Supporting a business owned by an openly homosexual man

[jtodisco]

I recently got my hair cut and found myself again confronted with a nagging feeling that I may be committing a sin by having my hair cut at a particular establishment. Let me explain. The owner of this hair cut business is an openly gay man and at least 1/3 to 1/2 of his staff are also homosexuals or lesbians (they make their sexual orientation quite obvious). I have been getting my hair cut at this particular business for some time because it is one of the only hair cut businesses in the very small town I live in. Likewise, they have better prices and generally better quality service.

However, I am worried that perhaps by giving this establishment my business that I am indirectly supporting the owner and some of his staff in their homosexual lifestyle. While I am sure a lot of the money they gain from my business goes back into simply keeping the lights on and buying hair supplies, I imagine at least some of their earnings go to supporting their sinful lifestyle. Am I committing a sin by giving this establishment my business?

 

[1ke]

Hair cutting is not intrinsically evil or disordered. You have no reason to worry about paying for a hair cut from a business owned by or employing those with same sex attraction.

Remember, the Church teaches us that same sex attraction is disordered, but those who suffer this disorder are children of God, deserving of fair and just treatment and that we must avoid unjust discrimination against them. Refusing hair cut services, IMHO, would be such discrimination against those who have every right to earn a just and living wage.

 

[Jala]

Dear Jtodisco–

If you stopped supporting every company that is run by and/or hires homosexuals–who then spend their paychecks on whatever they choose–you’d be homeless, naked, and would starve to death.

Once I pay for something, I have no say over what happens to the money I paid for it. I’m certain that any given dollar bill that has passed through my hands has probably later gone on to pay for drugs, prostitutes, etc.

I know for a fact that money I have given my daughter has gone toward purchasing meat, which is against my religious beliefs. However, it is not against HER religious beliefs. I do not impose my religious beliefs on others, and I ask the same respect in return.

Jala

 

[Seeker1961]

Dear Jtodisco–

If you stopped supporting every company that is run by and/or hires homosexuals–who then spend their paychecks on whatever they choose–you’d be homeless, naked, and would starve to death.

Once I pay for something, I have no say over what happens to the money I paid for it. I’m certain that any given dollar bill that has passed through my hands has probably later gone on to pay for drugs, prostitutes, etc.

I know for a fact that money I have given my daughter has gone toward purchasing meat, which is against my religious beliefs. However, it is not against HER religious beliefs. I do not impose my religious beliefs on others, and I ask the same respect in return.

Jala

 

[Shine67]

Please someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the only sin in being homosexual is the sex outside of marriage. Being gay, while “disordered” is not in itself a sin. So while some of the staff may be “openly gay”, you don’t actually know if they are sinners (unless they are really tactless!). Avoiding their business would be judgement, not discernment.

Just as Jesus dined with the tax collectors and hung out with the lepers, so are we not to exile (suspected) sinners, but draw them into community with the hopes they can heal.

 

[TrixieMcGee]

Homosexuals have just as much of a right to be gainfully employed as anyone else. They are sinners just like everyone else and you cannot avoid “funding” sinful behavior. Trust me at every store or place of business you go to there will be several people working there that are living a sinful lifestyle. I am sure that even some of each of our incomes has gone to fund sinful behavior. Most of their paychecks will be going to things like food, housing, clothing, gas, and other necessities, just like everyone else. As someone who has same sex attraction (mind you I am a bisexual and I am living a chaste life in a heterosexual and sacramental marriage) and it would greatly offend me if someone would refuse to hire me or use my services in whatever job I may hold just because I have attractions that are not under my control.

 

[Seeker1961]

Maybe we should spend less time worrying about the potential sin we are funding and take a look at our own lives and see where we might need to repent. It seems to me that if we have time to consider the sins of others we must think we have no sin to deal with and we all know that isn’t possible.

 

[jtodisco]

By openly homosexual I mean: having a bright rainbow sign over the store and talking about sex to one another while cutting people’s hair. So unless it’s all one elaborate hoax on their part I’d say they’re engaged in sex outside of marriage with people of the same sex. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure that by spending my money at such a business I was not complicit in whatever they decided to do with said money.

 

[R_C]

Remember, the Church teaches us that same sex attraction is disordered, but those who suffer this disorder are children of God, deserving of fair and just treatment and that we must avoid unjust discrimination against them. Refusing hair cut services, IMHO, would be such discrimination against those who have every right to earn a just and living wage.

Great answer.

A Christian is not supposed to shun sinners, otherwise none of us would have to speak to one another. Christ approached and had lunch with people considered to be public sinners, and rightfully so, and many converted and renounced to a life of sinfulness. He allowed a prostitute to wash his feet and defended a guilty adulteress, sparing her from the death prescribed by the law of the time.

Besides, I may be wrong, but I do not think that sexual orientation is a sin. They may as well be living in chastity - we don’t know, regardless of what they say out loud, and it’s none of our business.

Besides it’s difficult for people who ignore the Catholic teachings on chastity to understand right from wrong on these matters…

 

[catholicmamajoy]

By openly homosexual I mean: having a bright rainbow sign over the store and talking about sex to one another while cutting people’s hair. So unless it’s all one elaborate hoax on their part I’d say they’re engaged in sex outside of marriage with people of the same sex. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure that by spending my money at such a business I was not complicit in whatever they decided to do with said money.

I don’t see a problem getting my hair done by someone that’s a homosexual or at a salon that 's owned by a homosexual. I do have a problem getting my hair done at any salon where the stylists and the clients are discussing sexual details in front of me or within earshot; regardless of their sexual orientation or preference.

