Is Homophobia a sin?

[Zoltan_Cobalt]

Relativism doesn’t fit this topic.

Aggressive action is misunderstanding - the Crusaders lived a long, long time ago. We have fortunately advanced in understanding since then.

The weapon against Satan is prayer, fasting and good works. This is not new knowledge.

The word ‘homophobia’ has come to mean more than just a fabricated notion for any opposition to homosexuality on the part of gay lobbyists and has unfortunately come to include violent prejudice.

Prejudice against any person is wrong but is a better word for anyone who hates vulnerable people. Prejudice can go both ways, like hatred for the Church, but one should be careful that the feeling of needing to ‘oppose’ in the name of God doesn’t poison one’s own heart as a Christian because we are called to have a heart for those on the borders.

Anti-Christian, however, is a simple enough term for those who purposefully rally against sanctity and dignity of life and who try to undervalue and undermine Christian belief and pro-life understanding. But the Church calls us to act when she sees fit.

The good news is that misunderstanding is healed by silent and peaceful witness and prayer.

If people think they have the right ,and holy gifts, to be outspoken on the topic then go and find a Catholic priest and ask whether if it is okay to individually rally against gay people and criticise them. I don’t think you’ll get the answer you are hoping for. But if you feel called to do this then I would go and speak to a priest, seriously. As you know, they have the good advice, and this authority is from Rome!

To the OP: It seems that the word in the original meaning of homophobia is very ambiguous. If we take it in the wider sense - to include violence - then it is sinful.

God bless.

Very good post, friard.

I would like to comment only on this part:

The word ‘homophobia’ has come to mean more than just a fabricated notion for any opposition to homosexuality on the part of gay lobbyists and has unfortunately come to include violent prejudice.

It is because the word ‘homophobia’ is applied to anyone with the slightest opposition to homosexuality that it has lost any serious connotation. Like the term “racist”, it has been applied to so many undeserving groups, organizations and individuals that the word has become meaningless.

It has gotten to the point that since I am a Conservative Catholic I must be a “sexist, racist, homophobe who hates everyone who does not think like me”.

That is hurtful because it is not entirely true…I don’t hate EVERYONE…

 

[Joe_Ca]

Did Mary Magdalene meet Jesus’ disapproval, or did her accusers? Was it condemnation that made her a follower of Christ or was it His life-saving merciful heart?

To be clear, He never forgave anyone who stated an intention to continue to sin, and He always told the penitent to sin no more.

,

 

[friardchips]

Very good post, friard.

I would like to comment only on this part:

It is because the word ‘homophobia’ is applied to anyone with the slightest opposition to homosexuality that it has lost any serious connotation. Like the term “racist”, it has been applied to so many undeserving groups, organizations and individuals that the word has become meaningless.

It has gotten to the point that since I am a Conservative Catholic I must be a “sexist, racist, homophobe who hates everyone who does not think like me”.

That is hurtful because it is not entirely true…I don’t hate EVERYONE…

Thank you for this. I read through the whole thread again today in response to a blog article I was emailed by a person worthy of paying attention to on all things Christian and realized that I had been trying to power home my own point too hard and should have been paying closer attention to many points made by people I had discussions with whom have all expressed excellent in-depth views in response to my posts.

In response to this post, I would say that we have to keep things in perspective a bit. The Church has always been, is, and always will be under attack. It goes with our territory! So suffer it we must. It is part of the narrow path. It will always be attacked from all angles and with every means possible and in our day and age the dangers are more subtle. By people believing that things which are so diametrically opposed to good are normal. This way evil tries to erase the ‘idea’ of God and of the devil. Evil becomes everyday life and thinking - the norm. I do get all this. Certainly, all means are used to weaken the stance of the Church on many issues via the media, nutty professors, and yes, via moral relativism (as pointed out but with the word moral included for this thread), relativism in beliefs, materialism, sexual deviances, and many other things to attack and increase pressure on Christians to be more ‘tolerant’ and be moulded into people with a ‘flabby faith’ - no fervour, no wisdom, just nothing people with no meaning.

To respond to this thread’s subject specifically…homosexuality and the act of sodomy have been around as long as we have existed so this is not a new issue. One must never give in to thinking that the dislikes of God do not stand the test of time. But two dangers remain:

One danger is becoming like the enemy in that we do nothing, say nothing, and lose fervour. In fact, the world is the enemy in the sense that it poses a constant danger to those we care about because its thinking can affect people’s salvation. So we MUST care.

