-
Bishop Armando X. Ochoa
Bishop Armando X. Ochoa
The Most Rev. Armando X. Ochoa, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, penned an op-ed for Sunday’s El Paso Times that appeared to be a direct response to a homophobic rant by the Rev. Michael Rodriguez that was published in the same newspaper earlier this month.
Rodriguez, parish priest at San Juan Bautista Catholic Church in El Paso, compared gays to rapists and condemned LGBT allies to hell.
“First of all, I would like to state that previous columns claiming to speak for Catholic Doctrine were the personal opinions of individuals and do not necessarily express the belief of the Catholic Church,” Bishop Ochoa writes.
Ochoa went on to say that while the church opposes same-sex marriage, he advocates love and compassion for all — even us “homosexuals”:
“As Church we want to journey with everyone as they search for meaning in their lives. We believe that Christ offers this meaning. The use of harsh words of condemnation is not the approach Christ invites us to have toward one another. Intolerance closes the door to learning and deeper understanding of each other,” he writes. “Furthermore, it leads to divisiveness within the body of Christ. It is time for us to learn how to work with each other, even when and if we disagree. Too many people have suffered because of a profound lack of compassion and a perceived arrogant intolerance.”
There is only one thing to point out:
One wise man once said: The road to hell is paved by skulls of Catholic Bishops.
24th of Sept 2011 THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE IN “Dallasvoice.com,” Posted on 23 Aug 2010 at 11:13am .
How hypocritical. Bishop Ochoa has his op-ed published, but he denied Fr. Michael Rodriguez’s editorial to be published on at least five occasions. Some were printed/published as paid advertisements by a benefactor. There was NEVER any “homophobic rant,” only the teachings of our Catholic doctrine. Nothing Fr. Rodriguez, Pastor of San Juan Bautista Catholic Church, ever preached, or taught, or wrote, contradicted Catholic Doctrine; they are NOT the personal opinions of one priest. Bishop Ochoa is completely wrong in stating this.
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, said something like: “Hate the sin, but love the sinner.” Catholics hate homosexuality and same-sex marriage, NOT the individuals. And Catholic Bishops have a very serious obligation to speak out as such, and against abortion. But Bishop Ochoa has said very little, in public on this issues. When nearly 60% of the voters in El Paso oppose giving tax money to same-sex couples, without any support from Bishop Ochoa, why does he in turn oppose these voters and the lonely voice of his one, courageous priest, Fr. Michael Rodriguez, and evicts his from the city; throws his under the bus? Why has Bishop Ochoa long disliked and resented Fr. Rodriguez? Because he’s one of the few priests to celebrate Mass in Latin? Because Fr. Rodriguez has for years spoken out against abortion and spends 15 to 20 hrs, or more, every week hearing confessions? Because Fr. Rodriguez has been an EXTREMELY successful Pastor in a very poor parish? Bishop Ochoa has a lot to answer, in this life and the next.