homosexuality

[Confiteor_Deo]

Once baptized you are permenently Catholic correct?

Yes, but if you reject the Catholic Faith in some way and no longer consider yourself Catholic, you are usually called a non-Catholic. Protestants are usually validly baptized, but they are not called Catholic since they are a part of a heretical sect.

 

[JewishCatholic]

Yes, but if you reject the Catholic Faith in some way and no longer consider yourself Catholic, you are usually called a non-Catholic. Protestants are usually validly baptized, but they are not called Catholic since they are a part of a heretical sect.

I was raised Catholic for the first 10 years of my life, and then my father died an I was non religous until recently. I began to go back to mass for the past couple months and went to confession. Am I a Catholic?

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

I was raised Catholic for the first 10 years of my life, and then my father died an I was non religous until recently. I began to go back to mass for the past couple months and went to confession. Am I a Catholic?

You sound Catholic to me.

 

[Gertabelle]

Once baptized you are permenently Catholic correct?

Good heavens, where did that come from, dear? I said nothing about your faith or your membership in the Church, only your lack of understanding of Church teaching.

It’s time for bed here in the Rockies – at least for those of us who have work tomorrow morning. God bless all y’all.

 

[GNM1999]

Yes, it’s 12:30 here, so I need to get off aswell. God Bless!

 

[Catholic_Lady]

I don’t know what the consensus is on homosexuality. Do people believe you are just born that way? Or do certain events in the childhood lead to this? There must be something you can do because culpability is involved. If someone was born that way I would think they would not be culpable.

It doesn’t matter if the person is born with it or if it was developed in early childhood. Personally I believe it can be either or, or a combination of both, depending on each person.

Church teaching on this is that having a homosexual attraction is not wrong in and of itself because it is not freely chosen. A homosexual person can’t help feeling attracted to the same sex anymore than you and I can help feeling attracted to the opposite sex.

What they can do is try to live a chaste life. A person can’t control their attraction, but they can try to control whether or not they act on it.

 

[Catholic_Lady]

I was raised Catholic for the first 10 years of my life, and then my father died an I was non religous until recently. I began to go back to mass for the past couple months and went to confession. Am I a Catholic?

Absolutely. Welcome back, btw. Glad to have you back as a participant in our Holy Mother Church.

 

[ToeInTheWater]

I don’t know what the consensus is on homosexuality. Do people believe you are just born that way? Or do certain events in the childhood lead to this? There must be something you can do because culpability is involved. If someone was born that way I would think they would not be culpable.

It all depends on what you mean by “homosexuality”, as many who comment on this blur the distinction between people who are attracted to the same sex, and people who actually have sexual relations with the same sex. Or seem to assume that those who have such attractions are unable to control or resist them.

But last I checked, same-sex attraction is not something that is considered sinful by the Church, but having homosexual sex, is.

Also, note this would also be sinful for a straight person having same sex elations, as can occur in cases of prostitution, and there are a large category of men who have sex with other men, but do not consider themselves homosexual. In some cultures, only having “receptive” homosexual sex is considered a sign of being “homosexual”.

 

[tweedlealice]

I don’t know what the consensus is on homosexuality. Do people believe you are just born that way? Or do certain events in the childhood lead to this? There must be something you can do because culpability is involved. If someone was born that way I would think they would not be culpable.

Salutations,
All I can say is the debate on nature vs nurture and molestation at young ages. I was a critical care RN for 44 yrs. I ask 50 of my homosexuality pts if they had been molested. Of this 50 (small survey) all said yes. Personal experience: brother molested at age 11 by neighbor. Mom told me years later. He turned bisexual. In trouble in school, alcohol. Friends would drop him on police steps drunk for fun. Ended up in a Christian Brother reform school. C/O being beaten for infractions. Never mentioned to me molestation in reform school but I was younger like 12yo. What would I know? Went to California as adult. Became biker, almost got into hell’s angels. Did get to jail. Lived w woman in trailer in relationship. Later gay guy got him off drugs. First, gay relationship. He was dying. Called me. Told him to come to me. He got off drugs, not alcohol. Dying from cirrhosis and bleeding esophageal varices. Like varicose veins in legs but around esophogus. Hemmorhage from mouth and rectum. We get to save them about 3 to 5 times but then it’s too much on their bodies. Tried to slice wrists one night. Found out from my son when he was 35yo that my brother started to touch him in shower at age of 12yo. that night but stopped and then tried suicide. Me, screaming scripture verses through locked bathroom door. Had to go to ER. He started bleeding. Sent to Shreveport hospital. We were moving to Ft Bragg same time. Had to leave him in hospital. Signed out AMA. Went to other alcoholic brother who had varices. I had a baby. Bobby came to see new niece. Went back to S. Ca. Where he settled near second brother and died 3 weeks later from Esophageal varicial Hemmorhage at age 40yo. Other brother w master’s degree died same way at age 59yo hemorrhaging to death on vent in chemical coma. Do you realize if Bobby molested my son, the guilt and grief I would have still have today. How my compassionate heart leads me to situations of stupidity. So, there is a resonable run down of one bi-sexual. Other brother when drunk=100% of the time while a probation officer teaching DUI classes w blood alcohol levels higher than students.He touched his daughters Boobs in stupor thinking it was his wife. They stopped him and all loved him. Curious! Well hope that helps with some observation. God only knows. Nephew in law wanted wife to call him girl’s name and wore some of her clothes. Reading Bible daily now. States gay state is abomination to the Lord and is fighting his demons.
Definitely argue this bathroom thing. Confused kids use handicapped bathroom. First graders shouldn’t be encouraged in sex choices. Teens may not be honest to get in girl’s bathrooms. Puberty is time enough to deal w this. Why not treat a boy w more testosterone and counseling to be what your body is. More estrogen for girls and counseling. Could work sometimes before body mutilation.
God loves us all but not our sins.
in Christ’s love
Tweedlealice sorry so long. In ER, w car accidents and transvestite prostitutes brought in= family pain. One had been molested behind our HS by 8 boys. God help him. His counselor felt he was gay???

