Evangelizing Homosexuals - Nat'l Catholic Register

[urban-hermit]

Within the Church many of us are not sure how to share our saving faith with friends who are caught in homosexuality. I think the articles from the National Catholic Register newspaper linked below are excellent.

Part 1: “Homosexuality: A Catholic’s Journey”:
ncregister.com/site/article/1852

Part 2: “Evangelizing The Homosexual”:
ncregister.com/site/article/1889

Part 3: “She Helped Me Hear the Truth”:
ncregister.com/site/article/1920

Editors of NCR on the subject: “Loving Homosexuals”
ncregister.com/site/article/1871

 

[Other_Eric]

The evangelization of the homosexual is of primary importance to the Church, but we must be wary of counsel that does not take into account the incredibly destructive nature of the condition. In this, the articles by Mrs. Selmys fail to meet the standards of prudence that the faithful are called to observe. The constant focus on feelings, the coddling promoted for those with bizarre persecution complexes and the call to dispense with sexual theology in our evangelism are all the source of grave error and a source of scandal if by this selectively edited message those with same-sex attractions come to see the Church as something other than it is.

According to the editors, the proper way to evangelize those with same-sex attractions is to model what Christ did. What Christ did was to unabashedly call out the sins for what they were and invite the individual not to sin again. That is precisely what a referral to NARTH or some other reparative therapist will do. Anything less is to fail to live up to the standard that Christ established.

Moreover, and this must be stressed, the Church in no way shape or form teaches that homosexually inclined persons are not to be discriminated against, she teaches that the discrimination we apply to those people must not be unjust. It is this word “unjust” which seems to be the first word that people are prone to overlook in forming methods of pastoral care for these individuals. There is nothing unjust about sequestering children and the impressionable away from individuals who have a much higher than average rate for sexual predation. There is nothing unjust about denying the Sacraments to those who would blaspheme them. There is nothing unjust about choosing to fire or not to hire an employee whose mental and physical health could cause the insurance premiums for policies a company provides to its employees to rise. There is nothing unjust about refusing to support a person in an unchaste lifestyle by refusing to purchase goods from him or denying him shelter, food or drink.

Attempting to blunt the Christian message in order to coddle the disordered feelings of those with same-sex attractions is to give those disordered feelings more import than they deserve. The proper response will be to call such an individual away from any modes of thought that allow them to become easily agitated, not to imply those feelings’ legitimacy by actualizing them.

The Way of the Cross is simply not meant to be easy. To try and paint it in rosy hues is to distort the message of Christ. As Christians, we are to state clearly what the message is and if there are those who will not accept it, then we are to shake the dust from our feet and leave them behind as Christ commanded.

 

[Dale_M]

According to the editors, the proper way to evangelize those with same-sex attractions is to model what Christ did. What Christ did was to unabashedly call out the sins for what they were and invite the individual not to sin again. That is precisely what a referral to NARTH or some other reparative therapist will do. Anything less is to fail to live up to the standard that Christ established.

And yet, referral to NARTH, or to the Flat Earth Society, was not what the editors recommended. In fact, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops did not recommend it either, when they released their guidelines for the Ministry to Persons with Homosexual Inclination

I will quote the editors of the National Catholic Register:

If we approach homosexuals with an attitude of disgust and hatred, we will drive them far away from the faith that can save them. If we approach them with caring and concern — enough care and concern to take their feelings into account — we can model what Christ did with sinners, even those guilty of sexual sins, throughout his life.

This seems sensible, prudent, and loving. Indeed, it is Christian.

 

[LittleDeb]

Within the Church many of us are not sure how to share our saving faith with friends who are caught in homosexuality. I think the articles from the National Catholic Register newspaper linked below are excellent.

Part 1: “Homosexuality: A Catholic’s Journey”:
ncregister.com/site/article/1852

Part 2: “Evangelizing The Homosexual”:
ncregister.com/site/article/1889

Part 3: “She Helped Me Hear the Truth”:
ncregister.com/site/article/1920

Editors of NCR on the subject: “Loving Homosexuals”
ncregister.com/site/article/1871

Great links urban-hermit. I like the emphasis all of the articles have about approaching in friendship and love. I already had one of those articles bookmarked, but thanks for the rest.

The overall appeal of chastity and reason are the articles strong-points.

