Is my identity a sin?

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acerifolia

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Hello, I am interested in converting to Catholicism as it seems that this is the path that the Lord is asking me to follow. After exploring many other faiths, Catholicism feels right in a way that others haven’t. However, I am hesitant to enter my local Catholic church for a few reasons.
I am gay, and I have facial piercings and a tattoo. These are things that I feel may prevent me from being a “true” Catholic. I can take my piercings out, and I would if that was what it would take to please the Lord - but is the Lord truly concerned with appearances?
I cannot change my sexuality, and I feel that God made me the way I am intentionally and for a reason. I am not looking for tips on how to turn myself straight. I am wondering if these are things that would prevent me from going to church and speaking with a priest. I read the Bible every day, and I pray multiple times daily. Thus, would my appearance and sexuality overrule that and cause me to be unable to go to church?
Thank you for your help.
 
acerifolia said:
Hello, I am interested in converting to Catholicism as it seems that this is the path that the Lord is asking me to follow. After exploring many other faiths, Catholicism feels right in a way that others haven’t. However, I am hesitant to enter my local Catholic church for a few reasons.
I am gay, and I have facial piercings and a tattoo. These are things that I feel may prevent me from being a “true” Catholic. I can take my piercings out, and I would if that was what it would take to please the Lord - but is the Lord truly concerned with appearances?
I cannot change my sexuality, and I feel that God made me the way I am intentionally and for a reason. I am not looking for tips on how to turn myself straight. I am wondering if these are things that would prevent me from going to church and speaking with a priest. I read the Bible every day, and I pray multiple times daily. Thus, would my appearance and sexuality overrule that and cause me to be unable to go to church?
Thank you for your help.
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no, it wouldn’t

first of all, piercings and tattoos are not intrinsically sinful. they are mostly for decoration so depends on the intention behind them. and what they represent. it would be wrong if you had a tattoo of something immoral, for example.

as for being gay, the church does not teach that you have to pretend to not have same sex attraction, there is a ministry called courage that helps people discuss these things and find support. however, you are still called to chastity, just like everyone else

so yes, go talk to your priest
 
Thus, would my appearance and sexuality overrule that and cause me to be unable to go to church?
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NO. Go visit a priest and let him instruct you in what the Church teaches.
God bless you on the journey home.
 
I am so happy for you that you are being called home to the Catholic Church!

Tatoos, piercings? Like you said, you can remove them or cover them. But you seem to be very sensitive, and that could be a good thing or it might harm you if you are scrupulous. (Talk to a priest about that.) From here on out, do you think you have to dress all in drab clothing? No. You might really enjoy reading St. Francis DeSales and his letters!

The Catholic Church has room for everyone who Loves Christ and loves Him more than the World. It sounds like you do, and I’m so glad you found it!
 
acerifolia said:
Hello, I am interested in converting to Catholicism as it seems that this is the path that the Lord is asking me to follow. After exploring many other faiths, Catholicism feels right in a way that others haven’t. However, I am hesitant to enter my local Catholic church for a few reasons.
I am gay, and I have facial piercings and a tattoo. These are things that I feel may prevent me from being a “true” Catholic. I can take my piercings out, and I would if that was what it would take to please the Lord - but is the Lord truly concerned with appearances?
I cannot change my sexuality, and I feel that God made me the way I am intentionally and for a reason. I am not looking for tips on how to turn myself straight. I am wondering if these are things that would prevent me from going to church and speaking with a priest. I read the Bible every day, and I pray multiple times daily. Thus, would my appearance and sexuality overrule that and cause me to be unable to go to church?
Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
Hi Acerifolia:

Being gay is not overly uncommon. I would just plainly - without trying to hide anything but also without trying to be dramatic - make an appointment and discuss these things that concern you with a priest, including your concerns over piercings. I realize this is easier said than done because talking about intimidate details of ourselves is hard to do, but it is extremely helpful and you feel much better afterwards. Priests in my experience are very professional and dedicated and have had a lot of experience talking to people inside or outside of the faith, as well as having a lot of training on it in advance, and I think you can be confident he will be sensitive and helpful for you, along with providing next steps.

Peace.
 
Like others have said, being gay in and of itself isn’t sinful. It’s a cross to bear, but the Church is here to help us bear all of our crosses. (One quote I like is "The Church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners.) Like others have said, talk to a priest and let him guide you to starting your conversion. God bless you.
 
acerifolia said:
…I cannot change my sexuality, and I feel that God made me the way I am intentionally and for a reason…
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What do you think the reason might be? How do you believe God would wish you to live in light of your sexuality?
 
acerifolia said:
Hello, I am interested in converting to Catholicism as it seems that this is the path that the Lord is asking me to follow. After exploring many other faiths, Catholicism feels right in a way that others haven’t. However, I am hesitant to enter my local Catholic church for a few reasons.
I am gay, and I have facial piercings and a tattoo. These are things that I feel may prevent me from being a “true” Catholic. I can take my piercings out, and I would if that was what it would take to please the Lord - but is the Lord truly concerned with appearances?
I cannot change my sexuality, and I feel that God made me the way I am intentionally and for a reason. I am not looking for tips on how to turn myself straight. I am wondering if these are things that would prevent me from going to church and speaking with a priest. I read the Bible every day, and I pray multiple times daily. Thus, would my appearance and sexuality overrule that and cause me to be unable to go to church?
Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
NONE of the above! Welcome Home the Holy Spirit is calling you into the Catholic Church. Homosexual acts are the problem, not your sexual identity. Let us know how things are going; we care and support you. :grouphug:
 
Piercings and tattoos are no problem at all. If you feel less reverent with the piercings, remove them. Otherwise don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t look at you any differently. Catholics come in an incredibly wide variety.