 

[JosieN]

It doesn’t matter if the person is born with it or if it was developed in early childhood. Personally I believe it can be either or, or a combination of both, depending on each person.

Church teaching on this is that having a homosexual attraction is not wrong in and of itself because it is not freely chosen. A homosexual person can’t help feeling attracted to the same sex anymore than you and I can help feeling attracted to the opposite sex.

What they can do is try to live a chaste life. A person can’t control their attraction, but they can try to control whether or not they act on it.

I agree, but even though we don’t understand the reason for it, we need to lead people away from it as we would when dealing with an attraction to pornography. Pornography destroys a person’s soul as it puts desires in a place where our Creator did not intend it to be. This desire and attraction is for married couples living according to God’s purpose. A same sex attraction will also destroy a person’s soul especially if they act on the desire. If they cannot control the attraction, they must fight the desire to act on it. Everyone has a weakness, and turning to God for help when we are weak is necessary for forgiveness and healing.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I don’t know what the consensus is on homosexuality. Do people believe you are just born that way? Or do certain events in the childhood lead to this? There must be something you can do because culpability is involved. If someone was born that way I would think they would not be culpable.

There is no consensus on the cause of same sex attraction. Regardless of the cause, attraction is not a sin. Actions are sins.

 

[Petaro]

I apologize i should not have made personal attacks. I was intentionally using that verse out of context to bolster my arguement.

It is a true man who openly admits to his mistakes. Well done.
Please understand that the Pope does not make infallible all statements that he makes. The criteria for true papal infallibility are very narrow and his statements on homosexuality must be seen within his overarching message of mercy and inclusiveness rather than arrogant judgment.
No Pope can change Catholic teaching which has always held that homosexual acts (not SSA) are un-natural, not life inducing and thus disordered under Natural Law.
I personally place homosexual acts in the same basket as a hetrosexual man having sex with another man’s wife. Illicit and morally wrong in its intention and expression.

Much has been written by the secular media about the Pope moving the Church to acceptance of what it has always held as disordered. However, they have posted their bets on the wrong horse and do not understand the governance of the Church nor the place for Papal teachings. They did the same thing with the Synod on the Family and the crickets can still be heard…
Again a good move not to let the debate take over the tongue. God Bless.

 

[CrucisLucia]

It is a true man who openly admits to his mistakes. Well done.
Please understand that the Pope does not make infallible all statements that he makes. The criteria for true papal infallibility are very narrow and his statements on homosexuality must be seen within his overarching message of mercy and inclusiveness rather than arrogant judgment.
No Pope can change Catholic teaching which has always held that homosexual acts (not SSA) are un-natural, not life inducing and thus disordered under Natural Law.
I personally place homosexual acts in the same basket as a hetrosexual man having sex with another man’s wife. Illicit and morally wrong in its intention and expression.

Much has been written by the secular media about the Pope moving the Church to acceptance of what it has always held as disordered. However, they have posted their bets on the wrong horse and do not understand the governance of the Church nor the place for Papal teachings. They did the same thing with the Synod on the Family and the crickets can still be heard…
Again a good move not to let the debate take over the tongue. God Bless.

And the secular media is always prone to misrepresent what the Pope really said.

Also, Pope cannot change what has been set in stone in Sacred Tradition and the long-held teachings of the Church. Papal infallibility, in my knowledge only applies to instances where the Pope is to make a definition concerning faith or morals, not whatever he likes to think or to say.

 

[Isca]

My friend’s gay, from a traditional working class family. He’s in his 50s now, but he told me that he had never been attracted to girls and always knew he was different. He had no “gay” role-models - just the opposite, in fact, gay people were often ridiculed.

He met his first (and only) partner when he was a young man, and they are still together (and very happy).

I also have an older cousin from a similar traditional background who is gay and didn’t “come out” until his 40s, because of fear of social rejection. He never had a girlfriend all his life, although people were always trying to set him up on dates. He was right to fear the rejection, as all his drinking buddies deserted him overnight. His partner had been married, but this had been a result of social pressure, not because he wanted a wife.

