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Lilyofthevalley
Guest
Should you tell them about your beliefs and try to lead them away from their sin?
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Karen_Anne
Guest
Most of the people I call “friend” already know my beliefs. If there is any hope of actually saying something to someone that will actually make a difference, it would have to be said in the context of a true friendship. To speak to another about their sins when we do not have an established friendship with them is just an invitation to be judged ourselves. We must speak the truth in love - not judgement and must make sure that we treat all with the respect that is due to them. We are all sinners. Now, as far as talking to a group of people about a particular belief, that is totally different. Most people who go to a lecture, sermon etc. know what they are in for and tend to not take the speaker’s words too personally.
Karen Anne
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Rand_Al_Thor
Guest
people on here seem to think that being gay is something that a person can turn on and off of “fix” by going to therapy. from the homosexual people i have spoken with in the past, i really dont think that is the case. you’re not going to change who they are by telling them what you believe about homosexuality, and most likely if they would be offended by it. i dont have any friends that are gay, but regardless my friends know my beliefs and if i were to have a gay friend they would probably know that it wasnt something i personally agree with, but i wouldnt try to change them because i honestly dont think that’s possible.
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mjdonnelly
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A casual aquaintance is dicuseeing their sex life with me?
I chose it would depend on the relationship.
I chose it would depend on the relationship.
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Trelow
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Rand Al'Thor:
That is where the sin and scandal lie, in actions, not feelings.
And yes, it is a physologicial disease, there are many cases of people recovering from it. But you can never recover from anythign unless you change your behavior.
They may not be able to change how they feel but they sure can chage how they act on those feelings.
That is where the sin and scandal lie, in actions, not feelings.
And yes, it is a physologicial disease, there are many cases of people recovering from it. But you can never recover from anythign unless you change your behavior.
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contemplative
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My actions would speak more loudly than words.
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springbreeze
Guest
Dear friends
Please don’t anyone throw stones at me, but I believe that they do not know medically or psychologically what is the origin of homosexuality. To say there is a ‘cure’ when no-one knows the cause is troubling for me.
I do have gay friends and I also have friends who are hetrosexual all of them are sinners, I am a sinner.
I agree with you friend:
Rand Al'Thor:
I cannot imagine the awful struggle, tornness and duplicity for a homosexual male or female between their Catholic faith and their own sexuality. It must be a horrendous cross. I think love and kindness and a gentle approach is always called for not just in this situation but in any matters of charity where one soul is aiding another soul to overcome sin of any nature, in Christ Jesus.
God Bless you and much love and peace to you
Teresa
Please don’t anyone throw stones at me, but I believe that they do not know medically or psychologically what is the origin of homosexuality. To say there is a ‘cure’ when no-one knows the cause is troubling for me.
I do have gay friends and I also have friends who are hetrosexual all of them are sinners, I am a sinner.
I agree with you friend:
Rand Al'Thor:
I think our Pope Benedict XVI wrote about homosexuality before he became Pope and in that stipulates the kindness and gentleness in working with people who are homosexual. That it would not be prudent to act rashly in respect of homosexuals at the cost of driving them from their faith and the Church, but rather to gradually lead, encourage and guide homosexual people to chastity and a loving monogamous relationship of affection with their partner or to celibacy. I see much wisdom in this from our Holy Father. Afterall, we are all fighting the battle against sin mortal and venial, daily.
I cannot imagine the awful struggle, tornness and duplicity for a homosexual male or female between their Catholic faith and their own sexuality. It must be a horrendous cross. I think love and kindness and a gentle approach is always called for not just in this situation but in any matters of charity where one soul is aiding another soul to overcome sin of any nature, in Christ Jesus.
God Bless you and much love and peace to you
Teresa
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Trelow
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Just my
springbreeze:
The scandal is just as bad as if they were active.
Um, no.
The scandal is just as bad as if they were active.
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Timidity
Guest
Isn’t silence one of the ways we become responsible for the sins of another?
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CanonAlberic
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I have a good friend who is gay. He doesn’t flaunt it (you’d never know), he doesn’t come on to me or anyone else who is straight, he’s one of the nicest people I know, and he can play a fiddle like you wouln’t believe (great fun to jam with!). I don’t say anything to him, as it’s none of my business, and as far as I’m concerned, you can’t change genetics.
Peace!.
Peace!.
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puzzleannie
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casual aquaintance is living with a woman not his wife . . .
. . . steals pencils from the company supply closet . . .
. . . tears up his parking tickets . . .
. . . has 3 martini lunches and gets in his car anyhow . . .
. . . goes to gentlemens clubs with clients . . .
. . . buys condoms . … .
where exactly do you stand on first making assumptions about the moral and spiritual life of casual aquaintances based on casual observation and hearsay, and second on making judgements about comparative strangers and thirdly injecting your personal beliefs into water cooler conversation uninvited?
. . . steals pencils from the company supply closet . . .
. . . tears up his parking tickets . . .
