Homily on sexual morality

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I know many Catholics who believe many things that they think the Catholic church should do

That does not always mean they don’t know what the Church teaches. In fact, in most cases, they know exactly what the Church teaches, they just think the Church is wrong. And since they aren’t the one in the situation, they believe that it is OK to disagree, just so long as they don’t do.
 
My 94 year old mother lives in a senior independent living apartment. She was furious because the priest talked about internet pornography in his homily at the mass there.
 
exnihilo said:
The only way they might learn it is from a homily.
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I don’t think the homily is the best place to learn the details of the faith. And if knowledge of sexual morality is lacking in the congregation, shouting at them for 7 mins is probably not a good way to enlighten.
 
Rau said:
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qui_est_ce:
My SIL thinks gay marriage is just fine. And she goes to mass every Sunday.
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Does she think the church teaches gay marriage is fine? That’s the issue.
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That wasn’t the question.
 
That is the question.
Those who think sexual morality should be the topic of a homily do so because they don’t think the people in the pews know the rules.
 
CilladeRoma said:
That is the question.

Those who think sexual morality should be the topic of a homily do so because they don’t think the people in the pews know the rules.
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I think it is far more helpful to talk about a process of conversion, then to speak of “rules”. To lead someone to conversion requires that the person be grounded in why something is a “rule”. Saying “because Rome says so” rarely helps. If a person is genuinely interested in conversion, then spiritual direction is probably more helpful than enumerating rules.

If a “rule” is rather presented as an ideal of perfection we all must strive for, and that’s how one makes saints, we might get somewhere. It is called “meeting people where they are” and leading them gently to a better, more saintly place.
 
CilladeRoma said:
Those who think sexual morality should be the topic of a homily do so because they don’t think the people in the pews know the rules.
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I think we need to be constantly instructed of all teachings. I don’t think sexual morality should be left out. I don’t think teaching on helping out the poor should be left out. We don’t assume everyone knows that Christians help the poor and therefore don’t have homilies on that.
 
@Don_Ruggero, I have posted an update. I would like to here your thoughts.
 
The HOMILY IS the place for these teachings as ANY other time and place are of PEOPLES choosing; Mass is of GOD’S Choosing than the GREAT NEW PRIEST you have is an UNTOLD Blessings

PRAY for Ho amd and SUPPORT HIM; He’s DOING GOD"S WORK amen!

Patrick
 
It’s also a generalization that people in church have no cue what the church teaches on moral issues.
 
Perhaps this priest can hold adult ed classes where he can go all out with his method.
In the Mass, I wouldn’t want to get people so upset they approach Eucharist with anger.
But if he feels this is an urgent message, then he should hold classes.
 
pianistclare said:
Really? You know CAtholics who think gay marriage and adultery is fine?

Wow.
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Clare, can you clarify what you meant? We’d be in no doubt I think that there are Catholics who disagree with the church on SSM (ie they are personally ok with it) but I suspect we’d be hard pressed to find any that believe the church is ok with SSM.
 
exnihilo said:
I think we need to be constantly instructed of all teachings. I don’t think sexual morality should be left out. I don’t think teaching on helping out the poor should be left out. We don’t assume everyone knows that Christians help the poor and therefore don’t have homilies on that.
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The makeup of the congregation - children of all ages + adults probably imposes some restrictions on the content of homilies, and potentially the manner of delivery.
 
Bingo.
Mass is not like some services elsewhere, where people are moved to conversion and come forward to be “saved”. The homily should be about the readings, with application to present day problems, yes. There IS a place for all that. It’s in the classroom. Not immediately prior to Communion. The Eucharist is the primary job of the priest.
Look, I’m sure he’s a fine priest. But coming out with guns ablazin’ is one of the mistakes often made by new priests. Any senior priest would say that.
And with that, I’m out.
God bless you friend.
 
This whole thread reminds me of Chapter 2 of the Rule of Saint Benedict (What Kind of Person the Abbot Ought to Be):
Let him understand also
what a difficult and arduous task he has undertaken:
ruling souls and adapting himself to a variety of characters.
One he must coax, another scold, another persuade,
according to each one’s character and understanding.
Thus he must adjust and adapt himself to all
in such a way that he may not only suffer no loss
in the flock committed to his care,
but may even rejoice in the increase of a good flock.
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A good priest will understand the audience he is preaching to. In a homily, all of the types of characters listed above will be present. Causing loss of a member of the flock through a ham-fisted approach will be a mark on his own soul. The Holy Rule also says:
Let him know, then,
that he who has undertaken the government of souls
must prepare himself to render an account of them.
Whatever number of brothers he knows he has under his care,
he may be sure beyond doubt that on Judgment Day
he will have to give the Lord an account of all these souls,
as well as of his own soul.
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Taking a rough approach that causes loss of souls is no better than taking an overly lax approach that causes souls to go to their own perdition. Hence the need for a balanced and nuanced approach.

The place where the appropriate specific approach may be used based on the penitent’s character, is in the confessional or in spiritual direction. A good regular confessor is worth his weight in gold, and if one can manage to find a good spiritual director, even better.

Any homily on sexual issues should also touch upon the freedom that one can feel on being liberated from one’s obsessions, and welcome the faithful to frequent use of confession to nourish one’s growth in faith and conversion.

Really, it’s about saving souls, not condemning them.
 
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