Is Gay Pride compatible with Catholicism?

[Exalt]

“Gay Pride”, according to the Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, is “a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one’s homosexuality.”

The Catholic church merely condemns homosexual activity (and, also, any sexual activity outside the context of marriage), and says, to my knowledge, nothing of the morality of either “coming out” or having pride in one’s sexual orientation.

Therefore, I wonder about the position of people on this board on the subject of “gay pride”, as the Webster’s Dictionary defines it. Any thoughts?

 

[PaulinVA]

Huh? Same Sex Attraction is still disordered.

Pride is a sin, first of all, but I understand your question. If the physical expression of your attraction is a mortal sin, what is there to be proud of?

 

[Jofantioch]

I wonder about the position of people on this board on the subject of “gay pride”, as the Webster’s Dictionary defines it. Any thoughts?

Why is this question coming up? Do you have a gay friend/relative who has asked you to be part of the parade? I don’t think there’s much harm in singing “We are family” and “YMCA” to support the life of someone you love. You don’t have to support their lifestyle, but true Christian love goes a long way to bring someone home.

I’d have a talk with the person(s) you know in the parade. Let them know that you celebrate their personality and life, but need to draw the line at specific celebration of non-marital sex. Talk it over with them. It’s so much better than just pursing your lips or screaming with a protest sign. Come from a place of love and you can’t go wrong.

 

[Exalt]

Huh? Same Sex Attraction is still disordered.

Pride is a sin, first of all, but I understand your question. If the physical expression of your attraction is a mortal sin, what is there to be proud of?

I would point out two things. First of all, “pride” is a word. Certian meanings of which are considered grounds for sin in Catholicism, and certian meanings are considered neutral or good. Having pride in your child’s accomplishments is very different from your pride keeping you from doing the right thing. One is good, the other is not.

Second of all, I assume you mean that the *sexual *expression of homosexual attraction is wrong. There are other ways to express affection that do not involve what the Church considers sinful behavior (in other words, while homosexual *sexual *activity is considered sinful, homosexual expression-that-isn’t-sexual is not discussed).

 

[Exalt]

Why is this question coming up?

I’m honestly just curious.

Do you have a gay friend/relative who has asked you to be part of the parade? I don’t think there’s much harm in singing “We are family” and “YMCA” to support the life of someone you love. You don’t have to support their lifestyle, but true Christian love goes a long way to bring someone home.

I’d have a talk with the person(s) you know in the parade. Let them know that you celebrate their personality and life, but need to draw the line at specific celebration of non-marital sex. Talk it over with them. It’s so much better than just pursing your lips or screaming with a protest sign. Come from a place of love and you can’t go wrong.

No, I’m not concerned about parades.

 

[Corki]

“Gay Pride”, according to the Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, is “a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one’s homosexuality.”

The Catholic church merely condemns homosexual activity (and, also, any sexual activity outside the context of marriage), and says, to my knowledge, nothing of the morality of either “coming out” or having pride in one’s sexual orientation.

Therefore, I wonder about the position of people on this board on the subject of “gay pride”, as the Webster’s Dictionary defines it. Any thoughts?

The Church condems homosexual activity as well as behavior which either condones a homosexual lifestyle or might lead others to sin. Same sex attraction, or homosexual tendency, is gravely disordered. The Church clearly wishes that those with SSA experience dignity, respect and compassion. That is completely within Church teaching. How one could express pride in a disorder is more problematic. I just can’t see how one could do that and not either be endorsing a “gay” lifestyle or possibly leading another into sin even if the person him/herself was remaining chaste.

 

[Schultzz]

“Gay Pride”, according to the Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, is “a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one’s homosexuality.”

The Catholic church merely condemns homosexual activity (and, also, any sexual activity outside the context of marriage), and says, to my knowledge, nothing of the morality of either “coming out” or having pride in one’s sexual orientation.

Therefore, I wonder about the position of people on this board on the subject of “gay pride”, as the Webster’s Dictionary defines it. Any thoughts?

I don’t think celebrating your sexual identity is a sin unless you act out through genital intimacy. There is a difference between Homosexuality and being a homosexual. The former is an alignment with same sex indentification. The latter is someone who engages in homosexual acts.
Homosexuality and celibacy are good in themselves if that is what you believe. But be careful that it does not lead to sin.

 

[Fitswimmer]

The Church condems homosexual activity as well as behavior which either condones a homosexual lifestyle or might lead others to sin. Same sex attraction, or homosexual tendency, is gravely disordered. The Church clearly wishes that those with SSA experience dignity, respect and compassion. That is completely within Church teaching. How one could express pride in a disorder is more problematic. I just can’t see how one could do that and not either be endorsing a “gay” lifestyle or possibly leading another into sin even if the person him/herself was remaining chaste.

I don’t view my SSA as something to be proud of. I don’t refer to myself as gay because I do not live the “lifestyle”

 

[thomasf]

Being ‘proud’ about homosexuality can lead to scandal, and others to sin. The church teaches that homosexuals are called to either celebacy or conversion. Not to encourage others to fall into sin.

 

[bilop]

No.

Would you celebrate your temptation to cheat on your wife/husband?

Same thing. We should not celebrate our sinful tendencies.

God Bless

 

[Newbie2]

I don’t think celebrating your sexual identity is a sin unless you act out through genital intimacy. There is a difference between Homosexuality and being a homosexual. The former is an alignment with same sex indentification. The latter is someone who engages in homosexual acts.
Homosexuality and celibacy are good in themselves if that is what you believe. But be careful that it does not lead to sin.

