Homily on sexual morality

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In our bulletin last week, our new priest administrator (he is not yet a “Pastor”) indicated that the homily for the weekend of Jan 14th will be about Catholic morality and teaching on such things as fornication, homosexuality, etc.
He goes on to state that if parents are sensitive about this, they might consider going to the Mass in which we have Children’s Liturgy of the Word so that young ears will not hear.

There has been some discussion amongst parishioners and most people are not happy. They all agree that it is important that these teachings are discussed, but feel that the homily is not the place.

This is a very young priest, who just replaced a much loved, very orthodox, yet very pastoral, Pastor. In the short time his has been there (less than 6 months) he has made many changes. Nothing was “wrong” per se, it was just not to his liking, so he changed it. It has been a very difficult transition, and I am trying hard to help my friends in the parish to adjust.

I would like to hear what other’s opinions of this are. Is this something that has happened in your parish? Did your priest warn you first? Did it have an impact on attendance/financial contributions?

Any other thoughts?
 
I like that he put a “content warning” label on the homily.

The part about financial contributions being withheld is irrelevant. Truth is truth even if it ticks people off
 
No, it is not irrelevant. The Church needs contributions to run. Our parish is already running in the red, I am afraid this is going to make things worse.
I am not suggesting that he not tell the truth, what I am suggesting is that there is a time and place, and I don’t think the homily is that time or place.
 
Then the question comes to mind, when is the right time and place to profess truths about catholic sexual morality?
 
One can talk about morality without using the loaded words. Instead of saying what we “can’t” (or shouldn’t do) how about talking about what we should and can do?

There is also the bulletin, the web and anytime that is not Mass. We have some very active ministry groups- why not meet with each group privately one month? We have a family faith formation program, why not use the adult session once a month to have this conversation?

Again, I am not saying we should not talk about this stuff, I just wonder if the homily is the best place to start.
 
So what? Since (half of more?) of the parishioners have probably not been to confession in years, a certain number of communicants are not even Catholic, and there are undoubtedly those who are shacking up, it is time to break the ice. He gave fair warning.

Christ’s message was not and is not comfortable. It is an ‘in your face’ challenge.

That too much to bear?
 
When are the most amount people present who would hear him speaking on important issues and give clear and concise teachings on what the Church believes given the current climate?
 
This.

The people in the Bible studies are already believers.
 
WOW! That is pretty harsh. My parish is pretty orthodox. Most people know what the teachings are, it’s not like they have never heard them.

The issue is not so much the topic of Catholic moral theology, it the fact that most people (our parish is pretty much a 50-50 split: adults over 65 and young families) don’t want to hear the loaded words- masturbation, fornication, etc.

Again, why can’t we teach morality from a positive side- do this, this & this?
Not from the negitive side- Don’t do this, this & this.
 
But he warned the congregation ahead of time, and didn’t just spring it on them, which IMO is a good thing.
 
Picture a 16 year old sitting in mass.

Priest says “sex is a sacred thing saved for married couples”

In his mind “well, masturbation isn’t sex because it’s just me, so that’s not a sin”
 
I am not discounting this.

I think it is good that he gave fair warning. That said, I still don’t think it is a good idea, and many of my priest friends ( who have many more years of experience than this priest) tend to agree with me.

What I am looking for with the thread is actual experiences that people have had with homilies such as these and if it actually did some good or not.
 
The Ten Commandments are both positive and negative (thou shall, thou shall not). I don’t see why this is a problem.

I would think he put something in the bulletin to pre-empt any complaints from parishioners who don’t think these things should be discussed from the pulpit.
 
I don’t think I have ever heard a homily with this subject matter. I do agree that it’s important, but it would probably make me uncomfortable and I think is maybe better addressed in other ways.

It’s good that he gave some warning in the bulletin, but what about the families who either didn’t have time to read the bulletin, or went to a different parish last week, etc.? Personally I would prefer not to be caught unaware and having to explain things to my young son that are not age-appropriate for him. I imagine there will be some people in those circumstances who won’t be very happy.

If I knew in advance, I would go to a different Mass for sure.
 
Around 2013, when visiting my childhood parish where my parents still go, the homily was partially about homosexuals. The priest said “if anyone here thinks it’s ok to be homosexual, please stand up and walk out now.” No one walked out, but one of the choir members (a homosexual) took to social media to express his displeasure with the homily. To my knowledge, it didn’t affect attendance, collections, etc.
 
I think he did a good job in warning people. And he takes his ministry seriously.
There are so many (particularly on CAF) who complain about the “soft” homilies.
If it’s the right thing to do, the Lord will protect your parish. I imagine, some of the more conservative (and likely big givers) in your parish might pony up even more cash in gratitude for his even attempting to preach on these things. There are some priests that are very harsh, as in the story posted above. I’ve seen that too, but this priest doesn’t strike me as that. I think he rightly knows that certain things are adult content, and not for small children. If my girls were still little, I would appreciate the head’s up.
So many won’t touch these issues. Unfortunately, it shows in the attitudes and beliefs in families.
When I was DRE I quickly realized that some of the families that I considered to be most devout, secretly held notions and were teaching their children more of an “anything goes, so long as you say you love God” kind of way of belief. I knew by the things the teens would say.
“My dad says that’s bull, my mom says we shouldn’t say or think that” “I don’t think God taught us this, I think priests and Popes made all that stuff up.”
True story.
I hope it goes well. And I hope you don’t fret too much over it. This too will pass. Either they will run him off and complain to the Bishop, or they will get over it. I have NO USE for people who vote with their dollars in church.
That’s so unkind, and such a knee-jerk reaction.
The staff, the poor, and the Diocese suffer when we don’t support ministry.
God bless you. 🌻
 
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My pastor has not gone into those topics, but he has a few times been much more catechetical in his homily. I personally appreciated it, and I think the homilies were well-received.

The homily absolutely is the right time and place for instruction. See, Catechesi Tradendae 48.
 
Have any of our priests or Deacon’s preached a homily on this topic?
What where your experiences?
 
CilladeRoma said:
There has been some discussion amongst parishioners and most people are not happy. They all agree that it is important that these teachings are discussed, but feel that the homily is not the place.
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Perhaps they haven’t read the second reading for January 14:

Brothers and sisters:
The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body;
God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him.
Avoid immorality.
Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body.

Preach it, Father… I mean St. Paul.

The homily certainly IS the time to discuss immorality when they readings are on … immorality.

I think the pastor has done a favor to the congregation by suggesting young children could go to children’s liturgy of the word. He isn’t just randomly preaching on immorality, it’s from the scripture of the day.
 
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