Gertabelle, although none of my business, you said lived as a lesbian, are you implying that you dropped that label and no longer identify as one? And how and why did you look towards the Church for guidance? I’m just asking because most of the people I know who identify as gay/lesbian whatever holds Christianity with much contempt.
I absolutely no longer identify as a lesbian. In my case, I left the Church shortly after “coming out” and stayed away for some 14 years.
After about 10 years of living as a lesbian, the longing to be a mother overwhelmed me. And in my inmost heart I knew two things with absolute clarity: I wanted to conceive a child with a man I loved and trusted; and there was no way I would ever raise a child with the woman with whom I was living at the time (we had been together nearly eight years).
I left that relationship, got involved with an old friend, whom I then married. He and I had a son together, and shortly after our 4th wedding anniversary, I returned to the Church. A month later, he wanted a divorce.
Somewhere along the way, I completely lost all interest in women. I currently haven’t the slightest inkling of SSA. But I returned to Church
after I had stopped calling myself a lesbian, not before. And yes, I held the Church in great contempt while I was away.
Why do I feel I’m about to experience the e-rack?
Love to all.
Ouch, and you got the rack, too. Sorry to see the initial responses to your post were so harsh. I’ll try to do better
At first, I was a “cafeteria” Catholic. Then I felt as a matter of integrity I could no longer financially support a Church that I felt was in error. I want to come back but I’m seeing the holiness of the Church being overwhelmed by pride, power and dogma, like the Scribes and Pharasees.
I want to, with humility, submit **my opinions **to the authority Holy Mother Church but where is she?
Actually, this entire post fits the original topic quite well – because you explain very clearly why you think the Church is wrong.
My favorite part of your entire post is where you say you want to submit your opinions with humility to the authority of the Church!
I’m so sorry, but that truly made me laugh! We are so full of pride! We think we are the only ones who could ever have been so insightful, so well-reasoned, so well-spoken – “If only those pesky Bishops knew what I knew, then they’d see reason!”
Honestly, I am making fun of myself more than you, because I used to think and say
exactly some of the things you have posted here! I really did think I was so clever, and so noble because I left the Church rather than live out of integrity – so noble, so honorable… so full of BS. I just wanted to do what I wanted, rather than submit to God and His authentic authority on earth.
OK, so I have to get going and I’m not thinking clearly because I have so much to get done for my son’s First Communion tomorrow.
But I just wanted to make one tiny challenge for you: get a copy of
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (I use this link to the
index of the Catechism. Choose one topic (just one) with which you have a problem with official church teaching. Read the official doctrine of the Church on that matter.
Now here’s the challenge: “try on” the possibility for a little while that the Church is right and you are wrong. Try to understand Church teaching from the bigger picture of salvation and union with God. “The Church is right” – doesn’t have to be for very long. Just try it for a few minutes, maybe as you read the few paragraphs have on that topic.
God bless you. And please don’t be scared away by the harsh treatment you received after your first post on this thread. (and then I come along and laugh at you
) You seem very even-handed and level-headed, and I pray you usually receive honest and kind responses to your posts. Please forgive me if my “
” was offensive – wasn’t meant to be.
Gertie