Why would one celebrate it if one was celebate? According to RCC teaching, Homosexuality is NOT good in itself, even if it’s what one believes; the teaching is that of disorder. So, what you think in not in line with RCC teaching.

I don’t view my SSA as something to be proud of. I don’t refer to myself as gay because I do not live the “lifestyle”

God bless you.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

I don’t view my SSA as something to be proud of. I don’t refer to myself as gay because I do not live the “lifestyle”

I praise God for your faithfulness to God. I rejoice with you over this freedom. Though I do not have such an attraction I need the prayers of those who resist temptations of any kind. Pray for me and I will pray for you.

CDL

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

“Gay Pride”, according to the Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, is “a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one’s homosexuality.”

The Catholic church merely condemns homosexual activity (and, also, any sexual activity outside the context of marriage), and says, to my knowledge, nothing of the morality of either “coming out” or having pride in one’s sexual orientation.

Therefore, I wonder about the position of people on this board on the subject of “gay pride”, as the Webster’s Dictionary defines it. Any thoughts?

I see it as just another part of a person’s overall being and character. It is part of accepting who you are. There is nothing wrong with the term. It is compatible with Catholicism.

 

[BlaineTog]

Someone with SSA who has finally admitted that they have it should feel pride and satisfaction that they admitted it (self-knowledge is something to be proud of), but not that they have SSA any more than someone should be proud of a tendency for alcoholism, or a short temper, or an attraction to little girls. SSA is bad; knowing that you have SSA is good.

 

[Franciscan]

“Gay Pride”, according to the Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, is “a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one’s homosexuality.”

The Catholic church merely condemns homosexual activity (and, also, any sexual activity outside the context of marriage), and says, to my knowledge, nothing of the morality of either “coming out” or having pride in one’s sexual orientation.

Therefore, I wonder about the position of people on this board on the subject of “gay pride”, as the Webster’s Dictionary defines it. Any thoughts?

Hi Exalt,
I think there is a very well organized homosexual movement with two agendas. One is good the other not so good. The agenda to promote tolerance and understanding of those with SSA is good (a type of civil rights issue).

The other agenda is more aggressive–To change the culture into something radically different than what it is founded on—Examples to indoctrinate kids that Homosexual “lifestyle”(gay sex), co-habitation, “marriage” is perfectly acceptable. To do this they have to break God’s laws and His church’s laws. They have to undermine the authentic Christian heritage of this country. They have to infiltrate the media, they have to infiltrate our school system. Throughthese avenues they have made incredible ‘progress’.

It’s not good for America and families.(and I say that while fully supporting the first agenda).

So “gay pride” for the first but not the second.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I disagree with the definition. The term is used by those who live that lifestyle openly, and usually in an in-your-face manner.

 

[Daddums]

“Gay Pride”, according to the Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, is “a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one’s homosexuality.”

The Catholic church merely condemns homosexual activity (and, also, any sexual activity outside the context of marriage), and says, to my knowledge, nothing of the morality of either “coming out” or having pride in one’s sexual orientation.

Therefore, I wonder about the position of people on this board on the subject of “gay pride”, as the Webster’s Dictionary defines it. Any thoughts?

Let’s define “Pedophile Pride” to be “a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one’s pedophilia.”

The Catholic church merely condemns pedophile activity (and, also, any sexual activity outside the context of marriage), and says, to my knowledge, nothing of the morality of either “coming out as a pedophile” or having pride in one’s sexual attraction to young children.

Therefore, I wonder about the position of people on this board on the subject of “pedophile pride”, as defined. Any thoughts?

Daddums

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Let’s define “Pedophile Pride” to be “a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one’s pedophilia.”

The Catholic church merely condemns pedophile activity (and, also, any sexual activity outside the context of marriage), and says, to my knowledge, nothing of the morality of either “coming out as a pedophile” or having pride in one’s sexual attraction to young children.

Therefore, I wonder about the position of people on this board on the subject of “pedophile pride”, as defined. Any thoughts?

Daddums

Are you inferring the definition of homosexuality and pedophilia are the same? (they are not of course)

 

[Newbie2]

Let’s define “Pedophile Pride” to be “a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one’s pedophilia.”

The Catholic church merely condemns pedophile activity (and, also, any sexual activity outside the context of marriage), and says, to my knowledge, nothing of the morality of either “coming out as a pedophile” or having pride in one’s sexual attraction to young children.

Daddums

In general, although I can’t provide you with a specific reference at the present time, having pride in one’s concupiscence would be considered sinful.

 

[SpiritMeadow]

Since I’ve never met a person who “decided ot be gay” I have concluded as most psychologists and most of medicine has that it is genetic. It is therefore something that one is born to. Thus God did that. So I deny any “disordered” aspect to it. It is simply horrible to classify people in this matter over something they have no control over with. I think every person should be proud of who and what they are. Race, sex, and sexual orientation, are things we are born with, so they can hardly be disordered. It is very unhelpful to lay such a burden on people that they are somehow disordered because they are gay. It would be no different that calling someone who is bipolar as being “disordered.” It attaches some sort of negative connotation to a state that one cannot change, albeit some can deny their orientation or struggle to be celibate. I find it difficult to reconcile why God would attach such a limitation on someone by definition, but perhaps it falls along the lines of God allowing for down’s syndrome, as some no doubt do.