 

[goofyjim]

I’m sick of these suggestions that everyone who has same sex attraction must be rushed off to a NARTH therapist when most simply do not have the funds to do so. The Church has expressed time and again that experiencing the attractions is not a sin, only acting on them.

 

[LittleDeb]

I’m sick of these suggestions that everyone who has same sex attraction must be rushed off to a NARTH therapist when most simply do not have the funds to do so. The Church has expressed time and again that experiencing the attractions is not a sin, only acting on them.

I didn’t see anything in the links by urban-hermit that said it needed to be done. I read it that the author herself benefited from therapy, but not that she felt it was mandated. If I missed something, please let me know. I found the articles helpful in addressing friends with SSA in a loving and charitable way.

While I agree that therapy can help make a change, I don’t think it works for everyone, nor should everyone even try it. SSA is disordered, but not sinful.

 

[goofyjim]

I didn’t see anything in the links by urban-hermit that said it needed to be done. I read it that the author herself benefited from therapy, but not that she felt it was mandated. If I missed something, please let me know. I found the articles helpful in addressing friends with SSA in a loving and charitable way.

While I agree that therapy can help make a change, I don’t think it works for everyone, nor should everyone even try it. SSA is disordered, but not sinful.

I was responding to Other Eric, who always sticks his ugly head into these threads. I’m sure he would not even approve of the Courage ministry since it does not require a change in one’s orientation.

If these NARTH therapists were really convinced that their therapy worked with everyone why don’t they take the financially challenged for free therapy?

 

[LittleDeb]

I was responding to Other Eric, who always sticks his ugly head into these threads.I’m sure he would not even approve of the Courage ministry since it does not require a change in one’s orientation.

Oh thanks for the clarification. In charity, call it a ‘confused head’ or a ‘misguided head.’ If we post these threads often enough of dealing in charity for SSA, he can’t be everywhere at once!

I have a great deal of respect for Courage. I was first made aware of it through the blog of a man in my late grandparents’ parish near Washington D.C… I emailed him and told him how honored my grandparents would have been to know of all the good he was doing.

If these NARTH therapists were really convinced that their therapy worked with everyone why don’t they take the financially challenged for free therapy?

That is a very good point!! Or even a sliding fee scale?

 

[Lazerlike42]

I have been reading up on homosexual ministry lately. I have to disagree with Eric here.

What he forgets is that Jesus didn’t just call people out all the time. He called out those who knew what they were doing was wrong but hypocritcally did it anyways while teaching others not to. He came right out with it to some people, but to others He took a more patient approach, or at least a more subtle approach. He handled people based on them and their specific situation; He prudently did what would most help them rather than following a particular formula.

Of course we must not coddle anyone caught in any sin, nor may we give any support to sin. We must, as has been so often said, love the sinner and hate the sin.

 

[Riley259]

Within the Church many of us are not sure how to share our saving faith with friends who are caught in homosexuality. I think the articles from the National Catholic Register newspaper linked below are excellent.

Part 1: “Homosexuality: A Catholic’s Journey”:
ncregister.com/site/article/1852

Part 2: “Evangelizing The Homosexual”:
ncregister.com/site/article/1889

Part 3: “She Helped Me Hear the Truth”:
ncregister.com/site/article/1920

Editors of NCR on the subject: “Loving Homosexuals”
ncregister.com/site/article/1871

Thanks for the links.

 

[urban-hermit]

I have been reading up on homosexual ministry lately. I have to disagree with Eric here.

What he forgets is that Jesus didn’t just call people out all the time. He called out those who knew what they were doing was wrong but hypocritcally did it anyways while teaching others not to. He came right out with it to some people, but to others He took a more patient approach, or at least a more subtle approach. He handled people based on them and their specific situation; He prudently did what would most help them rather than following a particular formula.

Of course we must not coddle anyone caught in any sin, nor may we give any support to sin. We must, as has been so often said, love the sinner and hate the sin.

I feel what you say is very true. We will get better results if we try to imitate Our Lord and do some discernment to tailor our arguments to the person and the situation. I feel these articles are helpful for doing that.

In the end, if we’re not sure what to say, we can never go wrong to simply state the Church’s teaching as best we can.

 

[blessedtoo]

This link was posted on another thread but I wanted to share it here as well. I think it’s a wonderful illustration of how evangelizing with and to each person individually can work to bring about the realization of the truth living within every human being’s heart. I found this story so inspiring!
venusmagazine.org/cover_story.html