Protests Against a Catholic Bishop by LGTBI Groups for His Views about Homosexuality

[qui_est_ce]

As a gay man myself, I’ve met enough gay people to say there’s not a consistent pattern. I’ve met bi men who had a weak father. I’ve met gay men who had weak father’s. Gay men who had fathers that beat them senselessly. Others whose dad’s were sterling examples of discipline and love. Men raised in single mom households. Everything in between.

From what I read, the bishop sounds like an honorable man concerned about society. And I’ve seen the damage single parent households do, and that divorce does. It’s sad people have decided to demonize him. But let’s remember, those people have likely been hurt themselves. Good intentions may pave the road to hell, but they are good intentions and denying them as such does no one any good. It just serves to mock and alienate them. Hardly a Gospel message. As a doctor I know likes to say, ‘hurt people hurt people.’

Thank you. That is so beautifully said, especially the bolded. It is something I needed to see right at this moment. I am trying to stop the circle of hurt that some relatives are lobbing at me. It is very difficult not to wish for revenge.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Oh My Gosh, you beat me to the punch! If the Bishop wishes to throw out ancient old wives tales about the origin of LGBTQ individuals then, at least admit that your ignorant statement is from the 1950’s and before.

I do not believe it is the bishop who said this, but a poster.

 

[boomerang]

Okay this is at best an incomplete view. First minor point is sociology research into this is at best observational studies with at best correlation research, but everyone should remember that correlation does not equal causation. Also there are plenty of gay people who do not fit into this mold making it at best a weak correlation. See post 2 in this thread for a detailed explanation of the current understanding of the etiology of same sex attraction: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=1049505

No one knows what causes homosexuality. There may be many causes, but it is unwise to disregard the data. Large numbers of gay men were sexually abused/and/or/ have issues with their fathers. It’s easy to say “I was born this way!” but when people are allowed to speak freely and not be shouted down by the militant PC police, the data frequently says otherwise.

 

[boomerang]

It’s entirely appropriate here for me to complain that political activists have blocked serious research into the causes of homosexuality, and that they claim for themselves the right to determine causation. So our “knowledge” is fragmentary and certainly agenda-driven.

That’s true.

 

[ToeInTheWater]

It would be nice to have this comment by the Bishop presented in its proper context. For according to the article, "Novell had said that one of the reasons that led to a rise of homosexuality is that “in Western cultures, the figure of the father would be symbolically absent, deviant, blurred.”

So he didn’t ever claim that ALL homosexuality could be explained by an absent father, he only mentioned it as ONE of the reasons. I also wonder if he was even speaking of individual inclinations here, or was he speaking more about why society is so much more accepting of open homosexuality now than before.

I think there is NOT one “cause” of homosexuality, and I agree it is sad how no one can even discuss this issue without being accused of “homophobia”.

 

[edwest2]

Society is more accepting? How? By florists being sued? By bakers being sued? By a media that only portrays such behaviors in a positive way? It is wrong to believe that if an average person sees 100 people in a mall, he or she could know which one is gay. It could be none.

Issue advocacy is all most of the mass media is about. If a homosexual person went to Church, there is no one at the door to ask about his sexual orientation.

I worked in a hospital for nearly 10 years. I knew all the rules. Asking about sexual orientation was not on the list.

Ed

 

[unafraid]

In the new paradigm, radical, militant homosexual activists are always depicted in a positive light by the mass media propagandists. Like the “new atheists”, they are now considered a preferred class, promoted and protected as important appendages in the larger organism of cultural revolution.

The Christian ethos has been vilified, and mischaracterized as an enemy of progress to such an extent that when a militant homosexual activist tears a cross from the arms of a nun at a pro-life rally, then defiles it, this act somehow gets framed as an heroic act of resistance against repression.

Suddenly, more and more, just being a Christian has become problematic in the public square. Jesus Christ, and his followers, are the primary obstacles to this new order of things. We are, I believe, entering a time of trial. Being openly Christian might soon become a bold thing to do. Amazing.

 

[joeybaggz]

As a gay man myself, I’ve met enough gay people to say there’s not a consistent pattern. I’ve met bi men who had a weak father. I’ve met gay men who had weak father’s. Gay men who had fathers that beat them senselessly. Others whose dad’s were sterling examples of discipline and love. Men raised in single mom households. Everything in between.

From what I read, the bishop sounds like an honorable man concerned about society. And I’ve seen the damage single parent households do, and that divorce does. It’s sad people have decided to demonize him. But let’s remember, those people have likely been hurt themselves. Good intentions may pave the road to hell, but they are good intentions and denying them as such does no one any good. It just serves to mock and alienate them. Hardly a Gospel message. As a doctor I know likes to say, ‘hurt people hurt people.’

Kudos on a thoughtful, reasoned, and charitable post. God Bless

Shalom

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

Since the 1960 deadline, which God could have extended to 1962 or 1967 (where have I heard of those dates?) the Church has not represented the Father, Son and Holy Spirit so well that it could accompany those genuinely suffering in the world.

Some agitators don’t care for the suffering. What would not be ammunition for them (against the needy on their “own” side), would be an admission by the Church of the above.

Ascending He distributed gifts. The ministry is in four directions - the boy and the disciples, Jesus, the 5,000 (and the 4,000) (the Church), and outsiders. That’s the only way they get to have room for the other other, the only way they get to have grace abounding.

 

[Reuben_J]

Yeah I’m going to have to agree with this. We don’t really know every detail about causes homosexuality, but there is certainly at least some biological component. It’s possible that environmental influences may play a part — we’ve long since moved away from the notion of nature or nurture and onto nature and nurture — but that’s speculation at this point.

Truthfully it’s entirely possible that there are several etiology’s for homosexuality and multiple interacting causes. We simply don’t know.

But a purely environmental explanation just doesn’t fit with the facts.

he said it was one of the reasons.