Second danger is that we go the other way and become self-righteous bidders for the Truth and forget about kindness and mercy. We become Pharisees.

Third danger is that the devil wants us to hate. Anger feeds evil. Now I know what everyone has been saying about what hate means ,and homophobia is just a tool to make us shut up about our belief, orchestrated by gay lobbies etc…and ‘wingbats’, , but the greatest trick the devil ever really played is to make us become bitter and anxious and obsessive…seriously. He wants us to turn in on ourselves…why? Because evil is just ‘love turned inwards’ as someone I know wisely explained. So we must never despair of people or ourselves or the way things are but remain resolute in keeping our eyes on the Cross, praying, being good - ‘willing love’ even if we don’t feel it, hold out hope for others; but the first thing is not to hate. If I decide to keep my healthy aversion to and distance to a particular unhealthy lifestyle that is still different from hate - hate is obsessive. This way I remain in the world but not of the world, fighting the enemy without fighting like the enemy. Wearing ‘love’ with Christ as my armour and Our Lady as my guide. And wisdom tells us the degree and way to do this; in fact, if we care enough to pray about the things we think are wrong, the Holy Spirit presents us with situations along the way without us having to look for trouble that help us to grow in love and understanding but also wisdom, courage; and God heals at the same time in these moments. He tends to work gentler than we think, or so I understand

---

I think maybe there is something to be said for adding to the separation of the person (character), the inclination (homosexuality), and the act (sodomy).

This added aspect is the lifestyle the homosexual person represents (the abstract) and this is the fear-aspect that people can’t see or agree on. The fear or threat.

You see, I don’t judge the person and tend to be a bit condescending as I feel sorry for people in this situation, I have a natural aversion to the thought of the same sex feelings - maybe down to testosterone - and the act is mortally sinful so speaks for itself…but what of the abstract that all this brings to mind? The representation of the whole picture, lifestyle, culture even in some cases? Is this not a fear of…? I don’t know btw…sincerely just thinking it might be the missing element?!

God bless.

 

[friardchips]

…a kind of fear of the unknown (?) Surely this can take hold if we think about one thing too much (?)

 

[edwest2]

…a kind of fear of the unknown (?) Surely this can take hold if we think about one thing too much (?)

Fear of the unknown is remedied by becoming familiar, in a scholarly sense, with what is not known. However, as new ideas are presented, such as gay marriage, we cannot assume. We already have states that are prohibiting certain things and attempting to normalize gay marriage. Indifference is something Pope Benedict warned about. I heard someone say, “Oh, they’ll just do what they want. They’re not harming anyone.” This is the standard media line. It is an unexamined view. Marriage is a bedrock institution regardless of your beliefs. A man and a woman have a child. They are now responsible for raising that child and showing him or her love and applying discipline as necessary. When the true meaning of marriage is changed, it affects everyone.

Relativism tells us nothing is certain, and that satisfying one’s own desires is just fine.

Peace,
Ed

 

[friardchips]

Fear of the unknown is remedied by becoming familiar, in a scholarly sense, with what is not known. However, as new ideas are presented, such as gay marriage, we cannot assume. We already have states that are prohibiting certain things and attempting to normalize gay marriage. Indifference is something Pope Benedict warned about. I heard someone say, “Oh, they’ll just do what they want. They’re not harming anyone.” This is the standard media line. It is an unexamined view. Marriage is a bedrock institution regardless of your beliefs. A man and a woman have a child. They are now responsible for raising that child and showing him or her love and applying discipline as necessary. When the true meaning of marriage is changed, it affects everyone.

Relativism tells us nothing is certain, and that satisfying one’s own desires is just fine.

Peace,
Ed

Thank you for your reply.

Many priests here will read extreme left papers because they want to try and understand the views of those in darkness: ‘Fear of the unknown is remedied by becoming familiar, in a scholarly sense, with what is not known’.

I have sat through news reports on television (two in particular) and cringe at their all-so-obvious manipulative agendas in the angles they present the news from and it makes me realize how fortunate I am to see they way I do: that Relativism is indeed a snake in the grass.

So the next step is what do I do with this frustration? How do I protect the family set-up which is a mirror of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity? I have to rely on the Holy Spirit to give me chances to witness for the faith! In God’s time. So we pray. And in the meantime, I remember that God died for sinners, and was routing for the sinner to heal. And reserved talk of judgement for those who had power and responsibility.

