Can gays be catholic?

[phonemic]

I believe people should be called however they want. In my case, I prefer being called gay or homosexual or even queer. The phrase you propose, while syntatically true, is simply unnecessarily wordy.

The cause of homosexuality isn’t important, but I can tell you that for me - I was never molested. I had no choice in the matter. Having romantic feelings for members of the same sex is as natural for a heterosexual having romantic feelings for the opposite sex.

We really need to use the term “people who have same-sex attraction”
The catechism does not state nor is it a teaching of the church that “they’re born that way”

The church teaches that this desire is disordered.

It is not an undisputed scientific fact that it is the same as being born black or Polish -
For many - it is a choice based on disordered childhood/parenting/abuse/molestation or many other combinations of things -
Scripture says “He made them male and female”.

Most boys who were “brought up” by a molesting uncle or “friend of the family” believe they “are homosexual” because that’s all they’ve ever known.

 

[Dale_M]

I believe people should be called however they want. In my case, I prefer being called gay or homosexual or even queer. The phrase you propose, while syntatically true, is simply unnecessarily wordy.

I think Angels Watchin used that phrase because it is favored by Courage, an apostolate for homosexual Catholics. Folks here at CAF often just use the initials SSA, but this still requires the phrase “persons with SSA” or “someone with SSA” rather than simply saying gay or homosexual. Yes, it is cumbersome - I can’t imagine using it very often while speaking, although reading (or writing) the whole thing is less of a challenge.

phonemic:

Having romantic feelings for members of the same sex is as natural for a heterosexual having romantic feelings for the opposite sex.

Are you saying you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

 

[phonemic]

Are you saying you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Hehe, no. I unfortunately “celebrated” Singles Awareness Day yesterday.

 

[Kolbe300]

I think Angels Watchin used that phrase because it is favored by Courage, an apostolate for homosexual Catholics. Folks here at CAF often just use the initials SSA, but this still requires the phrase “persons with SSA” or “someone with SSA” rather than simply saying gay or homosexual. Yes, it is cumbersome - I can’t imagine using it very often while speaking, although reading (or writing) the whole thing is less of a challenge.

Since being on this board, I’ve been completely amazed at how much misunderstanding results from all these different ways of describing a homosexual orientation. If I state I am a same sex attracted person on CAF or in Courage people seem to know what I mean. If I say I’m a same sex attracted person anywhere else in the world people will look at me funny. As has been proven to me on the board, if I say I am gay or homosexual (which is completely true by the definition of the words) many people assume I am actively engaging in sinful behavior, even though I am living celibately. This assumption can be so damaging.

As I’ve stated numerous times before, there are so many young people dealing with “SSA” who have never even heard the term SSA. They aren’t even remotely sexually active yet they define their sexuality as “gay” or “homosexual”. Some may not want to admit it, but that is an accurate definition of their sexuality! Let’s do them (and anyone else) a huge service by giving them the benefit of the doubt when they say, “I’m a gay teenager” or “I am a gay Catholic”. I have no problem whatsoever with people preferring SSA over other terms. That is fine. I just think that people need to be aware of this inclination to assume sinfulness when the other terms are used. It can be a very damaging assumption to make. In my very first post I said I was a gay Catholic. Later in the post I said that I was living celibately. I was accused of “trickery” because of that. Like I said back then, someone is only “tricked” by that if they are making assumptions they shouldn’t make.

Just my two cents!

Peace everyone!

 

[Kolbe300]

Hehe, no. I unfortunately “celebrated” Singles Awareness Day yesterday.

Well, you weren’t the only one! I would say happy belated SAD day, but that has a somewhat depressing ring to it. You, and every person fighting the good fight are in my prayers.

Peace!

 

[Teen4Christ]

You know, I appreciate the fact that you guys are trying to help but this topic is pushing me away from God, so I’ve decided to stop dwelling on this issue and do what I feel brings me closest to God, thanks.