Boulder pastor says Jesus turned some away

[Ahimsa]

Just for clarification, regardless whether it applies to this situation: Is there any Catholic teaching against two homosexuals living together in celibacy? I thought the teaching was against homosexual acts.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Just for clarification, regardless whether it applies to this situation: Is there any Catholic teaching against two homosexuals living together in celibacy? I thought the teaching was against homosexual acts.

No, there is no teaching on that. But any two self-described homosexually atracted people, who have indeed lived together, or are living together now, and who declare themselves a “couple,” and who declare themselves the joint “parents” of a child, can be presumed not to have changed their minds on whether their lifestyle is or is not illegitimate and immoral in the eyes of the Church.

It would not be different for heterosexuals who are or were cohabitating. If they presented themselves as merely lovers but not married, and asked enrollment of their child, Catholic schools can turn away and have turned away such couples not in compliance with Catholic teaching.

I was actually in a situation myself, long ago, in that there was a technicality in my marriage that made me non-compliant with Church regulations. My child was put on a wait-list for the school, due to this temporary non-compliance. I did not complain about it; I accepted it and understood why my child was not a priority enrollment in the school; felt no bitterness toward the school, nor did I take my case to NCR, to CAF, to the ACLU, or anywhere else. The school was well within its rights to deny my child at the time.

When the issue was resolved, Bingo: my child was accepted off of the waitlist. Problem solved.

It’s really very easy: comply with Church requirements, and you and your child will be welcomed into the fold.

 

[Bussi]

I would like to weigh in on Markomalley’s invitation to fill in the blank in my own way

1. God created us "To know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world and be happy with Him in the next. (Baltimore Catechism) (He did not create us to eternally consign ourselves to hell)
2. He also told us these are the qualifications/standards we must meet to come to and be with Him. (Ten commandments., etc…Those are His prerogatives to mandate)
3. In order for us to come to Him freely with out forcing us, He gave us the gifts intellect and free will which we must use to overcome the disorder of concupiscence, a tendency to sin, which we are left with after the stain of Original Sin is removed by Baptism. (However, this freedom can and does have a tragic side to it in our own failure(s) to use it wisely.)
4. *Apocalypse 3:20 Behold, I stand at the gate, and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. *

5. He is always calling us in so many ways to repentance and we are the ones who walk away, we who turn away, we who wallow in our sinfulness at times, and, expect God  to say "since that is too difficult for you, I'll just throw that rule out!"  It just doesn't work that way as evidenced in our society today.  The way of the world is not God's way and no amount of fussing that the Church must be brought into compliance with it is simply nonsense.  Yes,we are in the world but God expects us not to be of it.  Every time we complain that God/Jesus turns us away, just who is turning us away?  It is none other than we ourselves turning us away and walking away because of an act of our own free will.

6. I would be less than honest if I didn’t admit that I have walked away on occasion. But, in His Mercy has called me back (I had to be the one to turn back of my own free will) and welcomed me back.
7. To me, just saying Jesus turns us away doesn’t make sense and just humans imputing a kind of human behavior onto Jesus that is not true…

God Bless…

Bussi

 

[markomalley]

What did Christ say about the millstone? I think these so called parents should remember this…But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.

You are absolutely right:
Matt 18.3 And said: amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receives me. 6 But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.
But it really becomes clear after that verse:
7 Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal comes. 8 And if your hand, or your foot, scandalize you, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye scandalize you, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Seems that there is some very sage advice for those two “ladies.” Thanks for reminding us all of that verse.

 

[peary]

It is true that Jesus never turned anyone away, but only in the sense that He gives everyone the opportunity to follow and obey Him. Nowhere in the Bible can we find that our fellowship with God is unconditional; instead we find that it is something that requires obedience on our part (Hebrews 3:14).

The measure of a Christian is NOT determined by how many people he or she can please; rather, it is by the obedience that is necessary to be a Christian (Luke 14:25-33).