Starting the conversation with persons with same sex attraction

[MountainMan]

For years after a very good high school friend announced to me that he was gay (he did this after he and I had been on a double date as college freshmen) I reviewed with confusion the Church’s teaching on homosexual behavior. We remained friends, and he later served as best man at my wedding. Once I got to the point of believing and accepting that teaching, I told my friend about the conclusion I had reached. About one year later, he was dead, having committed suicide - a long term ‘lover’ of his had recently died from AIDS. That happened about 20 years ago, and before and since then I have had many friends and co-workers who I knew had a 'same sex orientation but NEVER discussed it with any of them. I could never figure out how to start the conversation with them

I have long believed that the Church has not done enough to ‘open’ itself to persons with same sex attraction (SSA). The Pope’s recent comments about focusing on Christ’s love and mercy, however, I have an idea on which I would like some feedback: I would start by asking the individual if he/she was Catholic. Assuming the answer would be in the realm of “I would never feel welcome” or “I am not welcome” in the Catholic Church, I would ask why. My focus would be to move from there to telling them that the Church very much wants their participation, adding that we are all sinners in need of reconciliation. God does indeed love all of His children and the Church is the means He left to bring that love to them. I would ask them what the Church and I could do to provide the support they need to feel welcome and to work toward reconciliation.

Any and all feedback will be most welcome. I have tried to be as clear as possible whle also as concise as possible because I am a lousy typist! Thanks in advance for your understanding!!

Chuck

 

[LittleFlower378]

Jesus Christ and his Church is the cure for all sinners and disorders. Jesus will help them live chaste and the sacraments will strengthen them. The hope is in the Church and God will help them be who they are supposed to be, chaste individuals with the knowledge of the strength and beauty of the sacrament of marriage between one man and one woman.

With that said we are in a critical time in the US and we must not get confused with being warm with people with SSA and approving of same sex marriage which we know from Church documents will hurt society.

 

[MountainMan]

Thank you, Little Flower, it was in no way my intention to condone homosexual behavior. Rather, I feel strongly that we do need to emphasize, as I believe Pope Francis has suggested, Christ’s love and his mercy when addressing people with same sex attractions.

Chuck

 

[MarcoPolo]

It may also help to point out that Pope Francis’ teaching is nothing new. For example:*[A]ccording to the teaching of the Church, men and women with homosexual tendencies “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided”. They are called, like other Christians, to live the virtue of chastity. (Cardinal Ratzinger, Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, 2003)

The characteristic concern and good will exhibited by many clergy and religious in their pastoral care for homosexual persons is admirable, and, we hope, will not diminish. Such devoted ministers should have the confidence that they are faithfully following the will of the Lord by encouraging the homosexual person to lead a chaste life and by affirming that person’s God-given dignity and worth. … The God who is at once truth and love calls the Church to minister to every man, woman and child with the pastoral solicitude of our compassionate Lord. (Cardinal Ratzinger, Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, 1986)

Deep-seated homosexual tendencies, which are found in a number of men and women, are also objectively disordered and, for those same people, often constitute a trial. Such persons must be accepted with respect and sensitivity**. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. *They are called to fulfil God’s will in their lives and to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter. (Pope Benedict XVI, Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies, 2005)