You cannot go. You would be cooperating in a grave sin.So this is my situation…
I have a close friend who is homosexual. We were friends for a long time before I knew that he was gay. One day a long time ago he just showed up in my dorm room and said, “hey, this is my boyfriend.” I didn’t know what to do at the time so I just said, “uhhh, … hello.” anyway at lot of time has passed since then the homosexual issue rarely comes up as he’s never had a boyfriend that lives in town. He knows that I think homosexuality is a sin, but also that i care deeply for him as a person. He is thinking of getting married. I know that it would be devastating to our friendship to not attend. I know most people will say I should not go, but I want to be there. I’m not sure what to do. I have the feeling he will need me as a witness to the faith in the future. Jesus attended functions of sinners and tax collectors while he was on the earth. So what are your opinions?
I would not attend, per Ratzinger’s guidance.
QUESTION:
My sister has been cohabiting with her boyfriend. If, and supposedly when, they get married, would i be obligated against going to the ceremony? I’m pretty sure it would NOT be a catholic wedding. Just want to know the Church’s stance on this, as it is a similar situation…/QUOT
!!! are you for real???
Forget the small print. Think of the bigger picture. Not going would do more harm than good. There would be no winners by you not going. You know the right thing to do is just go and support the poor guy. It’s not easy being gay (i should imagine).You cannot go. You would be cooperating in a grave sin.
CCC 1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:
- by participating directly and voluntarily in them;
- by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
- by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
- by protecting evil-doers.
what is vomititious? And did you forget the point of the story about not giving to dogs what is holy? My goodness that was not even close to his point was it?You don’t need to go. The modern trend of indulging vomititious homosexual behavior is not in keeping with the spirit of God. Friends come and go, so don’t worry about it. As Jesus said “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs”. If in the future, your acquaintence chooses to respond to God’s call, then God will foster the circumstances necessary to bring him to repentence.
I’ll pray for the Holy Spirit to embolden you.
“Friends come and go”. Imagine we all thought that way. Showing some solidarity with your friend is what Jesus would have done. I think he would understand that you are in a difficult situation.You don’t need to go. The modern trend of indulging vomititious homosexual behavior is not in keeping with the spirit of God. Friends come and go, so don’t worry about it. As Jesus said “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs”. If in the future, your acquaintence chooses to respond to God’s call, then God will foster the circumstances necessary to bring him to repentence.
I’ll pray for the Holy Spirit to embolden you.
Uh, the TEACHING OF THE CHURCH is not “small print.” The teaching of the Church IS the bigger picture. Jesus said that he had come to pit father against son and brother against brother, not that he had come so everyone could support each other in sin.Forget the small print. Think of the bigger picture. Not going would do more harm than good. There would be no winners by you not going. You know the right thing to do is just go and support the poor guy. It’s not easy being gay (i should imagine).
Re: the bolded portion – last November, I did not attend my father’s wedding because I did not believe it was a valid marriage (the woman he married was a cradle Catholic who’d been divorced twice before). It caused a LOT of family strife – and I mean a LOT. Months of heartache. If you don’t believe me, search for all threads started by me, because I asked for advice about the situation on this forum.These other posters saying “definitely not, don’t go” don’t have to lose a friend. It’s all very easy for them to give this advice safely from cyberspace.
If the OP “shows acceptance” to his friend, he would be going against his God. What kind of friend would ask another friend to go against God so he doesn’t get his feelings hurt?And by the way, it’s not “indulging” homosexuality/homosexuals, it’s “showing acceptance and compassion”. It’s not a trend, it’s social progress that we should all be thankful for.
Yes, but we have a brother (or sister) to lose. What you are saying here sounds more like “forget what the Church teaches and do what you feel is right.” Not going would do more good than harm. Going could put his soul in eternal danger. You already know what the Church teaches. Follow it and give advice from thence.Forget the small print. Think of the bigger picture. Not going would do more harm than good. There would be no winners by you not going. You know the right thing to do is just go and support the poor guy. It’s not easy being gay (i should imagine).
These other posters saying “definitely not, don’t go” don’t have to lose a friend. It’s all very easy for them to give this advice safely from cyberspace.
