I'm torn.

[kib]

Hi Bee, God bless.

I’m guessing you’ve had an abortion? This is easily forgiven through the sacrament of reconciliation if you truly repent. God is good, right?

I assist with RCIA at my parish and while I didn’t read much of this thread (except your posts) it seems that you have an attitude similar to that which I see in a lot of the folks in RCIA, especially since you are returning to the church as a mature adult. Let me take a stab here: You are viewing the Church and faith through a social lens which you have developed throughout your life. You have seen same sex relationships and see the love that exists between these two people as a very great good. We all have these lenses which are formed by the time in history we grew up, the people and culture we are surrounded by, etc. But here is the thing: God is THE lens. Something I have had to do since my conversion is begin looking at the world in a different way. I have noticed that a type of half-sincere “altruistic” hedonism impacts the way most of us think here in modern America. A type of “do what you want and don’t bother/ hurt anyone, just be happy and remember we’re all in this together.” Many of us see this as a good and loving attitude, but what is the source of love, what is the source of right and wrong. Is it only a majority opinion of good and bad that makes it true- or can I decipher and believe in my OWN band and flavor of truth? You mentioned love: what is love? How do we define it? Well, if we believe in the God of Abraham- God IS Love (as he told us). He, the God of the universe IS love. I love to chew on that thought. So, what I’m driving at here is that to know what love is, we must know what / who God is. Also, we must always view love through HIS lens- not the fleeting, goofy lens that we’ve acquired through societal influence. This is a REALLY hard thing to do- it is hard for me because I love my God and I love other people- I don’t want to be labeled as a hate-filled bigot; and heck, I want to do what feels good and what is fun. The thing is, fun is often fleeting and less fulfilling. The challenge to all of us as Christians is to love as God loves. His love can feel so very harsh in the moment. There is a great quote from St. Theresa of Avila which says something like “Lord, if this is how you treat your friends, I would hate to see how you treat your enemies.” That is kind of scary, right? I often think of poor old St. Peter. He told Jesus that he wouldn’t let anyone kill him: Jesus replied- “Get behind me Satan!” Why is that? Because true love is born of and perfected in sacrifice. This Christian life can be very hard to live and very hard to understand. A massive danger, however, is for us to say things like “well, I just can’t believe in a God that does… (fill in the blank).” I’ve heard that statement many times during RICA. I also had a catechumen once say “well, I guess I’m just too much of a Democrat to be Catholic!” SAY WHAT? The ideals of any political party don’t really transcend space and time as the reality of the one and only creator God does. Am I getting my ideas across in a reasonable way? I guess all I’m really trying to say is that one of the most difficult things about being Catholic is that we are called to be in this world but not of it- we need to be constantly seeking heaven- that is how this world is made a better place. Bl. Theresa of Calcutta is an amazing example of that. My final advice to you is to research something called Moral Relativism or Subjectivism. This is a horrible, silly, dangerously common way of thinking in our society today. Think of where morality, right and wrong, good and bad etc. come from. Are these inventions of our society or is there an ultimate law giver (God)?

I pray that you receive many blessings in your faith journey, I will pray for you and your fiance today.

Much peace.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Don’t worry, it’s not blasphemy!

Trust me, if you have repentance, it’s not unforgivable. Jesus loves and forgives us if we but ask.

Please don’t feel you have to state your sin on this forum. I don’t think it would be productive to do so since we are not priests (well most of us anyway!) and cannot counsel nor absolve you.

Please, even if you are afraid, go to confession as SOON as you possibly can. Even before a formal confession, make an appointment to talk to a priest. You will feel the love and peace of Jesus Christ when you do! I can guarantee it!

 

[BeeRod]

Hi Bee, God bless.

I’m guessing you’ve had an abortion? This is easily forgiven through the sacrament of reconciliation if you truly repent. God is good, right?