. . . has 3 martini lunches and gets in his car anyhow . . .
. . . goes to gentlemens clubs with clients . . .
. . . buys condoms . … .
where exactly do you stand on first making assumptions about the moral and spiritual life of casual aquaintances based on casual observation and hearsay, and second on making judgements about comparative strangers and thirdly injecting your personal beliefs into water cooler conversation uninvited?
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Lisa_N
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Well since there isn’t much substantiation that homosexual activity is genetic, maybe it CAN be changed. Whether you approach this with a casual acquaintance as the thread states may be up for dispute but no dispute that homosexual activists and promoters have not been able to prove or even provide strong evidence this is a genetic condition.
Speaking of, the four homosexuals I know best have spent parts of their life as heterosexual. One was married ten years and had children. The others had normal sexual relations with women, dated, lived with a woman, etc.
OTOH something GENETIC like the fact that I am a female with two x chromosomes is not subject to change. (although I understand the plumbing can be redirected)
Lisa N
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abcdefg
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I wouldn’t bother him if he knew homosexual is sinful. But if he showed me how pride he is of being gay, I would confront him.
btw I don’t know any gays or lesbians.
btw I don’t know any gays or lesbians.
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CanonAlberic
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Lisa N:
I don’t approve of homosexuality (I think the whole idea is gross, actually!), but I’m not one to pass judgement on a man who is probably a better person (other than the homosexual thing) morally than I am.
Peace.
Lisa thanks, but I really don’t think that this is something that can be changed in a person (just my opinion, I’m certainly not saying that I’m right). I won’t condemn a friend for the way he is (just as he doesn’t condemn me for being a “babe hound”). I’d rather just let things stay as they are, rather than risk screwing up a very good friendship.
I don’t approve of homosexuality (I think the whole idea is gross, actually!), but I’m not one to pass judgement on a man who is probably a better person (other than the homosexual thing) morally than I am.
Peace.
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GloriaPatri4
Guest
Dear Teresa,
Respectfully, do you have any documentation on this? Everything that I have read from our Holy Father (formerly known as Cardinal Ratzinger) on the subject of homosexuality speaks pretty strongly against homosexual relations/activities. I find it hard to believe that our Holy Father would encourage homosexuals into having loving monogamous relationships of affection with their partners. Maybe I misunderstood your post.
These are the articles/documents that I know of
Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=3500
Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html
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springbreeze
Guest
Dear friend
It depends how you are translating that, I think you are equating affection and love as having sex which is not how I translate it nor how the Holy Father sees it. He is not encouraging sex , but for homosexuals to remain in a single relationship and to be ‘chaste’, that is to totally abstain from sexual relations with their partner whilst sharing the love and intimacy of a relationship. I think that it is easy to place too much emphasis on the ‘sexual relationship’ of any couple, but it is more profound because it is a sin in homosexuals. The homosexual ‘relationship’ is not forbidden by the Church as long as there is chastity. It is not a sin to live in a homosexual relationship without the sex side of it.
I can’t provide the document because I had this explained to me by a Priest whom I greatly respect in knowledge and wisdom(based on the document of the then Cardinal Ratzinger) . I am sure someone will be able to find that document for you or you may like to ask your Priest for it or maybe in the Catholic Apologists thread. I’m sorry I can’t help further in providing this document, but it isn’t a figment of my imagination, it does exist.
God Bless you and much love and peace to you
Teresa
p.s. opps I don’t know why this post has come out so BIG, apologies for that and if it makes your viewing difficult…
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Lisa_N
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CanonAlberic, maybe you didn’t read my post. The point I was trying to make is that since people can change from being “heterosexual” to “homosexual” OBVIOUSLY this can be changed. If you follow some of the other posters’ experiences,you will also see people can change to being heterosexual after living a long time as a self identified homosexual. Every bit of evidence I’ve seen is that while there may be some kind of genetic influence, it is not genetic. I cannot change the fact that I am female, just by conditioning, experience or wanting to change. Does this make sense?
Again, I often liken this to alcoholism or drug addiction. No one CHOOSES to be an addict. Who would? Just like who would choose to be a homosexual? OTOH we don’t know exactly how our brains work, how they are programmed and why some people become alcoholics or homosexuals. Environment? Conditioning? Who knows. But the point is that calling this genetic or calling it “the way I am” only allows people to excuse behavior that is not normal or healthy or life affirming–not to mention in the minds of many a sin.
CanonAlberic said:
Quite honestly I don’t see condemnation being the issue. I see that you can speak the truth in love. Homosexuality is not normal behavior from a biological standpoint, not to mention religious, traditional, or historical. That doesn’t mean refuse to speak or interact with your homosexual friends, acquaintences. But if the opportunity arises at the very least don’t affirm, support or justify this behavior.
Lisa N
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fix
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Can you provide a quote?
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Trelow
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No that is scandal. And every bit as sinful as engaging in sodomy.
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LoneRanger
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…how do you treat anyone who needs your help and understanding, not to mention support…
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