LCMS- I stand by what I said, and if you truly understood the Catechism, you would not be trying to play word games in order to sqeak virtue out of sinful thought and behavior. This is what the Pharasees were doing, and Jesus chastized them whenever He could.
Um…Actually, the Pharisees were the ones who were making like more difficult for those who wanted to serve and love God. They also made a big deal about their own holiness and perfection and expressed a great deal of outward religiosity while not cleansing their hearts and minds of sin.
Certainly anyone who recognizes that these inclinations are sinful will confess and pray not to even begin to entertain them.
The inclination is not called sinful in the Catechism. It is called objectively disordered. In itself, it is not sinful and you’d have to show me a magesterial document that says that it is.
I stand by what the Catechism and the CDF say on the subject. Persons who are same-sex attracted are called to chastity, which entails more than mere celibacy. That includes self-control and mastery, including thought life as well as action.
In doing so, they will acheive salvation like every other sinner who repents of evil desires
Again, show from tradition or scripture that a desire, of any kind, is a sin. According to the Church’s teachings, you have to make an informed choice in order to sin mortally. A mere desire, even for something that is evil, is not a sin because you can’t choose to desire something, only say “yes” or “no” to it.
and MOVES ON to virtuous thoughts and behaviors and cultivates an atmosphere where others may do the same.
Absolutely. It’s a process that, in many, if not most persons afflicted with same-sex attractions, will take a lifetime to complete. How does one do it, though? Through frequent prayer, spiritual reading, mass attendance, etc. The part of the mind where these thoughts originate is deeply affected by these holy and pious acts but it takes time. Meanwhile, the person is in a constant battle with his concupiscence (just like YOU) to guard his thoughts and heart against impure thoughts that could lead to impure actions.
Know what, though? That battle builds character and virtue. Trust me, it’s a fight I fight every day and I am thankful to God for the graces that He’s given me toward overcoming my problems in this area.
Please re-read the Catechism from the beginning, not just the part that you were hoping would exempt sin.
While I haven’t yet read the Catechism from cover to cover (I’ve yet to read the Bible from cover to cover), I understand more than you would seem to be giving me credit for.
In no way would I excuse sin. I do, however, insist on people speaking with absolute accuracy when it comes to these kinds of issues. The Church is EXTREMELY careful in how she speaks on this subject and her members should speak witht he same care.
There is so much emotionalism on the topic of same-sex attractions that there is VERY thin line between opposition to homosexual activity and being uncharitable and angry towards the PERSONS who commit them. Unless you don’t want people to come to the Church and change their lives so as to be saved, I’d recommend changing the way you talk about this topic.
