New Image on Facebook about "marriage equality"

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Sheeniac

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All,

Not sure if anyone has noticed that many people are adding a new image as their facebook picture - it’s a red square, with 3 pink-ish triangles in it.

An old and distant friend of mine is gay, and she changed her picture, put something up about being a Christian who supports marriage equality, and many of the people in my circle of (real life) friends ‘Liked’ it.

How on earth can we touch on hot button topics with people who are Catholics and non-Cath Christians who are completely ignorant in their self-claimed professions of faith? These are the people who take a position as a Christian that is anti-God, but think stating that they are Christians and believe something, means something.

Perhaps this is just a rant, and my generation (I’m in my 40s) suffered so badly from lack of education in the faith that it’s very difficult for people to have an open mind about their own beliefs. FWIW, many of these same people think ‘it’s a woman’s choice’ about abortion.

It’s even harder for me to say anything given that I’ve only been Catholic for going on 7 years (after 25 years an atheist, after being brought up a lapsed Catholic by a lapsed Catholic family).

My heart breaks for them, but where to start? My friend (a Catholic) said that she didn’t think missing Mass was a mortal sin.

Sigh… any suggestions?
 
With the gay marriage issue, we have to rethink how we approach it. Being ‘anti-gay’ (as opposed to doing things people will say are anti-gay) is a mistake.

We have to specify what is wrong with gay relationships, which is going to involve speaking positively about the positive aspects, and negative about the negative - which in turn is going to involve speaking bluntly. If you can’t say the words ‘anal sex’ around people, you’re going to be hobbled in the conversation. If you can say that a man having love (and not sexually acting on it) for another man has no positive and laudable aspects, you’ll be hobbled.
 
Oh my 😦 Sorry to read that. As for a suggestion, I can’t say you should blatantly tell them that it’s wrong; they’ll perceive that as you moralizing them, which most people are hostile to. Though they profess to be followers of God, their actions hardly exhibit it. Try to approach it from another perspective: sociologically, biologically and even psychologically. Think deeply about it! Even by political definition, marriage is between a man and woman due to procreative capability; that’s why they have benefits for such. The best suggestion though is to be an example 🙂 Walk the talk! 😃
 
DaddyGirl said:
I wondered what that was!
Thanks for clarifying…I thought my laptop was on the blink!
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There’s another here :0 It’s a red square with two horizontally-oriented pink rectangles parallel to each other. I guess it means “marriage equality” What’s the one with pink triangles though? I haven’t seen it yet :0
 
Rivii said:
There’s another here :0 It’s a red square with two horizontally-oriented pink rectangles parallel to each other. I guess it means “marriage equality” What’s the one with pink triangles though? I haven’t seen it yet :0
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Oops - that’s what I meant!!
 
It looks like an electrical outlet to me.

Anyway, I saw one that looked similar but the equals sign was a cross. Someone had changed their profile pic to it and was refuting the gay marriage argument.

Everything I have seen so far on supporting gay marriage has been completely emotion based.
 
I’ve decided not to engage because it is emotionally-based and my friends will not listen to reason. Maybe that is the wrong thing to do but I can’t have a civil discussion as being pro traditional marriage is now “hateful.”
 
One person asked what the pink triangles were about.

A pink triangle was part of a Nazi identification system at concentration and extermination camps to indicate homosexual prisoners. It was placed as badges on uniforms.

Fun fact.
 
HouseArrest said:
It looks like an electrical outlet to me.d.
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It does indeed! Maybe people who are anti electrical outlet could use a candle symbol?
😉

Seriously, though, the anti gay marriage symbol is the equal sign with a hash mark through it, and what a loaded image. Anti equality. I think facebook came up with the general symbols, forcing the pro marriage folks to look like bigot. Could be wrong though.
 
So far, what are the arguments? :0 Some people here said that the reasons for SSM are based on emotion. Please share! 🙂
 
People are just posting the usual, anticipated explanations.

“This isn’t not 1950!”
“This is a secular society, not a religious society.”
“Marriage is about love, not gender”
“Christians don’t take everything in the Bible literally…”

When does the Supreme court announce? I haven’t been following.
 
I think it is really critical to remember this isn’t about equality. This is about acceptance.
 
llenadegracia said:
People are just posting the usual, anticipated explanations.

“This isn’t not 1950!”
“This is a secular society, not a religious society.”
“Marriage is about love, not gender”
“Christians don’t take everything in the Bible literally…”

When does the Supreme court announce? I haven’t been following.
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The ruling is expected to follow in June. What other reasons do they have? :0
 
Rivii said:
The ruling is expected to follow in June. What other reasons do they have? :0
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I’d have to go back through and look.

Although I will hand it to a (gay) friend of mine who made a LONG post on his profile pic that elaborated on how crucial it is not for supporters of SSM to become rude/intolerant/angry towards those who oppose SSM. He said those opposing SSM truly believe they are doing what is best for the country and usually for their religious beliefs as well and not to persecute them for doing what they think is right but instead to love them and hope they see differently eventually…it was a long post but I have to run to class now. I was just really touched by his kindness and charity and ability to see how dividing this issue has become.
 
llenadegracia said:
I’d have to go back through and look.

