Can a practicing homosexual be a good Christian?

[wcknight]

We are all called to holiness, and anyone who wantonly sins without at least trying to correct their lives is not a good Christian or good Catholic.

Some folks have problems with alchohol, others with lying or cheating, or others with additions. All are sinners, and all are called to work on their problems.

There are some who are living saints, who rarely if ever sins. I know a few people who come close, but I am certainly not one of them.

Even the Church teaches that only Mary and Jesus were without sin. So to focus on one group of sinners and say they are not good Christians or good Catholics is a bit unfair at best, uncharitable at worst.

Folks striving to make their lives better and correct their faults, should not be excluded from the Church. IF they are in mortal sin then they need to get to confession. The desire must be to stop sinning. Because one fails does not mean they should be kicked out.

As long as the Church says that homosexual acts is gravely wrong, then they are committing mortal sins. Their goal is to stop, just as anyone else who is sinning should stop.

Sometimes it takes a long time to stop addictions, whether it is sex, drugs or alchohol or whatever. If all sinners were to stop going to mass, the churches would be empty except for the few saints or the folks who think they are saints.

 

[rlg94086]

We are all called to holiness, and anyone who wantonly sins without at least trying to correct their lives is not a good Christian or good Catholic.

Some folks have problems with alchohol, others with lying or cheating, or others with additions. All are sinners, and all are called to work on their problems.

There are some who are living saints, who rarely if ever sins. I know a few people who come close, but I am certainly not one of them.

Even the Church teaches that only Mary and Jesus were without sin. So to focus on one group of sinners and say they are not good Christians or good Catholics is a bit unfair at best, uncharitable at worst.

Folks striving to make their lives better and correct their faults, should not be excluded from the Church. IF they are in mortal sin then they need to get to confession. The desire must be to stop sinning. Because one fails does not mean they should be kicked out.

As long as the Church says that homosexual acts is gravely wrong, then they are committing mortal sins. Their goal is to stop, just as anyone else who is sinning should stop.

Sometimes it takes a long time to stop addictions, whether it is sex, drugs or alchohol or whatever. If all sinners were to stop going to mass, the churches would be empty except for the few saints or the folks who think they are saints.

This is really the question. The OP asked about “practicing homosexuals.” I’m not clear that a practicing homosexual’s “goal is to stop.” Again, it is similar to a someone “living in sin.” If there goal is to stop, they really should move out.

Now, if a Catholic Christian who has SSA is truly trying to avoid sin, then that is different. When they stumble, then they are a “good Christian” who is struggling with sin.

 

[CatholicMC]

no.

 

[goofyjim]

Yes.

 

[FiremanFrank]

***Q: Can a practicing homosexual be a good Christian?

A: NO

***The operative word there being “practicing”.

To personally reject sin in one’s heart and occasionally stumble/fall into sin, does not mean that a person is not a follower of Christ.

But to formally accept a sinful practice as being morally good (when one has been given the knowledge that a certain concrete act is sinful) is another thing altogether.

Now, the amount of guilt someone has for their sins can only be determined by God Himself. But a sin it still is.

 

[goofyjim]

I once heard a highly known priest say that Jesus told us we will be judged on how we treat the poor. A practicing homosexual who treats the poor well can therefore be considered a good Christian. It is not for us to determine who is good and who is not. Let God decide these things as He is the ultimate One who decides who gets into heaven. He may hold a few surprises for all of us.

 

[rlg94086]

I once heard a highly known priest say that Jesus told us we will be judged on how we treat the poor. A practicing homosexual who treats the poor well can therefore be considered a good Christian. It is not for us to determine who is good and who is not. Let God decide these things as He is the ultimate One who decides who gets into heaven. He may hold a few surprises for all of us.

We will be judged on our treatment of the poor…and many other things. Taking care of the poor is not an exclusive requirement. A person living in mortal sin who takes care of the poor is still not in a state of grace.

 

[latinmasslover]

I once heard a highly known priest say that Jesus told us we will be judged on how we treat the poor. A practicing homosexual who treats the poor well can therefore be considered a good Christian. It is not for us to determine who is good and who is not. Let God decide these things as He is the ultimate One who decides who gets into heaven. He may hold a few surprises for all of us.

If I were to kill homosexuals by night and care for the poor during the day, would I be a good Christian?

 

[Bennie_P]

I once heard a highly known priest say that Jesus told us we will be judged on how we treat the poor. A practicing homosexual who treats the poor well can therefore be considered a good Christian. It is not for us to determine who is good and who is not. Let God decide these things as He is the ultimate One who decides who gets into heaven. He may hold a few surprises for all of us.

I hope he isn’t your parish priest. If he is,you need to find a new parish.

 

[brotherjoe]

Well, we all have a lot to say on the issue. My question is, are our hearts and homes as open to these fellow sinners of ours as our mouths are to comment on their spiritual state?