I think the main point of the poster was that friendship should not be put above the health of one’s eternal soul.“Friends come and go”. Imagine we all thought that way. Showing some solidarity with your friend is what Jesus would have done. I think he would understand that you are in a difficult situation.
And by the way, it not “indulging” homosexuality/homosexuals, it is “showing acceptance and compassion”. It’s not a trend, it’s social progress that we should all be thankful for.
Look. You and I both know that God is not going to send him to hell for going and supporting his friend. The big picture to which I was referring is the teachings of Christ. Apart from saving your own soul what have you actually achieved by not going to your father’s wedding? What **good **has come of it?Yes, but we have a brother (or sister) to lose. What you are saying here sounds more like “forget what the Church teaches and do what you feel is right.” Not going would do more good than harm. Going could put his soul in eternal danger. You already know what the Church teaches. Follow it and give advice from thence.
I think the main point of the poster was that friendship should not be put above the health of one’s eternal soul.
Thomfra, I really think you are in severe error. Showing acceptance and compassion? Social Progress? Maybe what you call social progress is actually social degeneration and what you call acceptance and compassion is really indulgence and wickedness. I earnestly suggest you reevaluate the advice you are giving.
There is no small print in the God-given authority of the church.Forget the small print.
Which is the salvation of souls.Think of the bigger picture.
Nope, indifference to sin has done exponentially more harm than good by leading many into gravely sinful lifestyles, among which homosexuality is only one example.Not going would do more harm than good.
Is this a checkers game?There would be no winners by you not going.
What makes him a “poor” guy? A bit condesending to suggest his struggles are somehow greater than that of the rest of the world. Or of any of us.You know the right thing to do is just go and support the poor guy. It’s not easy being gay (i should imagine).
Wanna bet.These other posters saying “definitely not, don’t go” don’t have to lose a friend. It’s all very easy for them to give this advice safely from cyberspace.
We’re not presuming anything but that the Church has set up rules and he is asking if he can break them. Should we start justifying all of our actions with the “is God really going to send me to Hell” rationalization?Look. You and I both know that God is not going to send him to hell for going and supporting his friend.
So the teachings of Christ contradict those of his Church? Which teaching is that?The big picture to which I was referring is the teachings of Christ.
Obediance to God and his Church? Is that not a good?Apart from saving your own soul what have you actually achieved by not going to your father’s wedding? What **good **has come of it?
Back that up with a reference. Where do we see Jesus celebrating grave sin?Showing some solidarity with your friend is what Jesus would have done.
And he would have acknowledged the teachings are tough, but that we must follow them or walk away - John 6.I think he would understand that you are in a difficult situation.
Acceptance of what?And by the way, it’s not “indulging” homosexuality/homosexuals, it’s “showing acceptance and compassion”.
Thankful for acceptance of grave sin?It’s not a trend, it’s social progress that we should all be thankful for.
That is the worst advice I’ve heard in my life. Okay go commit the sin of aiding in a non event AND the sin of presumption. Never mind the the pain you caused God when you just turn your back on something that he has spelled out for you ever so clearly through his Church. Name me ONE time Jesus ever used bad means to do something good.Look. You and I both know that God is not going to send him to hell for going and supporting his friend.
Do what? How in the world do you construe Christ teaching in to support someone else habitual sin?The big picture to which I was referring is the teachings of Christ. Apart from saving your own soul what have you actually achieved by not going to your father’s wedding? What **good **has come of it?
There is no small print in the God-given authority of the church.
Which is the salvation of souls.
Nope, indifference to sin has done exponentially more harm than good by leading many into gravely sinful lifestyles, among which homosexuality is only one example.
Is this a checkers game?
What makes him a “poor” guy? A bit condesending to suggest his struggles are somehow greater than that of the rest of the world. Or of any of us.
And support the poor guy in what? What action are we supporting?
Wanna bet.
We’re not presuming anything but that the Church has set up rules and he is asking if he can break them. Should we start justifying all of our actions with the “is God really going to send me to Hell” rationalization?
So the teachings of Christ contradict those of his Church? Which teaching is that?
Obediance to God and his Church? Is that not a good?
Back that up with a reference. Where do we see Jesus celebrating grave sin?
