Society acceptance of Homosexuality

[Choosevirtue]

These are extreme exaggerations and rare unfortunate cases. I have lived in liberal country my entire life and have never known anyone personally who went through that. Don’t scare the OP. I was trying to give helpful advice but I took down my post. I’m tired of giving comments on here only for annoying people to turn everything into a debate

 

[goout]

Well, they are not exaggerations unfortunately. I am by no means directly persecuted in my work, but the general societal perspective is one of intolerance to simple and obvious truth propositions. That intolerance takes different forms from unfriending to court cases, but the incidents listed are all real expressions of that intolerance.

When a person is ridiculed for simply observing that human existence requires the union of a man and woman, and that that union deserves recognition…the world has gone insane.

 

[MikeInVA]

I have a tween daughter and I worry about her going to a public high school someday and being exposed to the LGBTQ acceptance and being bullied or labeled a bigot if she stands up for her faith.

Send her to Catholic school. Even if you can’t afford it. Catholic schools are a guarantee that she’ll be spared, but they will prevent some of the worst of it.

 

[RealisticCatholic]

Easy.

Easy enough in theory, that is:

Catholics are to be against sexual acts that are not ordered to procreation (openness to life) and within marriage.

This includes every Catholic, gay or not, for every Catholic struggles with chastity in some way. It’s one of the top human tendencies towards disorder. So let’s take the chunk out of our own eyes before we examine our neighbor, aye? I’m betting many people on these forums have struggled/are struggling with pornography. Or sexual addiction. Or are overly focused on finding a sexual partner (even if guised under the excuse of finding a partner for marriage).

Having said that, you’re right about society’s implying that sexual acts = love. But that goes for any and all sex acts. They do not necessarily equal love, and in fact they can be quite opposite of love, like rape.

But love is more than sex, even “good” sex within marriage.

Can homosexual persons in a relationship have aspects of genuine love? Of course. Just as genuine friends and family and strangers and neighbors can. We need not — and we are not required, as Catholics — to be opposed to EVERY single aspect of a same-sex relationship. Beyond that, it’s not even prudent. How can you accompany someone if you call out their entire relationship as evil and sinful?

So just go on loving your LGBT neighbors, and in the mean time, try to work on your own failings and struggles.

 

[30Something]

She is in Catholic school. I’m already worried about what she’ll endure in high school.

 

[Sophie111]

It is my experience that most Catholics do not have the skills needed to discuss such issues in a human fashion with the alleged “evil doers” in question. Somehow we turn these personal realities into some sort of party political agenda which has to be prosecuted to the usual black and white universal death as if we are making speeches in parliament before passing universal legislation all must obey for some reason and that our Catholic loyalty depends on doing so.
I dont feel the need to defend or explain Catholic teaching each and every time it comes up. If personal friends ask my advice privately on such matters I am happy to give my reasoned advice which is consonant with Church teaching. To date few of my gay aquaintenances have done so.

Likewise with other personal issues re adultery, divorce, contraception, abuse, euthenasia, sterilisation, revenge, alcoholism etc etc.

 

[Lara]

Not everybody is interested in apologetics, which is defending the Church’s teachings. I believe as a Catholic that you should be standing up for what is right at every turn. Perhaps we can encourage Catholics to acquire the skills needed to discuss these issues.

 

[Lara]

My personal circle is small, so I, too, don’t know anybody who got in trouble with a human rights commission. However, I read stories on the internet and they are growing in number. Just this week, Bill Whatcott is defending himself against the Human Rights Commission for using the pronoun “he” for a transgendered “woman”. One member of the Tribunal inadvertently used the pronoun “he” too, which caused laughter in the courtroom. If you read these stories a lot, you know that the trend is towards the State clamping down on our freedom of expression.

As for being argumentative, just presenting an alternate view is not being argumentative. Each person contributes to the discussion. Calling people like me annoying is an “ad hominem” attack. That means instead of discussing the issue, you prefer to shoot the messenger. Furthermore, it is against CAF rules.

 

[Sophie111]

As for being argumentative, just presenting an alternate view is not being argumentative.

Context is everything. Feeling the need to defend Catholicism at every turn is often counter productive, and a turn off sign of unconscious insecurity in my experience. If a religion forms its members to be insecure and therefore needing to be over vocal and unable to sometimes just keep quiet and humbly hold their tranquillity in the face of surface negativity…then I dont myself find that religion particularly inspiring or virtuous.
On the otherhand seeing a great man regularly humble and lovingly dumb before his accusers is very inspiring.
If Jesus often felt the need to evangelise by silence, as does our present Pope, then I am confident He doesnt always want or need us to eagerly defend Catholicism at every turn. It may not even be Christian to do so.

 

[Lara]

But I don’t find that means of evangelizing one bit effective. My sister, for instance, feels that by simply being a good Catholic, you inspire others (to what?). Perhaps you inspire them to be nicer, but I haven’t seen any proof of that. I doubt you will spark any conversions.

On the other hand, when you speak up, you may ruffle a few feathers, you may be disliked, but your message will not be forgotten.

A big part of the reason the LGBT agenda has gained ground is due to the divisions within the Church. Catholics went along with the sexual revolution, used the pill, and did not effectively oppose sins such as premarital sex.

If Catholics aren’t willing to stand up for what’s right, we shouldn’t be surprised by the results.

The hard part for the OP is also hard for all of us who are the true rebels and who wish to be liked. Do you wish to be liked or do you wish to be a soldier for Christ?

 

[Sophie111]

But I don’t find that means of evangelizing one bit effective

Well Card Burke (and Vigano) would agree with you re the Popes silence re the Dubia no doubt.

I didnt say it was The way…whereas you opined yours was. I simply stated we have a variety of tools to apply and wisdom lies in choosing the right approach according to context. One size fits all works, but not well.

 

[TK421]

But I don’t find that means of evangelizing one bit effective. My sister, for instance, feels that by simply being a good Catholic, you inspire others (to what?). Perhaps you inspire them to be nicer, but I haven’t seen any proof of that. I doubt you will spark any conversions.

On the other hand, when you speak up, you may ruffle a few feathers, you may be disliked, but your message will not be forgotten.

A big part of the reason the LGBT agenda has gained ground is due to the divisions within the Church. Catholics went along with the sexual revolution, used the pill, and did not effectively oppose sins such as premarital sex.

If Catholics aren’t willing to stand up for what’s right, we shouldn’t be surprised by the results.

The hard part for the OP is also hard for all of us who are the true rebels and who wish to be liked. Do you wish to be liked or do you wish to be a soldier for Christ?

Which is why Christians have gained a lot of ground on the issue of abortion, but not in other areas. They’re less likely to be ashamed of their beliefs in that area, and that translates to results.

As far as topics of sexuality: the laity of the Church is on the defensive (at best), and it shows.