Eventually, his partner (a chef) was the victim of a homophobic attack where he was badly beaten and left unconscious in freezing temperatures. His hands were broken in the attack and he never worked as a chef again. His health deteriorated, his life was ruined and he died some years later.

Gay people don’t choose to be gay, just like I didn’t choose to be straight. It can be a difficult path in life for some gay people.

 

[signit]

It doesn’t matter if the person is born with it or if it was developed in early childhood. Personally I believe it can be either or, or a combination of both, depending on each person.

Church teaching on this is that having a homosexual attraction is not wrong in and of itself because it is not freely chosen. A homosexual person can’t help feeling attracted to the same sex anymore than you and I can help feeling attracted to the opposite sex.

What they can do is try to live a chaste life. A person can’t control their attraction, but they can try to control whether or not they act on it.

There is no consensus on the cause of same sex attraction. Regardless of the cause, attraction is not a sin. Actions are sins.

Agreed.

I don’t know definitely that they were “born with it” but the important thing is that they didn’t purposely choose it.

I have opposite-sex attraction. I’ve had it for as long as I can remember and didn’t choose it.

Eventually, his partner (a chef) was the victim of a homophobic attack where he was badly beaten and left unconscious in freezing temperatures. His hands were broken in the attack and he never worked as a chef again. His health deteriorated, his life was ruined and he died some years later.

When I hear stories like this, I wonder how some people can say “they chose it.”

With all the anti-gay hate out there, I can’t see why anyone would want to be subjected to it.

 

[GEddie]

Agreed.

I don’t know definitely that they were “born with it” but the important thing is that they didn’t purposely choose it.

I have opposite-sex attraction. I’ve had it for as long as I can remember and didn’t choose it.

When I hear stories like this, I wonder how some people can say “they chose it.”

With all the anti-gay hate out there, I can’t see why anyone would want to be subjected to it.

Well, if you think about it, none of us chooses our sexual longings. We are first without sexual feelings (aka, in “childhood”); then they come unbidden into our minds and bodies.

Really, I can’t think of any instance in which someone got to “choose” when, how, or to whom they came to feel sexually.

Which in no way affects the moral or sinful status of the behavior. **Everybody ** whether gay or “straight”, sins, if they carry out nonmarital sexual activity. It’s an equal opportunity sin.

ICXC NIKA

 

[boldlygo]

My friend’s gay, from a traditional working class family. He’s in his 50s now, but he told me that he had never been attracted to girls and always knew he was different. He had no “gay” role-models - just the opposite, in fact, gay people were often ridiculed.

He met his first (and only) partner when he was a young man, and they are still together (and very happy).

I also have an older cousin from a similar traditional background who is gay and didn’t “come out” until his 40s, because of fear of social rejection. He never had a girlfriend all his life, although people were always trying to set him up on dates. He was right to fear the rejection, as all his drinking buddies deserted him overnight. His partner had been married, but this had been a result of social pressure, not because he wanted a wife.

Eventually, his partner (a chef) was the victim of a homophobic attack where he was badly beaten and left unconscious in freezing temperatures. His hands were broken in the attack and he never worked as a chef again. His health deteriorated, his life was ruined and he died some years later.

Gay people don’t choose to be gay, just like I didn’t choose to be straight. It can be a difficult path in life for some gay people.

SSA occurs in the general population at a rate of approximately 2.2% [plus or minus 0.4%]…among children adopted by homosexual ‘parents’, this rate increases to 30%… the 27.8% weren’t born that way…*

 

[Robert_Sock]

I feel certain that all same sex sexual attraction is spiritual and comes from the temptations of the evil one. It’s a temptation, much like any other temptation. Sexual temptations can be ever so strong that they become irresistible; this goes for heterosexuals as well and we can see this in people becoming addicted to sex, which includes porn and masterbation.

 

[billcu1]

Times are changing sir. Pope Francis has expressed openness to allowing civil unions. I urge you to respect his infalliability and teaching on church law. I do, and i know he will make it not a sin

This isn’t a political thread. SSA is fine but so is homosexual. Homosexual acts, and morality and what’s sin does not change with the times. Niceness, free sex and love doesn’t redefine sin.

 

[billcu1]

Enough is Enough. The Catholic Church and Pope Francis has said those with SSA are to be treated with dignity and respect. The Catcheism cleary states that SSA attraction is not a choice. However where we draw the line is if their should be SSA relationships. The church says no, Marriage is between one man and one women, and outside of that sex is wrong. However people with SSA can be open and accepted by the Church. Pope Francis says their is a special place in the church for individuals with SSA, including priesthood.

Imagine if their was no place for SSA people. You’re basically excommunicating them and saying they are sinning if they do not live alone for the rest of their life. That would be terrible if I were in there shoes and heard that. I personally disagree with the church and think that SSA can have a healthy relationship with those of the same gender.

Yes they are to be treated with dignity and respect. I haven’t seen any disrespect yet. Does that mean one can’t inquire as to psychological differences? Sounds very “politically correct”. Don’t ask questions.