Although I will hand it to a (gay) friend of mine who made a LONG post on his profile pic that elaborated on how crucial it is not for supporters of SSM to become rude/intolerant/angry towards those who oppose SSM. He said those opposing SSM truly believe they are doing what is best for the country and usually for their religious beliefs as well and not to persecute them for doing what they think is right but instead to love them and hope they see differently eventually…it was a long post but I have to run to class now. I was just really touched by his kindness and charity and ability to see how dividing this issue has become.
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He had earned my respect. 🙂
 
Sadly, I was defriended by an acquaintance who I went to high school with. I made the argument that the state supports traditional marriage because it creates the next generation of Americans. I also said that adoption doesn’t count, since it is merely taking unwanted children from heterosexual unions.

He said that homosexual marriage takes the burden off underfunded child services from the state. I said, “Well, increase funding to child services?” I also mentioned that to support abortion and this adoption-by-gays theory conflict…fewer children, fewer adoption opportunities and need for adoption. Isn’t that kind of hypocritical and not looking at the big picture? I don’t think people look at procreation/marriage/children holistically like the Church does.

I was called a “bigot!!!” and defriended.

It is so sad. I have some gay friends, but unfortunately protecting marriage equals “hate.” This is a common way to completely devalue any reasonable argument. The same thing happens to pro-life arguments: “You don’t support a woman’s right to choose? You hate women!” I don’t want my gay friends to think that I hate them. I love them; I care about their souls.

I don’t know what to do about this either, OP. Personally I believe it is my duty as a Catholic to tell people about Truth. I am so much more fulfilled now that I am trying my best to be in full communion with Church teachings. I want that same joy for everyone else, but I just don’t know how to open the minds of people who think following God is “close minded.” I just keep thinking of John 15:18-25 and Luke 10:11-12; maybe that will give you solace.
 
Crescentinus said:
He had earned my respect. 🙂
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Yeah! He’s a rockstar. I was blown away by his charity. I might text him later or something and thank him.

About three years ago back in high school he (at this point he had not come out as gay) would ask me questions about Catholicism. It was great…I was so incredibly blessed to gone to a high school where my friends asked me questions about my faith. Not to persecute, but to understand. I was so so so so blessed. It makes me proud that a good number of them are being so charitable and actually know why others (such as myself) disagree with their stance on SSM. I’m just trying to focus on that positivity.

I’m a decently well known speaker in my area (again, abundantly blessed to be able to circulate and be invited to speak at various organizations about a variety of topics while a young college student!) and recently a LGBT group invited me to speak about tolerance at their group. I cannot begin to explain how incredibly happy, excited, passionate, filled with love, and thanking the Lord I am right now…seriously…the group knows 100% that I disagree with making SSM legal. They know 100% I think practicing homosexuality is against the will of God. I always try to focus on why it’s important to still recogoznie the dignity as a human being among other things…they thought that was really cool and awesome that a Catholic/Christian could see past a person’s sexuality and still love them and treat them with respect and further still vote against SSM but still respect the individual (sorry got a little run on sentence there…). So I am beyond pumped right now. I’ve spoken with LGBT groups before sort of informally but this is the first formal talk/dialogue I’ll be leading. So wow!

But seriously everyone, let’s all say an extra prayer tonight for respect and charity on both sides…
 
llenadegracia said:
Yeah! He’s a rockstar. I was blown away by his charity. I might text him later or something and thank him.

About three years ago back in high school he (at this point he had not come out as gay) would ask me questions about Catholicism. It was great…I was so incredibly blessed to gone to a high school where my friends asked me questions about my faith. Not to persecute, but to understand. I was so so so so blessed. It makes me proud that a good number of them are being so charitable and actually know why others (such as myself) disagree with their stance on SSM. I’m just trying to focus on that positivity.

I’m a decently well known speaker in my area (again, abundantly blessed to be able to circulate and be invited to speak at various organizations about a variety of topics while a young college student!) and recently a LGBT group invited me to speak about tolerance at their group. I cannot begin to explain how incredibly happy, excited, passionate, filled with love, and thanking the Lord I am right now…seriously…the group knows 100% that I disagree with making SSM legal. They know 100% I think practicing homosexuality is against the will of God. I always try to focus on why it’s important to still recogoznie the dignity as a human being among other things…they thought that was really cool and awesome that a Catholic/Christian could see past a person’s sexuality and still love them and treat them with respect and further still vote against SSM but still respect the individual (sorry got a little run on sentence there…). So I am beyond pumped right now. I’ve spoken with LGBT groups before sort of informally but this is the first formal talk/dialogue I’ll be leading. So wow!

But seriously everyone, let’s all say an extra prayer tonight for respect and charity on both sides…
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Can you please share what you speak about to them? 🙂 I usually have nothing to contribute when my friends and I come across these topics because my opinions come off as moralizing and narrow-minded 😦

And, of course. prayers for respect and charity on both sides! 😃
 
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