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followingtheway
Guest
How can a homosexual change? I’m undecided as far as this issue, so don’t feel like this is an attack.
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karebear92
Guest
I don’t believe homosexuality is a choice, but it can often be overcome to a point. I do not think that all homosexual tendencies or feelings can be overcome, but it sometimes can through professional therapy. Through therapy one may be able to overcome the temptation or redirect their attraction to the correct gender. For example, one may be attracted to children, but through prayer and therapy, they can overcome that and find more comfort in the norm, which is an adult of the opposite gender. This may not always work, actually it may rarely work, and does not need to if this will weigh in on your stance on gay marriage or the morality of homosexual relationships (I will not assume that it your intention, however). I believe homosexuality is a predisposition, similar to alcoholism. Sometimes it can be overcome completely and sometimes it can’t and the temptation will always be there, but just because they were born genetically predisposed or raised in an environment that led to the formation of that behavior does not mean that it is okay to act immorally. An alcoholic should not be allowed to be an alcoholic just because they were predisposed to the behavior.
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LemonAndLime
Guest
If homosexuality is a choice, why would someone choose to be gay in a country where it is punishable by death/imprisonment?
If homosexuality is a choice, why is the % roughly the same in every country, across many different cultures?
If homosexuality is a choice, why would people struggle against it?
Those are good questions to ask to people who believe it’s a choice.
If homosexuality is a choice, why is the % roughly the same in every country, across many different cultures?
If homosexuality is a choice, why would people struggle against it?
Those are good questions to ask to people who believe it’s a choice.
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Rascalking
Guest
I feel as though your born that way, but it’s a choice to act out on those influences.
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Rascalking
Guest
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k8e308
Guest
I don’t know how others feel, but to me, being attracted to the same sex is not the “choice”. The choice is choosing to act on those feelings rather than realizing that they are against God’s Law and therefore not from Him. We all have our crosses to bear. I know that seems harsh, but it’s true. We all have problems we have to put up with that separate us from God, and it’s the responsibility of each of us to deal with those problems.
Much of the accepted sin in today’s society comes from people thinking that they have a right to something. Man does not have a right to have sex, have children, be in a relationship, not be disabled, or live a normal life. The only two rights Man has, as I see it, are these: 1) the right to choose to live with/for God, or without Him (free will), and 2) the right to trust God for everything.
Much of the accepted sin in today’s society comes from people thinking that they have a right to something. Man does not have a right to have sex, have children, be in a relationship, not be disabled, or live a normal life. The only two rights Man has, as I see it, are these: 1) the right to choose to live with/for God, or without Him (free will), and 2) the right to trust God for everything.
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mcrow
Guest
I believe it’s a choice in the same way that being alcoholic is a choice. Some people are predisposed to it, but chose to act on it.
Practically everyone in my family has been an addict of some sort or is recovering. I know that this likely makes me predisposed to becoming an addict if I don’t stay away from it.
They may be born with this disposition, like an adict may be, but in the end they both chose to act on it or not.
I think one can “recover” from addiction or homosexuality, but that does not mean they won’t have the urges or have SSA. I think it’s possible through God’s grace to change your sexuality. After all, a sex addict can change their behavior, so can a homosexual.
Practically everyone in my family has been an addict of some sort or is recovering. I know that this likely makes me predisposed to becoming an addict if I don’t stay away from it.
They may be born with this disposition, like an adict may be, but in the end they both chose to act on it or not.
I think one can “recover” from addiction or homosexuality, but that does not mean they won’t have the urges or have SSA. I think it’s possible through God’s grace to change your sexuality. After all, a sex addict can change their behavior, so can a homosexual.
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karebear92
Guest
To add to what I said earlier, I think it is irrational for someone to think that one day a previously heterosexual person wakes up and says: “Huh, I think I wan’t to be a homosexual today.” That is pretty illogical. I think it is just as illogical for someone to expect a homosexual to wake up the next day and say: “Yeah, I don’t like this life anymore, I think I am going to start liking the opposite sex.” So I don’t think homosexuality is a choice, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be overcome with therapy. Is it a choice, no. Does that mean it is impossible to correct or overcome, no.
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babylonsfalling
Guest
Homosexuality is probably a predisposition that could be attributed to original sin taking various forms in different people. Alcoholism could be another example, or being born as a crack baby. Original sin could be an anger issue.
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Jim_Roberts
Guest
RE
I know homosexuals who have gone to counselors, but the out come, he or she is still a homosexual.
I prayed and prayed for homosexuals I know, and nothing was altered.
I firmly believe, or know, it’s a psychlogical problem and in reality, they are not goinf to want to change.
The Church has always taught that it is not WRONG to have these tendencies, but to act them out is GRAVE MATTER.
Instead of condemninng them (THE VIRTURE OF CHARITY), let’s us pray for them.
I know homosexuals who have gone to counselors, but the out come, he or she is still a homosexual.
I prayed and prayed for homosexuals I know, and nothing was altered.
I firmly believe, or know, it’s a psychlogical problem and in reality, they are not goinf to want to change.
The Church has always taught that it is not WRONG to have these tendencies, but to act them out is GRAVE MATTER.
Instead of condemninng them (THE VIRTURE OF CHARITY), let’s us pray for them.
