I am also prepared to admit the value of an enduring friendship and faithfulness between two persons of the same sex. Friendship has always been held… - Carlo Maria Martini

The Bible speaks of God's infinite greatness, even of His immeasurability, of the fact that God is immensely greater than our hearts, our beings, our spirits. And so it would come as no surprise if data were to emerge about other planets being inhabited by other people; this would not affect the message of the Bible in any way.

Jesus' parable retains all its enigmatic charge, it leaves the listener with the task of understanding it, it challenges him and forces him to question himself, it involves him in the first person and engages him in the search for meaning. [...] the parables are an act of courtesy, of respect for human freedom, of condescension, almost of tenderness.

Speaking of Jesus accompanies his actions and interprets them: the lordship of God is demonstrated through works and illustrated through words. [...] to authentically proclaim the Gospel it is necessary to some extent to veil it.