How "open" are you regarding your stance on homosexual issues?

  • Thread starter Thread starter LemonAndLime
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

LemonAndLime

Guest
I believe in what the Church says regarding the teachings on homosexuality, this thread isn’t about that, but rather - how open are you about it?

My boyfriend’s brother is gay, and his family know I’m Catholic so at some point they may be questions, especially if he ever decides to have a “civil partnership” so I’m interested in how other people handle this.

So - when the topics of gay marriage/homosexuality comes up either at work, with friends or elsewhere, do you state your viewpoint?

Note - I’m only interested in Catholic or similar viewpoints here, which would be considered controversial to many people.
 
I state my viewpoint with some caution. I try to gauge whether what I say will have any effect on the audience.

I consider my point of view, directly from the church, to be the key to their recovery and path to eternal life. My position is to love these people but hate the sin. If I really love them, I will say something.

If I walk away without saying anything, a chance to be Christ to these people is lost.
 
I have to admit that I am intimidated by the aggressive stance of the gay movement in the UK and that I find it difficult to openly express my views (and my view is that it is an emotional and psychological issue, based on a number of studies that I’ve come across). I will do so when I am asked but don’t feel the need to actively engage in a discussion.
 
I keep it quiet, because no one likes a loudmouth jerk who can’t shut up about their opinions.

I’ll state my opinions if asked, and I usually say things like, “I have nothing but love for my brothers and sisters in Christ that are homosexual. I don’t approve of the lifestyle, and I don’t think gay marriage is the best idea for a society.”
 
I only mention it when asked directly. Otherwise I would end up in lots of debates that I don’t want to be in. Of course, I believe my opinion is the right one (:rolleyes:), I do understand that everybody else has their own opinions. Just as I wouldn’t want them constantly telling me all about their opinions, I do not do that to them. But… if I am asked, I will definitly be honest about mine. I think that it just involves lots and lots of tact. Especially, L and L, if you are closly involved with those who share a different opinion about it than you do.
 
I state my views – which are the teaching of the Catholic Church – at every opportunity. I don’t criticize the homosexual person, but homosexual acts. Society caved in and let homosexuals redefine themselves as “gay.” It’s the same as pro-death for babies in the womb folks calling themselves “pro-choice.”

Tell it like it is. Homosexual acts are abhorrent. The parts don’t fit.

Jim Dandy
 
OscarsMama said:
I only mention it when asked directly. Otherwise I would end up in lots of debates that I don’t want to be in. Of course, I believe my opinion is the right one (:rolleyes:), I do understand that everybody else has their own opinions. Just as I wouldn’t want them constantly telling me all about their opinions, I do not do that to them. But… if I am asked, I will definitly be honest about mine. I think that it just involves lots and lots of tact. Especially, L and L, if you are closly involved with those who share a different opinion about it than you do.
Click to expand...
Good advice about tact. As someone has already mentioned its much ‘worse’ for Catholics who believe that homosexuality is wrong, as our country is no longer split about the issue as its legal everywhere apart from Northern Ireland.
 
When homosexuals try to ‘convict’ me that the homosexual lifestyle requires me to support it…I speak out
 
I would have been much more likely to state my views in a very matter of fact black and white sort of way until someone very close to me announced he was gay. Because I’ve witnessed what he goes through on a daily basis - the pain of trying to pray it away but the feelings remain, the sadness from believing there isn’t a place for him in the Church, the constant judgment from apparently sinless Christians who are ready to hurl stones… I’ve developed a much more compassionate attitude toward the subject.

I would never blurt out “It’s abhorrent - the parts don’t fit.”

Not unless I wanted to alienate all sorts of people who either carry this cross, or love someone who does.

If I were asked if I believed homosexual acts were a sin, I would say that that the Bible is clear - we all ALL sinners in need of His grace. I am no different than the homosexual so who am I to judge?
 
Rascalking said:
I keep it quiet, because no one likes a loudmouth jerk who can’t shut up about their opinions.

I’ll state my opinions if asked, and I usually say things like, “I have nothing but love for my brothers and sisters in Christ that are homosexual. I don’t approve of the lifestyle, and I don’t think gay marriage is the best idea for a society.”
Click to expand...
Yes, THIS.