I assist with RCIA at my parish and while I didn’t read much of this thread (except your posts) it seems that you have an attitude similar to that which I see in a lot of the folks in RCIA, especially since you are returning to the church as a mature adult. Let me take a stab here: You are viewing the Church and faith through a social lens which you have developed throughout your life. You have seen same sex relationships and see the love that exists between these two people as a very great good. We all have these lenses which are formed by the time in history we grew up, the people and culture we are surrounded by, etc. But here is the thing: God is THE lens. Something I have had to do since my conversion is begin looking at the world in a different way. I have noticed that a type of half-sincere “altruistic” hedonism impacts the way most of us think here in modern America. A type of “do what you want and don’t bother/ hurt anyone, just be happy and remember we’re all in this together.” Many of us see this as a good and loving attitude, but what is the source of love, what is the source of right and wrong. Is it only a majority opinion of good and bad that makes it true- or can I decipher and believe in my OWN band and flavor of truth? You mentioned love: what is love? How do we define it? Well, if we believe in the God of Abraham- God IS Love (as he told us). He, the God of the universe IS love. I love to chew on that thought. So, what I’m driving at here is that to know what love is, we must know what / who God is. Also, we must always view love through HIS lens- not the fleeting, goofy lens that we’ve acquired through societal influence. This is a REALLY hard thing to do- it is hard for me because I love my God and I love other people- I don’t want to be labeled as a hate-filled bigot; and heck, I want to do what feels good and what is fun. The thing is, fun is often fleeting and less fulfilling. The challenge to all of us as Christians is to love as God loves. His love can feel so very harsh in the moment. There is a great quote from St. Theresa of Avila which says something like “Lord, if this is how you treat your friends, I would hate to see how you treat your enemies.” That is kind of scary, right? I often think of poor old St. Peter. He told Jesus that he wouldn’t let anyone kill him: Jesus replied- “Get behind me Satan!” Why is that? Because true love is born of and perfected in sacrifice. This Christian life can be very hard to live and very hard to understand. A massive danger, however, is for us to say things like “well, I just can’t believe in a God that does… (fill in the blank).” I’ve heard that statement many times during RICA. I also had a catechumen once say “well, I guess I’m just too much of a Democrat to be Catholic!” SAY WHAT? The ideals of any political party don’t really transcend space and time as the reality of the one and only creator God does. Am I getting my ideas across in a reasonable way? I guess all I’m really trying to say is that one of the most difficult things about being Catholic is that we are called to be in this world but not of it- we need to be constantly seeking heaven- that is how this world is made a better place. Bl. Theresa of Calcutta is an amazing example of that. My final advice to you is to research something called Moral Relativism or Subjectivism. This is a horrible, silly, dangerously common way of thinking in our society today. Think of where morality, right and wrong, good and bad etc. come from. Are these inventions of our society or is there an ultimate law giver (God)?

I pray that you receive many blessings in your faith journey, I will pray for you and your fiance today.

Much peace.

A lot to read but glad I did. It’s a long process of things I’ve learned as a child/teen and what I’m learning now. Been doing a lot of praying lately. All I want to be is a good person in God’s eyes.

And yes, you nailed it! But it’s a bit tough to post it here. I’ve already encountered judgmental people here. Don’t really need that now.

 

[Mickey]

IWhen I said “love is love”, I was not only referring to romantic love. People can love without being physically intimate. People can love by listening to each other, caring about that person, giving yourself to that person (not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually). It’s that relationship you have with God, your family, and your friends. I can be more technical about different types of love but I won’t go there. All I’m saying is that we all are human, gay or straight, and should experience love at least one point in our lives.

So then you understand that the Church and Scripture teaches that we are to love our neighbor as ourself…and that we love homosexuals…and homosexuals can love eachother…but homosexual carnal relations are a grave sin.

In other words…homosexuals are called to live a celibate lifestyle.

 

[BeeRod]

So then you understand that the Church and Scripture teaches that we are to love our neighbor as ourself…and that we love homosexuals…and homosexuals can love eachother…but homosexual carnal relations are a grave sin.

In other words…homosexuals are called to live a celibate lifestyle.

