you!

Irrelevant comments from an irrelevant man heading up an irrelevant boys club. Unfortunately, he has lots of small minded, bigoted followers…

How can we take a man dressed in a frock serious who knows nothing about intimate relationships

I have lost all respect for the church. I no longer care. I am free.

Is it just the male gays you hate or has your narrow mind not worked out that the girls might be at it too

Dennis, I suggest if you have a problem with gay marriage then it would be foolish for you to marry another man. Simple.

That slimey little weasel pope needs a wake-up call. I live with my girlfriend, have done so for years. According to that pompous scumbag, we are damaging society? Why on Earth anyone pays attention to the advice of a virgin is beyond me. I despise him and the evil cult that he represents. They’re still trying to poison the world with lies. These guys used to kill people who didn’t believe the Earth was flat!

I just dont know where to start with your statement.

Well thank god you’re not homophobic anyway, Denis.

The church as had its day. Its time to move away from its Stone Age beliefs.

Keep it up you child molester protecting, exploiter of the poor .. You surely don’t stand on moral high ground … So its all just more nails in the coffin of the most corrupt evil institution in human history …

Stupid people armed with opinions is a very dangerous thing indeed… that will always hit a nerve with the majority, irrespective of ones orientation.

Screw all these arguments… Plain and simple why should a Nazi with a funny hat and a gold throne… Get to dictate how others live their lives

Uncomfortable for normal people! I am happy to consider myself abnormal, better that than to be associated with the likes of you!

You should keep those closed minded and ridiculous comments under that rock you seem to be living under Denis

Denis you are a prime example of why the pope should be done on incitement of hatred. Let him do what he wants with the church marriage and leave civil marriage alone

@ fussyone Ireland….There’s nothing a gay couple do that many (not all) but many straight couples don’t. This understood, what does your argument really say about you? Keep your narrow, simple-minded and shallow opinions to yourself and try to think before you come on here spewing your nonsense.

Can the pope and the catholic church not just shut up and feck off?

Kills like here’s one that’s been brainwashed.
” gay people make ” normal” people uncomfortable.- no they don’t, just the intolerant minority like you pal. what is normal, exactly? The way the church demands you live?
” the proper way to live for the last thousand years”- wake up plonker. I bet you think cohabiting couples are going to destroy society too.

Is this the same pope who wears skirts and totters around on purple high heels?

Folks, Denis Walsh is a time and space wasting troller on this site. Don’t waste your time or energy engaging with his infantile trouble-making…

Ah yeh the old I’m not homophobic but shpeel….. YOU ARE!!

Most homophobic thing I’d read in a while. 100yrs from now people will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about. Its the buisness of no one apart from the people concerned.
The catholic church shows again how far behind the curve and inhumane they are. I wonder is the catholics churchs opposition to ‘Gay’ marriage and their opposition to priests marrying linked.

The church can help save my sole.
But who my hart belongs to is of my choosing.

I think Stephen Fry sums it all up nicely:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOcT_vq7NyM

Denis, come out of the closet and be honest: you ARE a homophobe. Tell the truth and shame the devil. Then, spend some time on your brand new Twitter account. You’ll exceed 18 Tweets in no time at all.

I wasn’t talking about the cmmercialistion of a sexual act as you well know. What I was saying is this: same sex couples seeking access to civil marriage is about love, commitment and respect. YOU are the one who wrote about how the notion “conjures up all sorts of distasteful images” – it’s hardly our fault that your imagination takes the express train to dirty town, running your own mind’s-eye porn scenario. Newsflash: nothing happens in a gay bed that does not happen in a straight bed (whether you like that idea or not).

Pope JP was better! This one looks like he’s possessed. Thank god (ha!) he doesn’t represent everyone.

Why had nobody pointed out the offensive comment on northside Dubliners. We do not go around beating up gay people. This guy is expressing his own prejudice, nobody elses.

“Seeing two men together is an uncomfortable experience for normal people”

“I’m not homophobic”

Can you tell us what your understanding of the word “homophobic” is?

Back under your rock

Denis i would say your amount of thumbs up are more dodgy then Putins presidential election.

ah Denis, so you are attacking gay people today? Only few days ago you attacked us, foreign people, calling us a disgrace to Ireland. Who’s next? What is your purpose? Attention seeker, are you? Or plain stupid?…..

