Michael Voris: Do you think that there is too much lack of clarity inside the church about homosexuality, which has translated into talk about same-sex marriage? Many bishops will say no to same-sex marriage, but civil unions, that’s okay. That’s not Catholic, is it?
Bishop Schneider: It’s not Catholic. Well, yes, I have the impression that part of the clergy and bishops today are afraid to speak about homosexuality. I would say they are victims of a kind of hostage situation. They are taken hostage by this new ideology, the dictatorship of gender ideology and homosexual ideology, and so they are afraid. But this is not the attitude of the apostles, who were never afraid, nor of the saints.
Of course, we do not have to speak every day about this topic. We have to be prudent and exercise common sense. When necessary, we speak about this topic very clearly, of course, with politeness, but clearly. I have the impression that every time the topic of homosexuality is presented, bishops often excuse themselves before they start to speak, they back out, they apologize: The first statement is, we have deep veneration and respect for these persons.
It is clear that we must have deep respect, but we must not exaggerate this. We also have to speak. For example, there are other categories of persons and problems, such as alcoholism, which is very widespread in families. Nobody speaks: we have deep respect for alcoholic persons. Deep respect is clear; I have to respect the person, but I also have to say, drinking alcohol is not okay for these reasons.
Similarly, to commit homosexual acts, actions, and a lifestyle is not correct. It is against reason, against nature, and therefore against the will of God. This is against the expressed will of God because these are divine words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, by God Himself, in the Holy Scripture, in the Old Testament and the New Testament, which condemn homosexual actions and behavior directly and strongly.
We have to be faithful to God, not to the world, and not fear being accused of being homophobic. That is not true. When I speak on the dangers of alcoholism, I am not accused of alcoholophobia. This is nonsense. We have to return to common sense. I think of an expression of Chesterton: there will come a time when we have to defend, fight, make a war to defend common reason, common sense. I think we have already reached that point.