My view is no we shouldn’t, one thing I love about being Catholic is we never back down on our views. The church teaching your talking about is dogma, it’s something they can’t ever change. These are really bad times we’re living in, and now especially is not the time to make changes.
The church has always welcomed the gay community. But they are subject to the same regulations as every other catholic must fulfill…purity. If the church made an exception to this then it would be remiss in carrying out the mission of Jesus to sanctify them but every catholic as well.
there is a saying, God loves you just the way you are but He loves you too much to let you stay that way. I am assuming that what you mean by “welcoming” is that someone can do whatever they want to be a Catholic. This has nothing to do with popularity. God’s design for sex is between a man and a women IN marriage and anything else is a sin.
Gays have never been other than welcome in the church—I believe Pope Francis addressed that very point quite eloquently not long ago. However, there is no way that the church can or will ever condone, accept or officiate at a gay marriage ceremony as same sex marriage is a mortal sin and against God’s own natural law. So, if you mean, should we reach out to all sinners–of course we should. If 2 men or 2 women walk into mass together should we 3rd degree them or question whether they are straight or gay behind their backs? Again, of course not. It’s not for us to judge. I am as big a sinner as you’ll ever find. I am the last person who should judge anyone. BUT, if you mean should we change church doctrine to please Obama or secular PC society–no. Absolutely not.!
The Church does not have to maintain its popularity.
Just for reference, can you cite documents on this dogma? Could be helpful.
The Bible CLEARLY states that marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman. You can pick your gospel and the subject comes up–or just read Paul’s epistles and what he says about homosexuality. The information is too obvious and too available for me to waste time and a half a page quoting scripture and verse. If you are Catholic–or if you have read the NT–much less the OT–you know what God has said abut homosexuality. The church is not anti same sex attraction, it is PRO-GOD!! I do have my own opinion on the subject frankly, but I’m not here to promote my opinion–as that is all it is–my opinion. However, I do NOT believe that people are “born gay”. And yes, I do have some experience in this area–as my own youngest daughter is living as a lesbian with a woman she says she will marry–and yes my heart is broken and of course I’d love to find some way to make it “okay” in my mind and heart. It would be one helluva lot easier on my husband and I than the opposite option–which is to take the necessary stand with her and hope she will change someday-- maybe, and God willing. So when I say that anyone can plainly find the church’s teaching and the reason for the teaching, it’s not because I am just some old conservative, homophobic right winger with a tolerance deficit. I’m a sad mother who would love to be able to twist the truth more than you know–but the truth remains the truth—even for me and even for my much loved, but in deep trouble, daughter. And in this world of convenient lies–the Catholic church still stands for the truth. Thank heaven and thank heaven also that it won’t change–not for you, not for me, and not even for my daughter.!
I add to the above a specific command of St. Paul [1 Cor 5:9], “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people”
This is not a popularity contest. So the “popularity” of the Church is not a reason to change teaching…Though it may be a factor in determining the best way to approach a given subject. In this regard I think that the Church is doing the best she can…though some individual Catholics may not be doing so hot…
I agree that we need to help others to be excited about the faith. However - think carefully about the second part of your statement.
Sadly this is the same path the rest of the world are heading down, if the church starts accepting sin and changing its beliefs, there would be no limits.
It seems to be in some parishes. There was a picture of Cardinal Dolan attending a “gay mass” and by the look on this face he seemed to enjoy it.
I appreciate this post. Well put.
