"Cardinal Radcliffe defends controversial 2013 text on homosexual acts"

"Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., sought to clarify and defend one of his most controversial writings on homosexuality in which he likened same-sex activity to Christ’s self-gift and added that the Church needs to have a more general principle of 'welcome' for LGBT people.

Speaking in an interview with LifeSiteNews on the day before he was created a cardinal on December 7, Radcliffe responded to a question about one of his most controversial passages.

In Radcliffe’s contribution to the 2013 Anglican Pilling Report, he weighed in on the topical issue of same-sex 'marriage,' appearing to liken homosexual activity to 'Christ’s self-gift.'

He wrote that not every marriage is fertile and that we must avoid a 'mechanical or simplistic' understanding of fertility. Jesus 'is God’s fertile word. And surely it is in the kind and healing words that we offer each other that we all share in fertility of that most intimate moment.'

Continuing, Radcliffe appeared to positively compare same-sex activity with Christ’s gift of Himself in the Eucharist:

How does all of this bear on the question of gay sexuality? We cannot begin with the question of whether it is permitted or forbidden! We must ask what it means, and how far it is Eucharistic. Certainly, it can be generous, vulnerable, tender, mutual and non-violent. So, in many ways, I would think that it can be expressive of Christ’s self-gift. We can also see how it can be expressive of mutual fidelity, a covenantal relationship in which two people bind themselves to each other forever."...

These words from the former master of the Dominican Order were again highlighted by numerous Catholic news outlets in recent weeks when Pope Francis announced the priest would be elevated to the College of Cardinals. Attention was given to Radcliffe’s apparent likening of same-sex activity – which the Church teaches is disordered in itself – to Christ’s pure and complete gift of self in the Eucharist...

Radcliffe was one of the regular celebrants for the 'LGBT Masses' held in London, the notorious 'Soho Masses.' His record is notable for being widely permissive to the LGBT cause and for opposing previous Vatican documents on the matter.

Shortly before the Vatican issued its 2005 document reaffirming the ban on admitting men with 'homosexual tendencies' into seminaries, Radcliffe publicly objected to the predicted ban. Writing in the London Times, Radcliffe argued that '(a]ny deep-rooted prejudice against others, such as homophobia or misogyny, would be grounds for rejecting a candidate for the priesthood, but not their sexual orientation.'

Then, in an article for The Tablet, he said, 'I have no doubt that God does call homosexuals to the priesthood, and they are among the most dedicated and impressive priests I have met.'

He also wrote in 2012 defending the Church teaching that same-sex 'marriage' is impossible, but adding:

This is not to denigrate committed love of people of the same sex. This too should be cherished and supported, which is why church leaders are slowly coming to support same-sex civil unions. The God of love can be present in every true love.

Questioned by LifeSiteNews as to what Catholic outreach to LGBT individuals might look like, Radcliffe replied that 'generally speaking, the main thing that we have to do is to say, ‘you’re welcome.'"