 

[rlg94086]

Well, we all have a lot to say on the issue. My question is, are our hearts and homes as open to these fellow sinners of ours as our mouths are to comment on their spiritual state?

Of course, but that is off-topic. This thread is in regards to the compatibility between being a “good Christian” while at the same time living a sinful existance.

 

[Bennie_P]

Originally Posted by brotherjoe

This off topic also but,

Doesn’t it always seem to you, as it does me, when topics on the morality of homosexuality comes up, that someone always try to redirect the question to a judgement against those that are trying to defend Church teaching? Without any knowledge of any of the defender’s personal involvement with other fellow sinners or ministries? I wonder why is that?

Oh well, back to the discussion:shrug:

 

[goofyjim]

This off topic also but,

Doesn’t it always seem to you, as it does me, when topics on the morality of homosexuality comes up, that someone always try to redirect the question to a judgement against those that are trying to defend Church teaching? Without any knowledge of any of the defender’s personal involvement with other fellow sinners or ministries? I wonder why is that?

Oh well, back to the discussion:shrug:

And doesn’t it always seem that everyone is passing judgement when there is only one judge, Jesus.

 

[Keikiolu]

And doesn’t it always seem that everyone is passing judgement when there is only one judge, Jesus.

Goof,… we realize you’d rather not have your sins “judged” as sins.

No one WANTS to have their sins judged.

But the Christian is specifically told to judge sins as sins, and inform those who sin and don’t realize they are sinning that they are sinning.

No one condemns the person for the sins that the person commits.

But the sins must be condemned.

The widespread misunderstanding of the word “judging” in this context is a nasty “mental illness” that even Catholics are prone to.

Protestants, having the illness of “self above all” (especially in the area of interpretation of scripture), are even more likely to use isolated bits of misunderstood Christian knowledge to justify doing as they please, regardless of what we are told by God.

And that is what’s funny when Earl’s mother says, quite frequently,… “Don’t you JUDGE me…!”

 

[goofyjim]

Goof,… we realize you’d rather not have your sins “judged” as sins.

No one WANTS to have their sins judged.

But the Christian is specifically told to judge sins as sins, and inform those who sin and don’t realize they are sinning that they are sinning.

No one condemns the person for the sins that the person commits.

But the sins must be condemned.

The widespread misunderstanding of the word “judging” in this context is a nasty “mental illness” that even Catholics are prone to.

Protestants, having the illness of “self above all” (especially in the area of interpretation of scripture), are even more likely to use isolated bits of misunderstood Christian knowledge to justify doing as they please, regardless of what we are told by God.

And that is what’s funny when Earl’s mother says, quite frequently,… “Don’t you JUDGE me…!”

Same old claims. Jesus quite specifically says in the gospels when judgement day comes those who have visited him in prison, or while he was sick etc. are the ones that will get into the Kingdom. Those who failed to do this will not get in. This becomes my standard of who is a good Christian. I don’t sit around tallying up people’s sins.

 

[latinmasslover]

And doesn’t it always seem that everyone is passing judgement when there is only one judge, Jesus.

The question is, can a practicing homosexual be a good Christian? Well, what did Jesus say? If you love Me you wil obey Me…Take up your cross and follow Me…" Can a person really claim to love Christ and to be following Him when they live a lifestyle in opposition to Him and His Church without any intention of changing? Remember, we’re not talking about those trying to overcome this cross and fall, but for those who choose to throw out His words and the words of His Bride and do it anyway.

 

[goofyjim]

The question is, can a practicing homosexual be a good Christian? Well, what did Jesus say? If you love Me you wil obey Me…Take up your cross and follow Me…" Can a person really claim to love Christ and to be following Him when they live a lifestyle in opposition to Him and His Church without any intention of changing? Remember, we’re not talking about those trying to overcome this cross and fall, but for those who choose to throw out His words and the words of His Bride and do it anyway.

And I say again if he feeds the hungry, shelters the homeless, visits the sick, etc. then, yes, the practicing homosexual can also be a good Christian.

 

[latinmasslover]

Same old claims. Jesus quite specifically says in the gospels when judgement day comes those who have visited him in prison, or while he was sick etc. are the ones that will get into the Kingdom. Those who failed to do this will not get in. This becomes my standard of who is a good Christian. I don’t sit around tallying up people’s sins.

But is it Christ’s standard? The answer is no, as He says a lot more on what is required for salvation. Doing a few acts of charity doesn’t compensate for deliberately disobeying God by indulging in deviant behavior.

 

[latinmasslover]

And I say again if he feeds the hungry, shelters the homeless, visits the sick, etc. then, yes, the practicing homosexual can also be a good Christian.

A good person, maybe, but not a good Christian.

 

[goofyjim]

A good person, maybe, but not a good Christian.

Well, guess what. We’re all sinners. I guess that means none of us are good Christians.