The excerpt says it “based” on scripture. This opens up all the discussions about translations, meanings of translations, and the sociology of 2000 years ago and the sociology of today. It gets very complicated very quickly.
Grace and Peace,
Perhaps you don’t know but we have 2000 years of Holy Tradition guiding the Church in our intrepretation of the Sacred Scriptures.
How long have you been Roman Catholic?
Or as referred to in the Gospel “Love your neighbor as yourself” leads to a pretty simple interpretation of loving others with the strong faith and spirituality we all have. I strive to look at each person as a mirror into my own self, a difficult spiritual exercise at times but it gives me compassion towards others by not focusing on differences. That is really part of what it means to be a faithful Christian, not a “teaching” of division towards others based on this or that.
Yes our call to charity is a very wonderful calling but such should never be an excuse for license. Remember what our Blessed Paul said to the Parish in Galatia:
For you, brethren, have been called unto liberty. Only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh: but by charity of the spirit serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if you bite and devour one another: take heed you be not consumed one of another. I say then: Walk in the spirit: and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh: For these are contrary one to another: so that you do not the things that you would. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest: which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:13-21
Our charity is not a call to the tolerance of vice but the freedom in Christ to pursue virtue. Are we not instructed to avoid every occasion of sin… including participating in another’s sin By Counsel; By Praise and By defense of the sin commited?
Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers: Nor the effeminate nor liers with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Should we not, in the fear of God, be separate from that which the saints admonish us to avoid?
Take heed lest being led aside by the error of the unwise, you fall from your own steadfastness. - 2 Peter 3:17
Be careful.
