I don’t refute the church’s stance that there are only male and female. The problem is there is no way to distinguish which is ‘correct’. Thus, I have no idea if I am afflicted with SSA or not.As for your own condition, surely you must be aware that even in the presence of genetic deformity, Church teaching affirms the existence of only two sexes. Even in your own confusing state, you are either male or female, not some combination of the two.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:Why must we use such insulting words as disorder or defect. I t doesn’t help to uphold the dignity of the human person and I sure have heard the Vatican wish to do that so often. And why do we need to find a cure for everything. Why can we not just live with some things the way they are.
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. **Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 **They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
(My emphasis.)2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
See, the fact that your brother was bothered by the term is the very reason that I would not use it. The fact that he overcame the hurtful comments made by others does not excuse the people who made them.Not if it was true. It would sadden me that my child had such a burden to deal with, but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings.
My brother used to be bothered by the term “birth defect” and “handicapped” to describe his condition. When he grew up, he realized they don’t have an effect on his personhood. He indeed has a “birth defect,” but he is still a valuable human being and loved for who he is.
Pathia, I always thought that a transexual was not necessarily a homosexual.Most Catholics and Christians consider me a transsexual, and thus homosexual/SSA. That is how it applies to that particular situation.
It seems, as you have a fiancé, that you have already distinguished your sex for yourself. Presumably, you will find out whether or not this was the correct decision at your own particular judgment. You should pray about this.I don’t refute the church’s stance that there are only male and female. The problem is there is no way to distinguish which is ‘correct’. Thus, I have no idea if I am afflicted with SSA or not.
I deeply love my fiance, but the church will never allow us to marry because they say I am biologically and physically deformed thus and incapable of love in the marriage/sexual sense.
We cannot overturn every convention in the English language simply to accommodate the fragile emotions of a few overly sensitive individuals. All the florid prose and idealistic euphemisms in the world will not change the fact that a birth defect is a birth defect and ought to be called such.See, the fact that your brother was bothered by the term is the very reason that I would not use it. The fact that he overcame the hurtful comments made by others does not excuse the people who made them.
I am something of a mixed case. I am intersexed (This is sometimes called hermaphoditism) but I didn’t really know all of my medical history and nature until after I already thought I was gay/homosexual.Pathia, I always thought that a transexual was not necessarily a homosexual.
In fact, there are transexuals who have been known to go from male to female and then be attracted to females. On one hand it seems like a lot of work just to end up with who you would have married anyway, on the other hand there’s no one goes thru all that surgery and legal stuff on a whim.
I pray about it more or less every day.It seems, as you have a fiancé, that you have already distinguished your sex for yourself. Presumably, you will find out whether or not this was the correct decision at your own particular judgment. You should pray about this.
None of this changes the simple fact that sexuality is meant to be directed towards the opposite sex. Ignoring an illness that directs it otherwise, like ignoring a festering wound, can only make things worse.
I can remember when the proper, polite term for an African American was “colored” (as in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.) Changing the words we use doesn’t seem to contribute to solving the underlying problems.We cannot overturn every convention in the English language simply to accommodate the fragile emotions of a few overly sensitive individuals. All the florid prose and idealistic euphemisms in the world will not change the fact that a birth defect is a birth defect and ought to be called such.
In your world that may be so. In my world, I understand that words can hurt.We cannot overturn every convention in the English language simply to accommodate the fragile emotions of a few overly sensitive individuals. All the florid prose and idealistic euphemisms in the world will not change the fact that a birth defect is a birth defect and ought to be called such.
It’s only polite to refer to people by the terms that they prefer.I can remember when the proper, polite term for an African American was “colored” (as in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.) Changing the words we use doesn’t seem to contribute to solving the underlying problems.
See, the fact that your brother was bothered by the term is the very reason that I would not use it. The fact that he overcame the hurtful comments made by others does not excuse the people who made them.
Then you will be spending a lot of time on it. The problem with this is that the name doesn’t change the state-of-being. If you change a term from “homeless” to “domicilly challenged,” the person still doesn’t have a home, for example. If you change the word from “defect” to “anomoly” the person can still feel that they are not 100%.In your world that may be so. In my world, I understand that words can hurt.
You may not consider it worth your time to choose your words more carefully, however, I consider it worth my time.