Didn’t anyone tell the Pope it’s not considered polite or fashionable to oppose gay marriage and/or gay adoption any more?

Yeah lets just rip up our constitution and create a legal system based on “what will get you beaten up on the north side of Dublin”, I’m sure Ireland will be a lovely place to live then.

Dont Feed the Trolls.

For once I’m absolutely lost for words

If I were God, I’d sue the Pope for tarnishing my name. I hope all of you *straight* cohabiting couples are paying attention: you’re just as bad as us gays, undermining traditional marriage and being a threat to society. Yiz should be ashamed of yizzerselves. At least we gays have an excuse: we’re “intrinsically evil and disordered”, which means we can’t help ourselves. But you cohabiting straights? Pfft! Yiz’ll burn in hell! And Denis – the loving Christian that he is – will be laughing at yiz.

I wouldn’t be too worried about those wank–s as the church of Ireland is on its last legs and will be a thing of the past fairly soon . Good riddens I say

It is a human basic human right to try to find happiness with another

It is well documented and researched that homosexuality is genetic

Should we deny marriage n discriminate against in general against people who are born with say brown hair.

I think the Journal should have a stupid comment of the week competition. This comment from Dennis would clearly be an outright winner.

“I’m not homophobic, but I know that heterosexuality is the natural way of things. The pope shouldn’t be mocked for stating what has been the proper way of living for thousands of years.”

Please forgive me forgive me. I will be laughing from heaven while you are all burning in HELL.

People; don’t feed the trolls.

@Tony Kavanagh… You beat me to it!!!

@Faceless Man, the whole article is just the pope trolling us.

Hey, that just f***ed up my post above, which was a reply to Fussyone Ireland…

@Lisa… Classic!

I am utterly dismayed by the amount of anti-catholic sentiment present here today. I want to make it absolutely clear that I am NOT homophobic and YES, I know what it means. Our Pope is not homophobic either! This is about nature, not discrimination! Incidentally I noticed I have more thumbs up than down, so I’m clearly not alone in my feelings. Seems that only the hot-headed church-bashers are those that rant on here and call me a troll.

Well done Dennis for being brave enough to speak your mind. Those of you who slated him for his comment are hypocrites. You say that all people are entitled to freedom and to their own opinions yet you literally have a textual fit when somebody expresses their opinion.
I have read many comments such as ‘if you don’t agree with it don’t do it but leave the rest of us alone’…. Can you not share the same decorum and allow Catholics whether old fashioned or not to express their beliefs, by stifling them you are doing exactly what you say you have a problem with.
I am blessed to be a true follower of Christ, I imagine he hurts that we fight over such things. So let’s just accept each others opinions and not fight. I accept your beliefs on all matters, please accept mine.
Catholicism in its essence is anti sin- when one sins one is punished. This is how a catholic lives. If you don’t like that, then fair enough but let us live ‘under our rocks or in the stone age’.
When the bomb hit Hiroshima, a chapel and all people inside were saved as they were devout Catholics and recited the rosary daily. They were in such close proximity to the bomb that they should have been annihilated. But their faith saved them.
The Pope wishes to promote his beliefs and ensure that all followers are safe- free from sin and darkness. May God bless him. If you don’t like it then don’t listen but at least allow others to do so.
I know many atheists who don’t believe in the spiritual world or life after death, I respect that. Catholics believe in heaven, hell and purgatory and we believe that the gravity of sin in the world will bring about catastrophes. Let us believe it- let us defend out faith and you defend yours. Can we not all live in peace on opposite sides of the fence?
I have heard so many atheists and agnostics quote religious indifference as a cause of war and then condemn religion for this very reason, the truth is we allow it to happen. I love you all and truly wish the best peace, love and happiness for your lives and your families. Please respect the faithful too- it would be a much more peaceful world.
Finally, if a catholic tries to tell you that God loves you he does not do so simply to convert you and spread his religion- he does so because he loves you and wishes for you to share the glory of Heaven. If that sounds crazy to you, well fair enough, it sounds crazy to many!

Hypocotyl

This has nothing to do with porn or commercialisation of a sexual act as you are trying to suggest. This is about male on male sex following the union of marriage. That to me is disgusting. Now you can cement that all you want but that is just gross to any “normal” heterosexual person.