Archbishop explains why Church will never condone homosexual behavior and that the West is pushing a gay agenda

Homosexual relationships destroy "the identity of the man and the identity of the woman," according to a Catholic Archbishop attending the Vatican's Synod of the Bishops. Archbishop Zbigevs Stankevis, has accused the U.S. and other countries of trying to promote a homosexual agenda.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Archbishop Zbigevs Stankevis of Riga, Latvia, has spoken out against the Western nations, saying they are trying to promote a homosexual agenda that is contrary to the basic teachings of the Faith.

After yesterday's mention of homosexuals by the Synod of Bishops, speculation has run rampant that the Church might "allow gays" or take some action that would represent a reversal of Church doctrine. Many have looked directly to Pope Francis, who is widely perceived as a reformer, to initiate such changes.

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However, this perspective is misguided and badly misinformed. Pope Francis is as conservative as any Pope, perhaps even among the most conservative of all. He has simply asked the bishops to consider ways the Church can focus on its pastoral mission of loving all people and providing for the needs of those who struggle or are imperfect in extraordinary ways.

This is the mission set forth for all people by Christ, not just the Church. However, the Church, as a shepherd must set the tone and the pace for the flock. Still, this does not mean Pope Francis will be changing Church doctrine. In fact, he cannot do so. The Pope is not an absolute monarch, but rather a vicar seated firmly under Christ.

Archbishop Zbigevs Stankevis explained to LifeSiteNews that foreign governments are trying to push a homosexual agenda on the Church, expecting shifts in doctrine and practice that are contrary to the Faith. These aren't going to happen because as the Archbishop explained, they destroy "the identity of the man and the identity of the woman."

The Archbishop explained that gay festivals have been held in Riga and that those festivals had more foreigners in attendance than Latvians. Why would that be? Perhaps because there is an agenda being promoted.

The rest of the world does not share the West's obsession with homosexuality and its equivalency movement. Much of the world has managed to hold a moral line against sexual deviancy. It is the West that is the exception, not the East.

Archbishop Stankevis explained what the Synod is actually trying to do. "Because homosexual relationships [are] against nature and it's a disorder, and from the Christian point of view it's sin and we couldn't promote it. But we have not tried to discriminate against them or to humiliate them. We have to play on these two registers and reconcile these two registers."

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