And he would have acknowledged the teachings are tough, but that we must follow them or walk away - John 6.
Acceptance of what?
Thankful for acceptance of grave sin?
Let’s sum it up this way, Thomfra, is homosexual sexual behavior gravely sinful? Or is it not? Let’s be honest here, what are we really arguing about, going to a wedding, or the legitimacy of the wedding to begin with? Would you consider a homosexual marriage a true union in the eyes of God? If so, please support with references.
Hmm, gay guy goes straight because best friend doesn’t show up to his wedding. This seems like a highly unlikely scenario to me.That is the worst advice I’ve heard in my life. Okay go commit the sin of aiding in a non event AND the sin of presumption. Never mind the the pain you caused God when you just turn your back on something that he has spelled out for you ever so clearly through his Church. Name me ONE time Jesus ever used bad means to do something good.
Do what? How in the world do you construe Christ teaching in to support someone else habitual sin?
How do you know that the gay guys best friend making it known he will not compromise his morals might not turn the gay guy on to the One True Church. When people stand up for what they believe is right, people respect them for it. Yes, they might be mad for a while but they still respect them for having the guts to do what they say believe. If you go, you show them that you openly, publicly reject what your church teaches, you set an example that your faith is not important.
Of all the advice I’ve read in this thread…this is the sanest and speaks from the Center of Truth.Hmm, gay guy goes straight because best friend doesn’t show up to his wedding. This seems like a highly unlikely scenario to me.
It seems to me that there are two types of people on this forum. Those that live in the real world, and have a broad understanding of Christ’s message, and are able to apply this in life in a world where things are not always black and white. And there are those that seem to be bogged down in finding ways to highlight the wrongdoing of others with as many references as they can find. You have no doubt considered yourself a devout Catholic for many years. Perhaps it is time to put down the instruction manual and try putting what you have “learnt” into practice. Go out and do some good.
Live in the real world with the rest of us who are less perfect.
Make a gay friend. Try to understand what it is like to walk a mile in somebody elses shoes. You might just be surprised.
So is the consequence of sin not an issue in your “real world”.Hmm, gay guy goes straight because best friend doesn’t show up to his wedding. This seems like a highly unlikely scenario to me.
It seems to me that there are two types of people on this forum. Those that live in the real world, and have a broad understanding of Christ’s message, and are able to apply this in life in a world where things are not always black and white. And there are those that seem to be bogged down in finding ways to highlight the wrongdoing of others with as many references as they can find. You have no doubt considered yourself a devout Catholic for many years. Perhaps it is time to put down the instruction manual and try putting what you have “learnt” into practice. Go out and do some good, have a positive on somebody.
Live in the real world with the rest of us who are less perfect.
Make a gay friend. Befriend the new wife of your father. Try to understand what it is like to walk a mile in somebody elses shoes. You might just be surprised.
Or maybe he could just stop his homosexual activity…Hmm, gay guy goes straight because best friend doesn’t show up to his wedding. This seems like a highly unlikely scenario to me.
Unfortunately for you Thomfra, it seems you haven’t even read the instruction manual…It seems to me that there are two types of people on this forum. Those that live in the real world, and have a broad understanding of Christ’s message, and are able to apply this in life in a world where things are not always black and white. And there are those that seem to be bogged down in finding ways to highlight the wrongdoing of others with as many references as they can find. You have no doubt considered yourself a devout Catholic for many years. Perhaps it is time to put down the instruction manual and try putting what you have “learnt” into practice. Go out and do some good.
Being less than perfect, which we all are, is no excuse as to not reach for perfection. It was Jesus who said “be perfect just as you’re Father in heaven is perfect.” He wants us to become perfect.Live in the real world with the rest of us who are less perfect.
True friendship is not made by man, it is created by God.Make a gay friend. Try to understand what it is like to walk a mile in somebody elses shoes. You might just be surprised.
So why did God destroy Sodom again?Of all the advice I’ve read in this thread…this is the sanest and speaks from the Center of Truth.
Because of their sodomy.So why did God destroy Sodom again?
Define “sane” and especially “Center of Truth”.Of all the advice I’ve read in this thread…this is the sanest and speaks from the Center of Truth.