 

[JimG]

I don’t see a problem getting my hair done by someone that’s a homosexual or at a salon that 's owned by a homosexual. I do have a problem getting my hair done at any salon where the stylists and the clients are discussing sexual details in front of me or within earshot; regardless of their sexual orientation or preference.

Amen to that. Is there no end to people publically discussing their sex lives?

 

[runningdude]

Hair cutting is not intrinsically evil or disordered. You have no reason to worry about paying for a hair cut from a business owned by or employing those with same sex attraction.

Remember, the Church teaches us that same sex attraction is disordered, but those who suffer this disorder are children of God, deserving of fair and just treatment and that we must avoid unjust discrimination against them. Refusing hair cut services, IMHO, would be such discrimination against those who have every right to earn a just and living wage.

 

[Allegra]

By openly homosexual I mean: having a bright rainbow sign over the store and talking about sex to one another while cutting people’s hair. So unless it’s all one elaborate hoax on their part I’d say they’re engaged in sex outside of marriage with people of the same sex. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure that by spending my money at such a business I was not complicit in whatever they decided to do with said money.

You are definately not responsible for how other people spend their rightfully earned wages. However, if these men’s totally inappropriate conversation makes you uncomfortable, you wouldn’t be doing anything wrong by taking your business elsewhere.

 

[surritter]

Do some research on the Catholic terms “material cooperation” and immaterial cooperation, and formal cooperation. It’s certain that you’re not involved in formal material cooperation. But these are the key terms you can home in on.

 

[thewanderer]

Homosexuals have just as much of a right to be gainfully employed as anyone else. They are sinners just like everyone else and you cannot avoid “funding” sinful behavior. Trust me at every store or place of business you go to there will be several people working there that are living a sinful lifestyle. I am sure that even some of each of our incomes has gone to fund sinful behavior. Most of their paychecks will be going to things like food, housing, clothing, gas, and other necessities, just like everyone else. As someone who has same sex attraction (mind you I am a bisexual and I am living a chaste life in a heterosexual and sacramental marriage) and it would greatly offend me if someone would refuse to hire me or use my services in whatever job I may hold just because I have attractions that are not under my control.

As humans are they not entitled to a livelihood?

 

[1ke]

By openly homosexual I mean: having a bright rainbow sign over the store and talking about sex to one another while cutting people’s hair.

Well being tacky and inappropriate on their part would be legitimate reasons to find another hair dresser. I would not want to be in that sort of environment for my haircuts. Talking about sexual topics is not appropriate for a salon, same sex or opposite sex.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

I don’t see a problem getting my hair done by someone that’s a homosexual or at a salon that 's owned by a homosexual. I do have a problem getting my hair done at any salon where the stylists and the clients are discussing sexual details in front of me or within earshot; regardless of their sexual orientation or preference.

If it offends you so much, why don’t you have the intestinal fortitude (GUTS) to politely tell the barber or hair stylist that you find such conversation offensive, and that you are not interested in their bedroom behavior? If they get huffy about it or refuse, leave and find somewhere else to have your hair done. Unless you are living in a tiny town (which I doubt), there are usually more hair salons an barbers than other businesses.
As others on this site have implied, you should be more concerned about your own behavior and soul than you should be about others!

 

[Joe_5859]

I don’t see a problem getting my hair done by someone that’s a homosexual or at a salon that 's owned by a homosexual. I do have a problem getting my hair done at any salon where the stylists and the clients are discussing sexual details in front of me or within earshot; regardless of their sexual orientation or preference.

Indeed. That happened to me once and I never returned to that particular place for a hair cut. And it wasn’t homosexuals doing the talking.

 

[catholicmamajoy]

If it offends you so much, why don’t you have the intestinal fortitude (GUTS) to politely tell the barber or hair stylist that you find such conversation offensive, and that you are not interested in their bedroom behavior? If they get huffy about it or refuse, leave and find somewhere else to have your hair done. Unless you are living in a tiny town (which I doubt), there are usually more hair salons an barbers than other businesses.
As others on this site have implied, you should be more concerned about your own behavior and soul than you should be about others!

George, I will kindly ask that you not rant at me.

It was the OP who stated that conversations of a sexual nature were taking place in front of him. (See post 8 on this thread). My apologies for not having replied directly to post 8 instead of the opening post.

I personally haven’t encountered such a thing and you can be rest assured I would have the GUTS to ask those having their discussion to please refrain from chatting about such personal and intimate details in my presence as I do not care to hear about it! Being that I am concerned about my behavior and soul, I’m not going to listen to tales of their sexual encounters!

 

[jtodisco]

Unless you are living in a tiny town (which I doubt), there are usually more hair salons an barbers than other businesses.
As others on this site have implied, you should be more concerned about your own behavior and soul than you should be about others!

I actually do live in a “tiny town”. It’s a college town, but it’s very small. And I do concern myself with my own behavior and soul quite a bit. That’s why I asked the question in the first place, because it is my behavior (giving them my business) that I am worried about.

I just wanted to know if by spending my money at this business if I was complicit in any way with the owner and employees’ open support for the homosexual lifestyle.

I was actually surprised that so many people said I wasn’t because it wasn’t my responsibility how they spent the money they earned from my business. *Would this also be true if these people planned to open an abortion clinic with their profits? Would I still be allowed to give them my business knowing they intended to sin in that particular way with the money they earned instead of sinning by promoting the homosexual lifestyle? *