Sheen + Catechism = Good in regards to homosexuality.
On Sodomy
But to press upon the conscience of my fellow Christians the danger and depravity of homosexualism, or rather Sodomy, let me ask you this : Would you ever inject fecal matter into your blood ? Why not ? Because firstly nature clearly and strictly tells us that it must be seperated from the body, and expunged therefrom. Now a doctor knows full well why : He will say, among other things, that fecal matter is toxic and is, ultimately, dangerous to the body, though a necessary part of life (removing useless, dangerous or unneeded elements from the things we consume that those things good and necessary may be imparted to the body for its living and health).
The homosexual act, especially in males, but even between males and females or females and females, must be condemned, not only because it is depraved and unnatural, or contrary to nature, but also for its very real health risks. The body is not meant nor designed to be used in that manner - it has no natural safeguards to protect or prevent the body from the potential consequences of the unnatural act, and the act itself is outside the natural sex act.
On Misanthropy (“over-population”)
Malthusianism has been a false mathematical-philosphical error for centuries, and in the referenced case actually came from a religious Christian (Malthus, an Anglican priest, if I recall), at the end of the 18th century. The simple error that mankind will grow exponentially and thus deplete its finite resources and sustenances was used to justify a form of population control over two hundred years ago, and also used to construct the dreaded and merciless workhouses of Brittain (famously bewailed by many great authors, but most popularly in Charles Dickens, “
A Christmas Carol,” a.k.a, “
Scrooge”). This error played no small part in helping to “justify” evil Brittish policies that displaced so many Irish peasants and caused widespread famine among them. This “fact (of over-population and resource depletion),” argued Malthus, caused economic deppressions and recessions, etc., even in his own day ; whereas, in truth, it was the result of bad - actually wicked - policies of government. Malthusianism has been discredited by even the academic community ; however, its basic logical errors are persistent and evolve, and are picked up from time to time by various other movements for justifying what is essentially a perverted view of humanity, which is best descriped as misanthropy - a kind of intellectual falacy and vice.
Henry George, a little known but extraordinarily bright and gifted late 19th century political economist, who theories inspired the famous board game,
Monopoly (as a condemnation of economical errors opposed to Hengry George’s theories). Henry wonderfully and masterfully condemns Malthusian errors as they relate to economics in the second part of his work,
Progress and Poverty.
*To a factory worker, the obvious cause of low wages and lack of work appears to be too much competition. And in the squalid ghettos, what seems clearer than that there are too many people? We may also note that, in our present state of society, most workers appear to depend upon a separate class of capitalists for employment. **Under these conditions, we may pardon the masses – who rarely bother to separate the real from the apparent. ***
But the real reason for the triumph of [Malthus’] theory is that it does not threaten any vested right or antagonize any powerful interest. Malthus was eminently reassuring to the classes who wield the power of wealth and, thus, largely dominate thought. The French Revolution had aroused intense fear. At a time when old supports were falling away, his theory came to the rescue. It saved the special privileges by which only a few monopolize so much of this world.
This work of his, though not in my opinion perfect in all its conclusions (though demonstrably accurate in its analysis of economy), nonetheless does powerfully tempers the serious errors of modern neoliberal economists in a way the average man can readily argue and understand, much like
Adam Smith made economics popular and understandable in his famous classic,
the Wealth of Nations. If you’re wondering why you have never heard of Henry Geroge, this is exactly why.
The truth is that i)
healthy population growth within ii) *a civilized *society is very good for the economy on one hand, and also self-sustaining for society in general on the other, and permits it the ability, opportunity and social order to effectively manage resources and development, without which society would be in peril regardless and independent of any other “economic” or “environmental” conditions/factors. Economy as we know it is a
consequence, not a
cause, of civilization, as the very term implies, it being of Greek origin a compound word meaning something like “House Rules,” or rather the Rules of the House. When we bewail or praise “the economy,” we are in fact either criticizing or praising our society’s organization, order, laws, leadership, management, etc. More and more today the serious error has spread that the economy is some almost deific or magical force that we react to or engage in. This is deeply falacious and such a view or treatment will produce serious errors and consequences, as everything contrary to Truth, natural and divine law is wont to do.
I love that. Did Bishop Sheen write it all or is it (partially?) yours?