[Emphasis added]
Why is it that PTL has no idea what they feel and can’t presume to know, but you know exactly what they feel and can presume to explain it to us?
Because he does not.
With the growing tide of atheism and agnosticism, God is probably not on their mind.
Tolerance and understanding as it is spoken of today usually promotes the regression of doctrine; a softening in the attitude toward moral degeneration. This is false and harmful to society. My understanding of pastoral is a reaching out in mercy to attempt to minister by means of rightly instructing, admonishing and counseling those in grave danger. It is a charitable endeavor which considers humanity first with the promise of the greatest possible ends. This is how the Church has always acted. The bishops have continually exhorted the faithful to respect homosexuals and have gone even further to accomplish this by defining the human person as they truly are as creatures of God. They warn and exhort that persons should not be defined by their sexual attractions alone, but by their total being. Now granted, the homosexuals who would persist in their own ways are opposed to this approach. They define tolerance and a “welcoming “into the Church by expecting a capitulation. While encouragement of repentance is truly extended which leads to mercy and fullness of life, those not willing to give up sinful lifestyles cry out that the Church is the one intolerant by not rationalizing sin.
While this is probably true, it is equally true that the Church cannot deviate from the commission she received from Christ. * “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
I’m not sure exactly what you’re saying here. Obviously the LGBT community believes their own opinions are right. I think PTL’s original point was that people in this situation, at some level, maybe even unconsciously, can have a sense of something being wrong, or at least a questioning. I think this is probably true.
I’m not sure exactly what you’re saying here. Obviously the LGBT community believes their own opinions are right. I think PTL’s original point was that people in this situation, at some level, maybe even unconsciously, can have a sense of something being wrong, or at least a questioning. I think this is probably true.
Of course they can. But either through willful ignorance, being taught incorrectly, or having a clouded judgment, many do not.
The original post generalized all homosexuals as “deep down” sensing something wrong. Many don’t believe in absolute morality, and that goes for heterosexuals, too. Many have been ingrained with the idea that homosexuality is just a natural variation of human nature and that everything is a-ok.
Just as it would be wrong to assume that an active homosexual person is fully aware of the immorality of their actions, it would also be wrong, IMO, to assume that the person is always perfectly at peace with their situation.
I don’t think we fundamentally disagree. We were just being cautious about the opposite ends of the scenario.
Oh, of course not.
The problem is people do get hurt, starting with themselves going outward…kind of like an oil spill…
It is not starting from without, but within. I do think we all have our own sins, or oil spills if you like, straight or gay. Anytime you come across real hatred, anger, etc. It amazes me how little people see the harm from sin in themselves: discomfort, depression, anger, self-righteousness, self-disgust, lack of peace. People carry this stuff around 24/7; it defines them in time. We can’t figure out where our unhappiness comes from; must be what others to do us, right? Thank God there is redemption.Well said.
This is a long video. If you fast forwarded to the later part, you will see the gay people’s courageous testimonies of living in chastity. Every one is called for chastity, straight or gay. Like one person who has same sex attraction said - people can have lot of sex but no intimacy or they can have deep intimacy but no sex. That is a very true statement.Not to continue too much with the off-topic comments, but I think this video is relevant.
Signed both places. The Church needs more people like this, who aren’t afraid to water down or distort the truth.
ncregister.com/blog/joan-desmond/sanfran-archbishop-willing-to-make-adjustments-to-secure-teachers-rights