As to being gay, I do believe that gay is something one sometimes just is, and nothing can be done about it. The church teaches that such people should be celibate. I don’t know if you agree or disagree with that teaching, but it is unlikely to change. You’ll have to decide if you can follow that teaching or not. I have experience with gay Catholics with differing views, and am happy to talk to you in private message if you would like. I won’t try to convince you one way or the other, I’ll just be a friend and mostly listen.

The short answer is; the church says being gay isn’t a sin, but homosexual relations are.
 
Ask around. Find a priest who can discuss the faith with you on your terms. You may be pleasantly surprised!
 
I once heard and truly believe that the safest place for those who are gay is the Catholic Church. She will never judge you, that’s God’s job, she may correct us but never judge! Trust me I am way worse of a sinner than you, I don’t think there is a commandment I haven’t broken, but God forgives!

Now I have several friends and family members who are gay and are practicing Catholics. Are they sexually active with their partners? I have no idea and honestly it’s none of my business. That’s between them and God, but I will tell you that in most every part of their life they are better Catholics than 95% of the other Catholics I see, including myself.

You need to remember that temptation, orientation whatever you want to call it is not a sin, going through with the act, now I am required to tell you that yes that is a sin, but according to St Paul, it is the same as any other sin. It is not worse, there is NO teaching where Jesus says if your gay don’t come to me!!! He calls us, in fact He tells us the worse of a sinner you are, the more RIGHTS you have to His mercy! The more you have offended Him the more He wants to emmerse you in the ocean of His mercy! That is why God is so amazing, He loves you no matter what, there is nothing you can do to stop His love for you. If you fall in any aspect of your life He wants you to run to Him, He will heal you, comfort you, guide you and love you.

You know one of Adam and Eve’s biggest mistakes was not running to God, they hid from Him. He wants children that run to Him…

Come to the Church, she loves you! We love you and no matter what you do, what you look like or how you dress, we will always be here for you!
 
USMC_Convert said:
I once heard and truly believe that the safest place for those who are gay is the Catholic Church. She will never judge you, that’s God’s job, she may correct us but never judge! Trust me I am way worse of a sinner than you, I don’t think there is a commandment I haven’t broken, but God forgives!

Now I have several friends and family members who are gay and are practicing Catholics. Are they sexually active with their partners? I have no idea and honestly it’s none of my business. That’s between them and God, but I will tell you that in most every part of their life they are better Catholics than 95% of the other Catholics I see, including myself.

You need to remember that temptation, orientation whatever you want to call it is not a sin, going through with the act, now I am required to tell you that yes that is a sin, but according to St Paul, it is the same as any other sin. It is not worse, there is NO teaching where Jesus says if your gay don’t come to me!!! He calls us, in fact He tells us the worse of a sinner you are, the more RIGHTS you have to His mercy! The more you have offended Him the more He wants to emmerse you in the ocean of His mercy! That is why God is so amazing, He loves you no matter what, there is nothing you can do to stop His love for you. If you fall in either your sexuality or any other aspect of your life He wants you to run to Him, He will heal you, comfort you, guide you and love you.

You know one of Adam and Eve’s biggest mistakes was not running to God, they hid from Him. He wants children that run to Him…

Come to the Church, she loves you! We love you and no matter what you do, what you look like or how you dress, we will always be here for you!
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If there was voting, I’d vote this the best response! Well said, and perfect approach.
 
USMC_Convert said:
I once heard and truly believe that the safest place for those who are gay is the Catholic Church. She will never judge you, that’s God’s job, she may correct us but never judge! Trust me I am way worse of a sinner than you, I don’t think there is a commandment I haven’t broken, but God forgives!

Now I have several friends and family members who are gay and are practicing Catholics. Are they sexually active with their partners? I have no idea and honestly it’s none of my business. That’s between them and God, but I will tell you that in most every part of their life they are better Catholics than 95% of the other Catholics I see, including myself.

You need to remember that temptation, orientation whatever you want to call it is not a sin, going through with the act, now I am required to tell you that yes that is a sin, but according to St Paul, it is the same as any other sin. It is not worse, there is NO teaching where Jesus says if your gay don’t come to me!!! He calls us, in fact He tells us the worse of a sinner you are, the more RIGHTS you have to His mercy! The more you have offended Him the more He wants to emmerse you in the ocean of His mercy! That is why God is so amazing, He loves you no matter what, there is nothing you can do to stop His love for you. If you fall in either your sexuality or any other aspect of your life He wants you to run to Him, He will heal you, comfort you, guide you and love you.

You know one of Adam and Eve’s biggest mistakes was not running to God, they hid from Him. He wants children that run to Him…

Come to the Church, she loves you! We love you and no matter what you do, what you look like or how you dress, we will always be here for you!
Click to expand...
Nothing to really add here just 👍👍
Thought I think something thst could be helpful to the OP which has helped me is this spiritualfriendship.com and there is also Courage RC that they could look into.
 
As others wrote tattoos, piercings, and same sex attraction aren’t barriers to becoming Catholic.

I did want to address the title of your post. It is a common to speak of identity and you may not have meant much by using it. But as Catholics we are really called to give up our identity. What I mean is we shouldn’t cling to some identity. We should identify as a child of a God and a Christian. Identity could be gay, straight, rich, poor, athlete, American, White, Black or anything. It is easy for all of us to see ourselves as members of a group. And we are in a real sense members of various groups. But we are called to put aside what divides us. We are called to love everyone. We are called to follow Jesus and His Church even if that means going against whatever group we are in.

This can be hard and I struggle with it. I just wanted to mention it because in becoming Catholic this is what you, me and everyone is called to do.
 
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