In your world that may be so. In my world, I understand that words can hurt.
You may not consider it worth your time to choose your words more carefully, however, I consider it worth my time.
Cherish the use of the weaseling word
The word that never says quite what you mean
For 'tis better to be known for your hypocrite ways
Then to be considered impure,
Impious and obscene.
– Ogden Nash
And how am I being unchaste by having just same sex attraction?I think any organization that does not insist upon those with same-sex attractions finding a cure is peddling despair. Everyone is called to chastity, defined in the Catechism as “ the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being.” (CCC 2337)
Since the sexuality is disordered in one with same-sex attractions, the sexuality cannot be integrated any more than blasphemy can be integrated into the Mass. Chastity presumes opposite-sex attraction and any system of morality that insists on anything less than this invokes scandal and moral relativism.
I have no sympathy for those who say that therapy is too expensive. Christians do not put a financial ceiling on their willingness to follow Christ. Nor should we feel sorry for those who say the therapy is too hard. The Way of the Cross is not meant to be easy. To be presented with a system of correctly ordering one’s passions and ignoring it is to make a conscious decision to remain disordered. In that case, the homosexual condition itself meets all three criteria for being a mortal sin, being freely chosen with adequate knowledge of the evil involved.
You are not fine the way you are. If same-sex attraction is a psychological ailment, you are sick and need help. If it is some sort of genetic anomaly then you are deformed and in need of medical intervention.
Thank you for being so much holier than the priests you talk about. Christ would not require someone to spend out of control on therapy that may not have success and neither should we. Why do you always pop up on these threads? Just to condemn those with same sex attraction or what?There are a great many priests who no longer respect the teachings of the Church and believe it charitable to be silent on such matters. There are others who openly contradict the Church. It does not surprise me that you have run into many of them.
As for your own condition, surely you must be aware that even in the presence of genetic deformity, Church teaching affirms the existence of only two sexes. Even in your own confusing state, you are either male or female, not some combination of the two.
You aren’t. The position of the Church here is similar to that on alcoholism – it is no sin to suffer from alcoholic tendencies, or from same sex attraction. The sin is to act on those traits.And how am I being unchaste by having just same sex attraction?
In fact there is merit in valiantly resisting these temptations, isn’t there? If we overcome a temptation is that not pleasing to God?You aren’t. The position of the Church here is similar to that on alcoholism – it is no sin to suffer from alcoholic tendencies, or from same sex attraction. The sin is to act on those traits.
Absolutely. A traditional bit ot Catholic advice (which, sadly, you don’t hear much anymore) is “offer it up.” If you are faced with a problem you can’t solve, offer it up as a sacrifice. Regard it as your particular cross, and bear it patiently and prayerfully.In fact there is merit in valiantly resisting these temptations, isn’t there? If we overcome a temptation is that not pleasing to God?
Everyone is called to chastity just like everyone is called to lead a prayerful life. These are virtues.
And how am I being unchaste by having just same sex attraction?
Thank you for being so much holier than the priests you talk about. Christ would not require someone to spend out of control on therapy that may not have success and neither should we. Why do you always pop up on these threads? Just to condemn those with same sex attraction or what?
In fact there is merit in valiantly resisting these temptations, isn’t there? If we overcome a temptation is that not pleasing to God?
Everyone is called to chastity just like everyone is called to lead a prayerful life. These are virtues.
As I see it, the process of offering something to the Cross is one of giving over the desire itself to Christ. In order to understand why this is inappropriate counsel for those with same-sex attraction, one need look no farther than St. Paul’s letter to the Romans.Absolutely. A traditional bit ot Catholic advice (which, sadly, you don’t hear much anymore) is “offer it up.” If you are faced with a problem you can’t solve, offer it up as a sacrifice. Regard it as your particular cross, and bear it patiently and prayerfully.
For those who have same sex attraction, or who are attracted to alcohol, drugs and many other things, offer it up.
This passage illustrates how the condition of same-sex attraction is itself the consequence of turning one’s back on the Grace of God. To therefore offer this disorder up to the cross without making serious efforts to correct it is akin to offering a sponge soaked in vinegar and gall to the Cross. Christ rejects such impious offerings.While claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes. Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts 15 for the mutual degradation of their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. (Romans 1:22-27)