Gay Friends?

[goofyjim]

I simply befriend anyone. I do not preach to anyone as that is not my job.

 

[guanophore]

So when faced with ‘spiritual lepers’, as I suppose one might call such people (nor can I recommend doing so, particularly to their faces), do you do as the Pharisees did and exile them and cut them out of your life; or do you do as Jesus did and go to them, minister to them, and heal them?

I think that would depend upon the person. I think there are some who are too weak in their faith to associate without coming into the near occasion of sin. For such persons, staying away would be more spiritually productive, at least for the present time.

And why the intense focus on this particular mortal sin?

Well, I don’t have that, so I will have to leave this question to someone who does.

Do you refuse to associate with former friends of yours who fornicate, who use artificial birth control, who get hammered at bars and clubs, or who regularly commit – to the point of making it a ‘lifestyle’ – other grave sins?

There is a difference, in my mind, between “association” and friendship. What fellowship has light with darkness? As a matter of fact, the more serious I get about my faith, the more I tend to affiliate with others that share my faith, rather than those who rebel against it. Everyone has their own apostolate (ministry). I find myself ministering daily in many capacities to all kinds of people, sinners like myself who engage in the types of behaviors you list above. But when it comes time to recharge my batteries, I go to find fellowship with persons in a state of grace, rather that in an environment where people are not.

 

[whatevergirl]

I suppose one could treat them the same way one treats people who use artificial birth control.

considering we’re all sinners…one shouldn’t throw stones of any size.