Redeeming Qualities in Same-Sex Relationships

[catholic1seeks]

There are a lot of threads talking about homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Perhaps a more positive spin is needed. As many of you know, in the mid-term synod report last October, a certain positive approach was given towards homosexual persons and homosexual relationships:

Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners. Furthermore, the Church pays special attention to the children who live with couples of the same sex, emphasizing that the needs and rights of the little ones must always be given priority.​

So. What redeeming qualities, if any, are present in same-sex relationships that can be accepted and even celebrated by churches?

 

[on_the_hill]

I doubt there’s anything to really be celebrated, but maybe there’s a person who is kinder, more charitable, and an all around better guy when he’s in a gay relationship, and when he isn’t in a gay relationship he is mean and ornery and misanthropic. I suppose that might be a redeeming quality.

 

[davidv]

There are a lot of threads talking about homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Perhaps a more positive spin is needed. As many of you know, in the mid-term synod report last October, a certain positive approach was given towards homosexual persons and homosexual relationships:

Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners. Furthermore, the Church pays special attention to the children who live with couples of the same sex, emphasizing that the needs and rights of the little ones must always be given priority.​

So. What redeeming qualities, if any, are present in same-sex relationships that can be accepted and even celebrated by churches?

None of these so called redeeming qualities justify the sin that is also present in these relationships.

 

[DanielJT]

What I see happening with the same-sex relationship movement is the loss of close friendships.

It seems to me that it is harder for two men to have a genuinely close relationship with each other without there being the implications that something else it going on.

This is where I see a hint of redeeming quality within the same-sex relations. If they are living abstinent lives, as just close friends or like brothers or sisters, what they are doing is forming a truly close relationship with each other, which is a truly great thing.

Having a close confidant that one could get through life together with, make sacrifices for, accept and receive platonic love. That is a blessed relationship.

But now, if you feel close to someone of the same-sex at all, it is assumed that you must be moving towards something more (sexual). And in these situations, there seems to be two options - Either 1. Back-off from the relationship and miss out on what the friendship could be - or 2. Begin to “experiment” and enter into the sin.

What happened to friends being true friends? That’s what I see as a positive quality in a same-sex relationship lived out in purity.

 

[SilverLight]

None of these so called redeeming qualities justify the sin that is also present in these relationships.

That is your view and you are entitled to it. I think that the fact if the family has adopted a child would be a wonderful thing. Adoption helps take children out of situations and orphanages.

 

[Reepicheep]

What I see happening with the same-sex relationship movement is the loss of close friendships.

It seems to me that it is harder for two men to have a genuinely close relationship with each other without there being the implications that something else it going on.

This is where I see a hint of redeeming quality within the same-sex relations. If they are living abstinent lives, as just close friends or like brothers or sisters, what they are doing is forming a truly close relationship with each other, which is a truly great thing.

Having a close confidant that one could get through life together with, make sacrifices for, accept and receive platonic love. That is a blessed relationship.

But now, if you feel close to someone of the same-sex at all, it is assumed that you must be moving towards something more (sexual). And in these situations, there seems to be two options - Either 1. Back-off from the relationship and miss out on what the friendship could be - or 2. Begin to “experiment” and enter into the sin.

What happened to friends being true friends? That’s what I see as a positive quality in a same-sex relationship lived out in purity.

’

Or 3. Continue the non-sexual friendship no matter what assumptions others make.

 

[DanielJT]

That is your view and you are entitled to it. I think that the fact if the family has adopted a child would be a wonderful thing. Adoption helps take children out of situations and orphanages.

Raising a child does not justify any sort of sins. Only Christ can do that.

 

[DanielJT]

’

Or 3. Continue the non-sexual friendship no matter what assumptions others make.

This is what I’m saying. It seems like that third option is slowly being dropped, or at least harder and harder to handle.

Maybe my view is off in this matter. What do you think? I see close friendships between same-sex people on television, but most are superficial and rarely breach the intimate realm.

I remember hearing all the “gay” jokes about Frodo and Sam when the movies first came out. It seemed like people just couldn’t accept that they were being shown a true friendship.

 

[laircy]

Friendship has many redeeming qualities, but what is sinful (sexual activity with the same sex) does not. It is truly sad that friendship almost has a negative connotation these days, as if it’s somehow lesser or regrettable! We live in an era where strangers can add us on social media and they are called “friends,” so the definition has been quite diluted. We even have the modern habit of looking back at historical friendships and attributing sexual motives to them, because we cannot simply accept the fact that friends can be that close. David and Jonathan in the Bible come to mind. There is nothing wrong with loving someone of the same sex. It is the misuse of our bodies, of our sexuality, that is wrong.

