OT Punishments for Homosexuality

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MulusChristi

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Greetings Colleagues,
I am preparing a Confirmation lesson on the Church’s teaching on homosexuality and have a few questions. In researching the issue, I have also run across the counterarguments which homosexuals try to make which confuse OT ceremonial laws with moral laws. This issue is treated very well in the CA tract on homosexuality: catholic.com/tracts/homosexuality. However, how do we understand the punishments prescribed for immoral behavior in the OT? For example, Leviticus 20:13 says that men who lie with men as a woman should be put to death (alot of other serious sins could also get you killed). Obviously, Christians are not bound by the punishments, but the moral point has not changed. How do I understand this and explain it to the students? I would not think of the punishments as “ceremonial”. How do you understand this?
 
I recently prepared a lesson for teens regarding the Psalms, which, as you know, speak a lot about God’s retribution and righteous judgment. A commentator mentioned that Jesus’ sacrifice of His life now substitutes for the judgments applied prior to His sin offering for all. No more eye for eye, but love, not for the sin, but for the sinner. He said the same of marriage and divorce, Moses setting out divorce standards for the hard hearted, and He saying marriage is now an eternal bond, when properly constituted. I will hunt for the reference, if that helps. Pax tecum.
 
i think you are barking up the WRONG tree if ths is the kind of thing you plan to introduce to teens.

My husband and I have taught confirmation classes for a long time, and it is sufficient to discuss it in the context of the sixth commandment and the sacrament of marriage.
 
1ke said:
i think you are barking up the WRONG tree if ths is the kind of thing you plan to introduce to teens.
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I would have to strongly agree. Mosaic law is a very complex subject and, while confirmation seems like a long process, actual time with the teens over the 2 years or so is surprisingly limited. I don’t think you want to spend your time trying to explain why it’s OK to where mixed cottons or sit on benches with menstruating women, but selective stone others to death in spirit, etc. Also, if you do not have a sound foundation in relatively advanced scriptural study, then you won’t be able to present a coherent explanation or properly field questions without planting doubt and confusion.

I’m also a bit shocked that you are having to rely on such a poorly constructed and theologically incoherent lay document. You can answer most students questions with the Universal and Local Catechisms, straight from the Index. The Compandium to the Catechism is even already in question form and has some great resources for prayer and basic formulas for faith in the back.

All the diocese I know have great supporting guides and course outlines and if you are involved in confirmation and are deviating from these guidelines, then the parish pastor should really be where you receive guidance.
 
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