Well said. 👍
 
yellowbird said:
I would have been much more likely to state my views in a very matter of fact black and white sort of way until someone very close to me announced he was gay. Because I’ve witnessed what he goes through on a daily basis - the pain of trying to pray it away but the feelings remain, the sadness from believing there isn’t a place for him in the Church, the constant judgment from apparently sinless Christians who are ready to hurl stones… I’ve developed a much more compassionate attitude toward the subject.

I would never blurt out “It’s abhorrent - the parts don’t fit.”

Not unless I wanted to alienate all sorts of people who either carry this cross, or love someone who does.

If I were asked if I believed homosexual acts were a sin, I would say that that the Bible is clear - we all ALL sinners in need of His grace. I am no different than the homosexual so who am I to judge?
Click to expand...
This too.

Amazing post, and agreed 100%.
 
I’m usually right up front. But

I have a woman friend who is homosexual and I’m acquainted with some of her friends as well. We’ve been friends for over 30 years. It’s a difficult situation. At first
I didn’t know she was gay. It seemed really wrong to end our friendship when she told me; she was the same person she had been, I just knew something about her that I hadn’t known before. We have many interests in common.

At one point I was quite open about discussing homosexuality with her and her friends, wanting to understand them and their situation. I supposed over the years I’ve become less ‘tolerant’ as I’ve come to a better understanding of the issues and God’s will.

I’m still friends with her and she knows I agree with the church that only heterosexual sex in marriage is God’s will. She accepts that these are my views. I no longer attend her get togethers if she has invited gay couples who insist on kissing and fondling in public. I like many of her gay friends, some celibate and some not. But I don’t want to know who’s sinning or seem to give approval or for them to assume I’m gay because I’m there. I must say, it was a shock at one party when I spoke up that I vote pro life and against gay marriage.

Even harder is talking about this issue to good Catholics whose grandchildren are living a gay lifestyle. I can only tell the truth. I try to be kind. I tell them God still loves their loved ones. Too many people accept ‘they’re born that way’ so it must not be wrong.
 
well its a difficult topic especially since we see more kids openly moving towards this. I dont think we should be out barking against it because with Christ should love the sinner but not the sin. I taught ccd for quite a few years and this subject aklways came up and had to explain to the kids what the churchs stance was. Needless to say it may have turned them off but salvation comes with a price!:cool:
 
yellowbird said:
I would have been much more likely to state my views in a very matter of fact black and white sort of way until someone very close to me announced he was gay. Because I’ve witnessed what he goes through on a daily basis - the pain of trying to pray it away but the feelings remain, the sadness from believing there isn’t a place for him in the Church, the constant judgment from apparently sinless Christians who are ready to hurl stones… I’ve developed a much more compassionate attitude toward the subject.

I would never blurt out “It’s abhorrent - the parts don’t fit.”

Not unless I wanted to alienate all sorts of people who either carry this cross, or love someone who does.

If I were asked if I believed homosexual acts were a sin, I would say that that the Bible is clear - we all ALL sinners in need of His grace. I am no different than the homosexual so who am I to judge?
Click to expand...
👍
 
Rascalking said:
I keep it quiet, because no one likes a loudmouth jerk who can’t shut up about their opinions.

I’ll state my opinions if asked, and I usually say things like, “I have nothing but love for my brothers and sisters in Christ that are homosexual. I don’t approve of the lifestyle, and I don’t think gay marriage is the best idea for a society.”
Click to expand...
But what when a loudmouth jerk who can’t shut up about their opinions insists on showing their pro-gay stance down your throut and is not tolerant of a different view? What then? Because this is what I have to deal with a lot.
 
I have opted for telling someone people that I totally accept the church teaches on sexuality. every sexual act that is not open to the conception of a child between a married couple is wrong. this includes contraception mastrubation adultry (even in thought) pre marraige sex, nearly everyone strugles with one or more of these.
sex between 2 people of the same sex is also one of these but it is not something I struggle with so i pray for people who do struggle with this.
 
I’m pretty open about it. But I also do it in an non-combative way.

Unfortunately, many Catholics get frustrated with the direction our country is going and so they just say blanket statements that are guaranteed to infuriate someone.

As long as you go about it in a loving way, I have found that you can openly discuss your views on anything without having to deal with hostility.

Plus, it’s for their benefit that I share the teachings of Christ. Like Jesus said, the Truth will set you free!
 
I keep my mouth shut firm unless specifically asked and only after warning people they might not like what they’ll hear.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top