 

[ChibiViolet]

What I see happening with the same-sex relationship movement is the loss of close friendships.

It seems to me that it is harder for two men to have a genuinely close relationship with each other without there being the implications that something else it going on.

This is where I see a hint of redeeming quality within the same-sex relations. If they are living abstinent lives, as just close friends or like brothers or sisters, what they are doing is forming a truly close relationship with each other, which is a truly great thing.

Having a close confidant that one could get through life together with, make sacrifices for, accept and receive platonic love. That is a blessed relationship.

But now, if you feel close to someone of the same-sex at all, it is assumed that you must be moving towards something more (sexual). And in these situations, there seems to be two options - Either 1. Back-off from the relationship and miss out on what the friendship could be - or 2. Begin to “experiment” and enter into the sin.

What happened to friends being true friends? That’s what I see as a positive quality in a same-sex relationship lived out in purity.

Oh, people and their assumptions! You have a close friend of the opposite gender and people might ask “are you going out?” You have a close friend of the same gender and now I guess it’s the same thing…I wish people wouldn’t obsess so much over romance and sex…

 

[SilverLight]

Raising a child does not justify any sort of sins. Only Christ can do that.

I never said it did.

 

[catholic1seeks]

I agree that friendship is important, but gay relationships do not exclude the ability to habe friendships.

 

[Operalan]

There are a lot of threads talking about homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Perhaps a more positive spin is needed. As many of you know, in the mid-term synod report last October, a certain positive approach was given towards homosexual persons and homosexual relationships:

Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners. Furthermore, the Church pays special attention to the children who live with couples of the same sex, emphasizing that the needs and rights of the little ones must always be given priority.​

So. What redeeming qualities, if any, are present in same-sex relationships that can be accepted and even celebrated by churches?

Yes, there are a lot of threads on this subject at this time. It might be good to note that you have started at least one of them and have actively participated in others. That’s not a complaint. But, it does add to sprawl. Perhaps we could consolidate some of this somehow. It doesn’t seem that minds are being changed in all of these various discussions. Much is getting redundant.

 

[odhiambo]

Let us never loose sight of the fact that homosexual relationship is an “abomination” in the eyes of God.

 

[St_Francis]

It seems that if there are any redeeming qualities in SS relationships, it is *despite *the sin, not because of the sin.

 

[St_Francis]

I doubt there’s anything to really be celebrated, but maybe there’s a person who is kinder, more charitable, and an all around better guy when he’s in a gay relationship, and when he isn’t in a gay relationship he is mean and ornery and misanthropic. I suppose that might be a redeeming quality.

Sounds more like addiction to me…

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Sounds more like addiction to me…

I know lots of people who became better versions of themselves when they found someone to settle down with. I never saw it as an addiction, just a combination of happiness and someone pushing them to be better.

In my own family, I’ve seen people go on about how homosexuality is yadda yadda yadda, until my grandpa got very sick and his primary caretaker was his son’s longtime partner. Suddenly, the people who had been against it were grateful that the family had expanded to include someone so selfless. That changed a lot of hearts.

 

[on_the_hill]

Suddenly, the people who had been against it were grateful that the family had expanded to include someone so selfless. That changed a lot of hearts.

When my daughter was being targeted by a school bully there was one teacher who stepped in to resolve the situation. No other teacher or principal had the moral fortitude to help.

Turns out that this particular teacher had previously been in a local controversy when he “married” his partner (they have a son, also). There is no doubt in our minds that his experiences as a gay man led him to help our daughter in her situation.

 

[pnewton]

That is your view and you are entitled to it. I think that the fact if the family has adopted a child would be a wonderful thing. Adoption helps take children out of situations and orphanages.

I would say this is not a redeeming quality at all. More to the point, the Holy Father has said:

“Every person needs a male father and a female mother that can help them shape their identity,” says Pope Francis.

Explaining further, he says, “It is often argued that a child would be better cared for by a same-sex couple rather than in an orphanage or an institution. Those two situations are not optimal. The problem is that the State does not do what it has to do."

“They should streamline the procedure of adoption, which are never-ending, so that these children can have a home,” says the pontiff. “One failure of the State does not justify another failure of the State. The underlying issue must be addressed. More than a marriage law so that people of the same sex can adopt, we have to improve the adoption laws, which are excessively bureaucratic and, in their current implementation, encourage corruption.”

One redeeming quality I see is that when two people are involved in sustaining a particular mortal sin without involving others, at least it is only two people, not a whole crowd of partners, that are committing grave sin.

 

[JimG]

“The proposal that two persons of the same sex could somehow forge a union worthy of the name “marriage” only begins to make sense if one’s imagination of what marriage is has already been abysmally weakened and simplified.”

One more nail in the coffin.