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Nimzovik
Guest
Ok. There are ‘organic’ Homosexuals -those that perhaps due to a physiological condition -perhaps genetic predisposition or chemical imballance (Hormones) that induce homosexual behavior. There are those that are "functional’ homosexuals - that is, those that due to environmental factors (no role modeling, traumatization by the opposite sex, etc. etc) that are induced to be gay due to psychological considerations.
The church only condems the practice of homosexuality as opposed to the circumstance of being Gay as I understand it currently.
What to do if I were Gay? If I were a gay Catholic I would seek counseling in conjunction with prayer, fasting, novenas to a variety of Saints, imploring the BVM, Mass and I, with my prayer partners, would prayerfully storm heaven till the day I died to be releived of this burden. I would also employ the Healing of the Family Tree program as delineated by Father Hampsch and only as explained by Father Hampsch (in contradistinction from the New Age fallacies that are mimicing the process.) If not relieved of being Gay by heaven I would offer up the suffering for the usual causes (souls in purgatory, conversion of sinners.) This applies to the functional and organic models of homosexuality.
Hmmmmmmm… what more to say?
The church only condems the practice of homosexuality as opposed to the circumstance of being Gay as I understand it currently.
What to do if I were Gay? If I were a gay Catholic I would seek counseling in conjunction with prayer, fasting, novenas to a variety of Saints, imploring the BVM, Mass and I, with my prayer partners, would prayerfully storm heaven till the day I died to be releived of this burden. I would also employ the Healing of the Family Tree program as delineated by Father Hampsch and only as explained by Father Hampsch (in contradistinction from the New Age fallacies that are mimicing the process.) If not relieved of being Gay by heaven I would offer up the suffering for the usual causes (souls in purgatory, conversion of sinners.) This applies to the functional and organic models of homosexuality.
Hmmmmmmm… what more to say?
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Neil_LA
Guest
No offence intended, but my question is this: How can people who are not homosexual speculate what it involves or what the issue is about? Why don’t we invite Catholics who are homosexual/have homosexual tendencies to tell us their stories, and why don’t we suspend our judgement/ideas/agendas for a moment (no matter how justified they may be) and open our heart to really listen?
Just a thought…
Just a thought…
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mcrow
Guest
That has been done many times on these forums, a quick search will probably turn up what you are looking for.
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Neil_LA
Guest
Ok thank you. But being more direct: What right do heterosexual people have to make decisions regarding homosexuality? Homosexuals don’t make decisions regarding heterosexuality.
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followingtheway
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Debora123
Guest
A very good thought.
As a matter of fact, Homosexuals HAVE addressed this question. Both practicing homosexuals and celibate Catholic homosexuals alike have stated time and time again that their attraction to the same sex is NOT something that was freely chosen.
As is evident, some CAF members here have decided not to listen and will swear up and down that people with a homosexual orientation actually CHOOSE to be that way.
It’s a sad thing indeed.
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Debora123
Guest
Also, here’s from the Catechism:
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mcrow
Guest
Yes, I don’t know that they choose to be gay but like others have said they may not have been created that way. While they may not chose to be gay they do (most anyway) choose to have gay relations which is where they go wrong.A very good thought.
As a matter of fact, Homosexuals HAVE addressed this question. Both practicing homosexuals and celibate Catholic homosexuals alike have stated time and time again that their attraction to the same sex is NOT something that was freely chosen.
As is evident, some CAF members here have decided not to listen and will swear up and down that people with a homosexual orientation actually CHOOSE to be that way.
It’s a sad thing indeed.
I don’t see anything evil or vile about SSA, but acting on it is a choice and a sin.
As the CCC says, we are to love them like everyone else, but I don’t think that means we have to accept gay marriage or people with SSA having gay relations.
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Debora123
Guest
You are correct…
No one knows what causes a person to have a homosexual orientation. Some studies suggest it is in their genetics, other studies suggest that it is environmental or developmental factors in very early life.
But that is not important.
The important thing is to remember that whatever the case may be, we need to know and understand that it was not something that was freely chosen, and therefore cannot be a sin in and of itself.
The sin only comes when this tendency is acted upon. For that reason, we are not to support gay marriage or the gay life style.
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Neil_LA
Guest
Sounds like the Church says “we love you, but want you to be something other than you are…” I don’t think a person’s entire identity is their sexuality, but on the other hand: a vocation to being a priest that one has a specific call to and that celibacy is a unique vocation, that even some priests and religious have difficulty with.
Now, (hypothetical scenario) suppose someone has realized they are homosexual, and in their younger days had a period of experimentation and unfortunately contracted HIV. If that person sincerely repents and intends to be chaste, does that mean that they are still forced to be alone as they age? If that person gets ill, and if, as often happens, their “family” rejects them, are they really not permitted to have a close (but non-sexual) relationship that might provide them with needed love, care and emotional support? I am NOT saying that I support “gay marriage” but rather: can’t we maybe, just maybe recognize that same-sex attraction might be more than just genital expression?
When someone asked someone who is homosexual and has been in a committed relationship for 13 years: What do you do in bed? The answer was “Sleep.” Might that not be true and the same answer that a heterosexual married couple for 13 years would give?
I know this might have moved the topic beyond the original thread subject. If I am being inappropriate, feel free to let me know.
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