Catholics: Against homophobia?

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Belle777

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Let me just say that I understand the logic behind being against gay marriage for the very most part, and that homophobia is something different.

Being against homosexual marriage: Being against the sin of having sex without being able to create. (Based on the idea that one would only have sex during marriage)

Being homophobic: By definition, suppose to simply mean being uncomfortable around somebody who is gay, however, these days, it’s used as a way to describe people who are cruel to gay people.

There’s a difference between being against the sin and hating the sinner, and I believe many people are misunderstanding the church’s stance, and are often cruel and hateful to gay people.

Let me take this church for example.
The Westboro Baptist Church.
They believe that God HATES gay people.
They blame every little bad thing in this world on homosexuality.
I can understand if it’s a sin and God doesn’t like that, but God LOVES everybody.
Not to mention, there are many worse sins than homosexuality.
Rape and murder come to mind.

Another example…there are countries out there that KILL people for being gay.
These same countries tend to repress women, torturing them and giving them no rights for horrid reasons.
And they are murdering people for being gay!

My question to you Catholics (I consider myself Catholic, by the way, though I need to practice it better) is this: I know you’re against homosexuality, but since we are told to love everybody as a brother or sister, even if they sin, are you against homophobia?
 
That’s a difficult one to answer. Not because anyone is for homophobia, but there is no good definition of the word any more. If we say that homosexual acts are immoral then we are called homophobic. If that’s your definition, than I guess we are homophobic. However, if you are asking do we agree with persecuting those who are committing homosexual acts, then the answer is no - we are not homophobic.

Our catechism is very clear on this

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

That is the Catholic position on it.
 
Now THAT’S awesomeness right there.
I’m glad to hear that!
Thank you, HappyRevert.

Addon:
You see, I just worry that many churches, even the Catholic church, act as though these people aren’t human, but monsters.
I’m glad to hear that there are kind people who love and care for homosexuals, even if they don’t agree with them.
 
I make a distinction between “gay-negative” and “homophobic”.

“Gay-negative” is disapproval of homosexuality, and especially homosexual acts.

“Homphobia” is an unreasonable hatred and fear of homosexuals, ususally based on either ignorance or (what is the same thing) flamboyant stereotypes, saying “they’re all like that”–which is simply not true.

Another expression of homophobia is railing about the non-existent “gay lifestyle.”

As one woman said, “Madonna and I are both heterosexual women, but we can hardly be said to be living the same ‘heterosexual lifestyle’.”
 
I think “homophobia” is a manner of speech used to put those who do not view homosexuals as a class on the defensive. I do not know if it appears in the DSM, but if it does it probably entered at the time homosexuality was removed as a deviant behavior.

So it does not seem to me that homophobia actually exists to be opposed.
 
:heaven:hi,

I think we all go to church and believe in the bible as a spiritual guide for all of us to be happy and to find the way whenever we feel there’s something wrong. Since the church is leading us on our quest for spiritual growth. So… the church always tells us what is right… so we can have a happy life.

1.- GOD, is love, he doesn’t hate. Never.
2.- We can not judge, since even god had made clear we do not have the wisdom to do so. That’s why Jesus is the only in charge of that.
3.- Catholic church do not reject homosexuals. But somehow tells us that homosexual practices, even if are pleasant for some, they are not good for your spirit and won’t give you real happiness.

Mmmm let me give you an example… Let’s say… you are in love with a very bad person who makes you suffer, not good for you… but… you love him and enjoy every moment you are together… but the suffering and pain are great… so your Mom… or Dad… (in this case the church) tells you… that… she loves you… understands you… 'cuz knows nobody is perfect but… Makes clear that IS NOT RIGHT FOR YOUR SPIRIT and WONT BRING TRUE HAPINESS AND PEACE. You might recent her, but she… as a loving mother, has to tell you what’s right. Many times we love actions that even if we find them pleasant are NOT GOOD FOR US.

4.- Catholic church would like to homosexuals to find true hapiness in jesus.
5.- If a catholic ever mistreat a homosexual… he’s not true catholic since there’s no love.

Like the rest of us…

I hope I was of any help,

PILY
 
Methinks that the term “homophobia” must be carefully defined in this discussion. On one hand, there are the homosexual activist zealots, who would define the smallest questioning or opposition to any aspect of homosexuality as homophobia. One sees two gay men holding hands walking down the street and merely does a double-take, maybe because they’ve never seen two gay men holding hands before…that would be defined as homophobic. Pretty much anything short of open, enthusiastic acceptance for anything homosexual is labeled homophobic by such activist zealots.

On the other hand, we have the Catholic Church, that welcomes homosexual persons. She recognizes that those who participate in sins of homosexual action are no better or worse than anyone else who sins i.e. the rest of us. She looks with disfavor upon all sin, i.e. is “sinophobic”, which I suppose includes homophobia, meaning the sin of homosexual sexual activity. She can also be “adultryophobic”, homicidophobic, fornicatophobic, etc.
 
