Homily on sexual morality

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Don_Ruggero said:
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qui_est_ce:
I was at a mass where the homily was about transgenderism.
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A homily on transgenderism? The homily is an explication of either a passage of the Scripture or a liturgical text. That is why the directive to give a homily and not a sermon vastly limits the range of topics one can address.

I would never address that topic in giving a homily…ever.
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Explication helps bring the scriptures alive for the hearer. More than a mere “explanation”, the homily fleshes out the word of God, which can be living and active in the current lives of the faithful. It is entirely apprpriate to address contemporary issues. The Gospel is proclaimed for today, not as a dry academic explanation of the past.
Of course, common sense should prevail when discussing delicate issues.
 
Yes, I know that these are decisions he CAN make. I am just not so sure if it is PRUDENT to make these types of decisions without explaining them other than to say “That’s how I like it!”
For the 100th time- this is not about changes he is making, that is a whole different ballgame.

I was looking for experiences from others who have had this kind of homily preached. What the reaction was, did it help, etc.

His announcement used fornication, masturbation, and many other “loaded words”, and said that he will not be “soft” in his language. I am glad he put in a warning, but again, this is just one of many things that has our parish understandably upset and worried since he arrived about 3 months ago.
 
If he intends to talk about these topics, it’s nice that he put it in the bulletin. However, not all parishioners are going to read the bulletin. Yes, that’s on them, but I feel that there’s going to be some kind of uproar from people who “didn’t know”. Also, if you have visitors in your parish, this may be a quick way to get them to not come back.

I did visit a parish once in which this was the case. The topic of the homily was sexual immorality, and I remember it felt out of place. I walked away feeling that though the topic was important, it was inappropriate in that homily. I also felt it wasn’t relevant to that week’s readings. This weekend, I could see how it relates to the second reading, but the theme of the overall liturgy of the word this weekend is “responding to the call”. So now may not be the best time.

I would suggest he creates a separate event in which he speaks about these issues. That way, parishioners that are uncomfortable are not forced into attendance by obligation.

This is also just a tiny thing, but the announcement of the topic of the homily strikes me as very Protestant. Kudos to him for getting his homilies prepared far enough in advance for it to be in the bulletin the week before though.
 
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CilladeRoma said:
His announcement used fornication, masturbation, and many other “loaded words”, and said that he will not be “soft” in his language. I am glad he put in a warning, but again, this is just one of many things that has our parish understandably upset and worried since he arrived about 3 months ago.
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That is very unfortunate. My priest does talk about various forms of immorality in homilies, but he doesn’t use graphic language. He does talk about divorce and impact on the family. He’s used the words abortion, adultery, contraception and same-sex marriage. He’s not used any words more graphic or specific than that. And I don’t consider any of those “graphic”.

When he does confession with the CCD kids, he uses language appropriate to younger children. “Impure…”, “looking at TV shows I shouldn’t be watching…” stuff like that. We hand out two different examinations of conscience-- one for younger kids and one for teens. But the one he covers out loud is the one for younger kids.
 
Far better to announce that he will be giving a talk on Catholic Sexual Morality in the hall after Mass.
 
qui_est_ce said:
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Don_Ruggero:
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qui_est_ce:
I was at a mass where the homily was about transgenderism.
Click to expand...
A homily on transgenderism? The homily is an explication of either a passage of the Scripture or a liturgical text. That is why the directive to give a homily and not a sermon vastly limits the range of topics one can address.

I would never address that topic in giving a homily…ever.
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The homily just mentioned transgenderism in the context of the Scripture. I can’t remember the Scripture passage. It was a few years ago. Sorry, I wasn’t clear. This priest is a good and faithful priest and it was at the Cathedral during a week-day mass. Their homilies and the homilies at my parish have to be reviewed by the pastor first. That’s what this priest told me.
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A visiting priest from Africa spoke briefly about the evils of transgenderism at my parish a couple of years ago during a homily. It was perfectly in context of the scripture readings of the day. It wasn’t the main focus of his homily, but he did speak enough about it to get his point across.
 
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Hello.

In 2006 I heard a homily for the first time on these things - the priest was honest and spoke to the truths of the church. It wasn’t a homily on vague ideals, but on truths, clearly and specifically explained. And it started a process for my re-conversion. I think the priest shouldn’t even have to feel that he has to announce that he’s going to preach such a homily. I think we should be hearing these things as a matter of course.

I think a lack of courage in preaching the truths of the Catholic church is one of the reasons our society is in its current state.

The catholic church is not supposed to operate from a base of fear, but from courage & love.

Have you ever read some of the homilies of St. John Vianney?

Thanks for listening.
 
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Hello.

There is nothing wrong with being homosexual. A person with this inclination can’t help it. It’s the acting on the inclinations - the unchastity - that is the problem.

At least, so far, that is my understanding of this matter according to the church.
 
And yet, St. Catherine had no problem rebuking the Pope, humbly but persistently.
 
CilladeRoma said:
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.
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Typically homilies (where I live) address the Readings. My guess is you might get a packed house. 🤣
 
Interesting as this seems to be common from some priests from that area of the world.
The often preach very bluntly, feeling that we tend to “sugar coat” hard issues.
A parish in our Deanery has a pastor who said very plainly something about "if you’re having sex with a person of the same gender than you might as well be (blank blank blank, I just can’t write it here). Was shocking, and a great many of the parishioners left, including one family who had their gay daughter and her “wife” with them at Mass. A huge family of about 14 people. They left and never went back, and they ended up at our parish. It can backfire. They didn’t receive his message, they just got angry.
It was his delivery.
I think the delivery is what is worrying people. They are “imagining” what he may say.

No way to know until after this weekend, I do hope the OP weighs back in on Sunday night.
 
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TheLittleLady said:
Far better to announce that he will be giving a talk on Catholic Sexual Morality in the hall after Mass.
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A few years back our PP ran a set of sessions where he went over a bunch of socially topical moral issues including abortion, contraception, homosexuality, euthanasia etc. Very lightly attended as it was an hour during the working week.

I’ve often observed that the teaching of morality is minimal even in catholic schools.
 
This is exactly what should be said at homilies. Explaining why the Church teaches what it does. When we don’t explain why people just assume the Church is for homosexual behavior or abortion rights which it is not no matter how many commentators skew the Holy Fathers words.
 
CilladeRoma said:
His announcement used fornication, masturbation, and many other “loaded words”, and said that he will not be “soft” in his language. I am glad he put in a warning, but again, this is just one of many things that has our parish understandably upset and worried since he arrived about 3 months ago.
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I still don’t know what you mean by loaded words. I wouldn’t even consider this graphic. Fornication is no doubt said in Mass as it is in the Gospels and Epistles. Masturbation is the non graphic term for the sin. How else would you talk about it? Self abuse? Unfortunately lots of people would have no idea what that is. I’ve heard a priest use the word sodomy. I have no problem with that word as it is actually biblical.
 
1ke said:
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
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I always thought that ‘body’ here was a ‘body of people’ or community or church which is akin to a ‘temple’ and must retain cohesion. I’ve never thought of it as being about a single human body. In the current climate maybe my interpretation might be more appropriate?
 
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