But I admit I was upset at the time I was called out for not knowing what love is.

 

[agapewolf]

But I admit I was upset at the time I was called out for not knowing what love is.

Beerod. I never said you didn’t know what love is. Stop claiming over and over that I did.
When you asked for clarification then, I even denied saying it. Scroll up. You will see it was NEVER said. So stop saying that it was said.

 

[PJM]

=BeeRod;9867814]A part of me is glad to come back to my Catholic roots. Being in church, taking RCIA class, even having great conversations with the Mgsr. is great. I’m happy that I’m waking up from years sleeping.

But I’m also torn. I still feel gay couples should be free to love and if they want to get married, they should (civil ceremony, of course). In addition, when my fiance and I get married and have children, we want to stop when we know we can’t afford another child. We’re already in our 30s so we’ll most likely have our children back to back, unless they’re twins. In the meantime, the threads I’m reading about premarital sex and birth control (using it for my irregular periods and anemic problems) is making me feel uneasy. I love my fiance with all my heart and while it’s great sexually between us, he means so much more to me than just “bow chicky bow bow” fun.

I’m just torn about everything. Been praying but it’s still making me feel uneasy. :imsorry:

ADDING perspective:

Your differences are not with “The Catholic Church” THEY ARE DIRECTLY WITH GOD HIMSELF.

There was a precise reason God created TWO genders; TWo “sex’s”; male AND female.

That reason is that BOTH a male and a female are absolutely essential to grow “the species” Humnaity would not exist if there were not male and females to PROCREATE.

Genesis 2:24 “Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh.”

**Matthew 19:5 **“For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.”

**2 Mark 10:7 “**For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother; and shall cleave to his wife.”

**3 1 Corinthians 7:3 **“Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband.”

4 Ephesians 5:31 “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh.”

Then Christ raised this UNION to the level of a Sacrament; because it fulfills the Will and Divine cause for humanity. Which is NOT to say that virginity and the Religiois Life is NOT also fulfilling One of God’s PRIMARY calls. BUT even these cannot exist without marriage.

Homosexual unions are ALL ABOUT “self” and “self-sexual gratification.” Neither of which fit into God plan for humanity.

Isa.43 Verses 7 and 21: “every one who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." AND the people whom I formed for myself that they might ]CHOOSE TO] declare my praise.”

Isa.29: 16 ” You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay; that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

**Isa.64: 8 **“Yet, O LORD, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou art our potter; we are all the work of thy hand.”

In the Old Testament God tells “Us” [Adam and Eve, Noah, Abrahma and others] “TO GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY”.

Genesis 4:1 The man had intercourse with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. ‘I have acquired a man with the help of Yahweh,’ she said.

Birth is Controlled by God

John.1 Verses 12 to 14: “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. “

Gen.38: 6-10 “And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. Then Judah [the Father of both sons] said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” **But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife he spilled the semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother. And what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he slew him also. **

God is NOT against “Love” He is hover ever Firmly Againt “LUST” and that ny dear friend is WHAT Homosexually is based on.

God Bless you,

 

[kib]

A lot to read but glad I did. It’s a long process of things I’ve learned as a child/teen and what I’m learning now. Been doing a lot of praying lately. All I want to be is a good person in God’s eyes.

And yes, you nailed it! But it’s a bit tough to post it here. I’ve already encountered judgmental people here. Don’t really need that now.

“Pray, hope and don’t worry”- as St. Pio would say (easier said that done).

The desire to be just in God’s eyes is the greatest desire we can have, don’t let it go even when you fail! Just think: in spite of your depravity He loves you, I mean he TRULY loves you. He sees all of your flaws and loves you forever. Nothing can separate you from that except a rejection of his forgiveness. Remember to always seek truth over emotional comfort/ satisfaction- be not afraid.

No judgement on my part. You are loved and lovable no matter what you’ve done. Seek Him out, ask His forgiveness in sacramental confession and be free of your sins. God bless you!