I will admit myself that there was a time in the past that I was homophobic in the sense of fear, not hate against them although I am completely against all forms of promiscuity.

I believe that most Catholics that are homophobic is increasingly induced by the scene of homosexuality prevalent within todays clergy. But not only today; for thousands of years homosexuality has secretly prevailed in the priesthood. Homophobia is stronger today with the biased fanfare of global media.

My homophobic fear was based on being a heterosexual male victim of a torturous gang-rape at gunpoint. I wasn’t just raped by two men but by a woman as well.
It doesn’t take too much logic to figure out why I harbored homophobic fears.
Not only did I struggle for years with my sexual identity of being a heterosexual man, but everything about who I was, was held in question. Education comes a long way in the understanding homosexuality among both male and females. Invariably they are just as human as heterosexuals.

I strongly believe that God is not so much against homosexuality as per say as He is against aberrant sexual acts that are condoned and practiced (“equally”) by heterosexuals and homosexuals. And that is the crux of the matter.
 
Belle777 said:
Now THAT’S awesomeness right there.
I’m glad to hear that!
Thank you, HappyRevert.

Addon:
You see, I just worry that many churches, even the Catholic church, act as though these people aren’t human, but monsters.
I’m glad to hear that there are kind people who love and care for homosexuals, even if they don’t agree with them.
Click to expand...
Isn’t it great to be Catholic 🙂

I forgot to mention, and you may already know this, but the Catechism is online at scborromeo.org/ccc.htm so whenever you have a question about something like that (because our behavior often falls short of the true Catholic teaching so it is confusing as to what the church teaches versus what you see people doing) you can look it up.
 
Thanks for the replies, I’m happy to hear all of this.
I have my reasons, though not ready to share em yet…
I’m very glad that you guys aren’t hateful.
I hope I’m being respectful enough with your beliefs on homosexuality, though.
(Yes, I’m Catholic, but sometimes I have issues with certain moral ideas.
I’m trying, mind you, just kind of confused.)
 
Newbie2 said:
Methinks that the term “homophobia” must be carefully defined in this discussion. On one hand, there are the homosexual activist zealots, who would define the smallest questioning or opposition to any aspect of homosexuality as homophobia. One sees two gay men holding hands walking down the street and merely does a double-take, maybe because they’ve never seen two gay men holding hands before…that would be defined as homophobic. Pretty much anything short of open, enthusiastic acceptance for anything homosexual is labeled homophobic by such activist zealots.

On the other hand, we have the Catholic Church, that welcomes homosexual persons. She recognizes that those who participate in sins of homosexual action are no better or worse than anyone else who sins i.e. the rest of us. She looks with disfavor upon all sin, i.e. is “sinophobic”, which I suppose includes homophobia, meaning the sin of homosexual sexual activity. She can also be “adultryophobic”, homicidophobic, fornicatophobic, etc.
Click to expand...
To say that those who engage in homosexual acts are no better or worse than the rest us is to ignore the teaching of the Church that such actions are worse than other acts of fornication. Until less than 40 years ago, psychiatrists classified homosexuality as a deep personality disorder, so that until recently society has looked upon it as perverted. Most of the priests who caused such scandal to the Church were engaged in homosexual acts with young people. By and large “gays” are not the happy souls that are portrayed on television. On the other hand, only a minority are the moral monsters we used to think that homosexuals were. BY and large, however, gays incline a very libertine notion of human sexuality. Theire cause is championed by many who are neither homosexual or bisexual because this behavior comports with the idea that humans ought to engage in any sexual they please short of rape., that there is no relationship at all between sexual acitivity and general character, that, on the contrary, any effort to suppress any sort of sexual havavior between “consenting adults.” is in fact unhealthy.
 
RobbyS said:
To say that those who engage in homosexual acts are no better or worse than the rest us is to ignore the teaching of the Church that such actions are worse than other acts of fornication. Until less than 40 years ago, psychiatrists classified homosexuality as a deep personality disorder, so that until recently society has looked upon it as perverted. Most of the priests who caused such scandal to the Church were engaged in homosexual acts with young people. By and large “gays” are not the happy souls that are portrayed on television. On the other hand, only a minority are the moral monsters we used to think that homosexuals were. BY and large, however, gays incline a very libertine notion of human sexuality. Theire cause is championed by many who are neither homosexual or bisexual because this behavior comports with the idea that humans ought to engage in any sexual they please short of rape., that there is no relationship at all between sexual acitivity and general character, that, on the contrary, any effort to suppress any sort of sexual havavior between “consenting adults.” is in fact unhealthy.
Click to expand...
So, a homosexual act (or acts on a continuing basis) is a “worse” sin than fornication on an ongoing basis?

Where does the RCC teach that? Reference, please.
 
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