However, we have to be there for God, our own souls, the victims, and the perpetrator. This is not an easy call to make, and not an easy Calling to answer!

We can’t stand by and pretend that nothing is happening to the world - this is sinful. Thankfully, prayer to Our Lady will help chart the course to her Dear Son and the means to protect all He stood for, while not forgetting those standing facing in the wrong direction.

God bless.

 

[MacQ]

I still don’t understand why we used the term homophobia to describe dislike or hatred of homosexuals. Homophobia means “fear of homosexuals”.

When people tell me that I am homophobic I simply reply, “No, I’m not scared of homosexuals.”

I think what friard is trying to point out is that someone could reasonably read your post as follows:

Why use homophobia to describe dislike or hatred. It actually means “fear”. I don’t fear homosexuals. (Ergo, you dislike or hate them)

That’s not what you meant, as you’ve pointed out…a good editor would ask you to reword.

 

[MacQ]

Hi. Thanks for your response.

I haven’t missed anything in the Gospel and I am Roman Catholic.

Three things…

First, is that I believe there are two facets to our faith: one is the gift of belief in Christ which God Himself nourishes (as one person put it: “the hand we receive with”) and the other facet to our faith is the giving (“the hand we give with”).

Second, my concern is not whether we are to evangelise or even convert but the manner we do so and this I believe is sharing. The gift of faith in Christ and piety towards His commandments and knowledge of His Truth is a gift of faith we take with one hand only to be shared, and we should remember it is a gift ,not to be Lorded over other people judgementally but to be lovingly shared with others.

Third, God heals. People think they can change others at their own willing. This for me is faith hugely misplaced and lacks solid understanding of Christ’s message. So much is impossible and made impossible by those who want to take it on their shoulders to change people as they see fit but I believe it is God who heals. Faith tells me this. He makes the impossible, possible. We just have to be there at the ‘time and place’ living with love and praying for people, and His Holy Spirit works through us - this faith moves mountains. We do need to oppose when the Church calls us to do this still in the ways it lays out.

So I think we disagree not on what is right or wrong or even setting a good example but rather on how one does that as a Christian, a Roman Catholic. I said in a much earlier post that there are varying degrees that one can show disapproval depending on how well you know the individual but we must remember that if we are to admonish then one’s life had better be perfect - this is what the Pharisees did and we saw Jesus’s reaction to them as “hypocrites”. And unless someone is actually doing a sinful act what are you to say? To accuse people of the things you think they are doing?

I think people just have to try and lead good lives, receive the Sacraments and pray for situations and people, be kind , sometimes oppose issues when the Church says to do this - signing a petition etc…, depending on the position one is in, and through this example others will come to the Christian person and want to know more and then one can share their faith in Christ. The more people trust the more they listen. This is not only Christian but also logical and the fruit growing from a compassionate heart. The closer people come to Christ, sometimes through us, the more they want to know. My faith tells me that faith in Christ and through the examples He has given us of how to live a Christian life is how Christ makes ‘everything new’.

These are my points. Thank you again.

God bless.

Wonderfully said.

:clapping:

 

[friardchips]

Wonderfully said.

:clapping:

Hi! Thanks for reading my post and showing appreciation. And also for more clearly explaining the other complication.

God bless.

 

[MacQ]

Hi! Thanks for reading my post and showing appreciation. And also for more clearly explaining the other complication.

God bless.

Always find your posts thoughtful and well articulated.

 

[edwest2]

A phobia is an irrational fear. Hatred is something else. It can be taught. It can be a result of being treated badly by one of them - no matter who the ‘them’ are. For example: “Admit it. You’re just a homophobe.” What? I’m afraid of gay people? For some gay people, it’s considered alright to call anyone who disagrees with what they consider to be gay rights a name. A name that is not educational or that does not ask the obvious question: “Why are you against gay rights or gay people?” That would be instructive, as opposed to assumptions, as opposed to labeling, as opposed to being accusatory and not trying to understand the other person.

This subject is a two-way street. Is anyone interested in finding out why people speak negatively about ‘gay rights’ or is it just easier to end any dialogue or real examination of why the other person is against this or that by being dismissive - “He’s just another homophobe. They’re all like that.”

Peace,
Ed