What does a Catholic do if

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I have several friends who are LGBTQ. Really good friends.

They know that I love them to death. Unreservedly. They also know that I am Christian and that I believe that their sexual partnerships are sinful. Our friendships do just fine.

At the end of the day, we are dealing with human beings. They deserve to be treated with love and compassion. Same as anyone else.
 
…and what of the unconverted? Do you think that they felt Jesus was mean & hateful because He counseled them to change? Probably.
 
Scoochy said:
and what of the unconverted? Do you think that they felt Jesus was mean & hateful because He counseled them to change? Probably.
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Probably. But my point is that one should at least try and get them to know the true church.
 
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Sorry…meaning that if you feel very strongly against the friend’s implied actions, then, “I can’t go there.”, says, “I don’t want to talk about it, or anything regarding it.”
 
TheLittleLady said:
Tweens would walk up and randomly announce “I have a boyfriend” or “I have a girlfriend”.

Adults who don’t have emotional or development issues simply do not talk that way.
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I don’t know if it’s intentional, but I think you are coming off a bit rude to this poor girl who is simply asking a question about how to confront the unchristian world we live in today. FYI the reason most adults do not shout that they have a boyfriend like teenagers do is usually because they are married.
 
Oh…,but the friend has changed. Friend, now, has romance. Friend’s romance is with a person of same sex. Since you’re friends already, friend knows how you feel about this.
 
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Seagull said:
Sorry. But I’d see him as a sinner.
And warn him - of the possibility - of going to Hell.
Tell him about Sodom and Gomorrah - in the Bible.
I’d also stop having fellowship with him.
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But don’t you see everyone as a sinner? Surely you don’t tell everyone whose path you cross all about how the bible says they are doing it wrong? What about the person who gossips, or the person who tells a white lie?

Why would you pick this sin as opposed to any other to confront someone on?
 
I think you could say something along the lines of, “You know Bill, I can’t really condone that because of my religious beliefs, but I hope you know that you are my best friend and nothing will change that.” Then you can say if you don’t feel comfortable talking with him about his relationship with his boyfriend (if that is the case). Then go on like normal.

If he is your best friend, as you say, there is probably a good chance he knows what religion you subscribe to and what that means reagarding your views on this issue, right? He may be trying to see where you stand. You don’t need to give any long lectures or religious conversations. Set boundaries for what you are comfortable with.
 
If they’ve been friends for awhile, it seems that both would already know where the other stands, & have spoken of the Catholic Faith prior to the admission.
 
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.
Even their women - exchanged natural sexual relations - for unnatural ones.
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women
and were inflamed with lust for one another.
Men committed - shameful acts - with other men,
and received in themselves - the due penalty - for their error.

28 just as they did not think it worthwhile
to retain the knowledge of God,
so God gave them over
to a depraved mind,
so that they do what ought not to be done.
29 They have become filled with
every kind of wickedness,
evil, greed and depravity.
They are full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit and malice.
They are gossips,
30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent,
arrogant and boastful;
they invent ways of doing evil;
they disobey their parents;
31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love,
no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree
that those who do such things deserve death,
they not only continue to do these very things
but also approve of those
who practice them.
 
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9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world,
or with the covetous, or extortioners,
or with idolaters;
for then must ye needs go out of the world.

11 But I have written unto you - not to keep company,
if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator,
or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner;
with such an one - no not to eat
 
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Well I’ve actually sort of been in that situation. Stay neutral on the topic as much as you can. If he mentions it he probably wants to expand on that topic. Maybe just say in a casual and loving manner that you aren’t good at giving relationship advice. You can inform him
about your religion (if it is natural in the conversation) but always affirm and re affirm your love for him. Compassion is number one. Also sometimes he might just want somebody to listen to him. Try to listen actively but if it gets to a point where he basically wants you to approve his actions just affirm him instead. It is tricky but I’d say that you shouldn’t be too scared about possibly affirming his actions because it is likely that if you did he wouldn’t care and if you didn’t he would not care either. If you happen to be vague it is fine. I doubt you’d say something like “yeah you two guys should get married” so you’ll probably be fine in that area.
 
Love him, pray for him. Accept his company kindly if he wishes to repent and change.

Moreover, do nothing whatsoever to make him feel good or accepted about his choice. And I suppose this includes you demonstrating that you are not ok with it (and do it very gently)…
 
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Love him, pray and make sacrifices for him, and tell him about Courage…an apostolate for those with same-sex attraction who desire to follow our Lord Jesus Christ according to the teachings of the Church.
 
I think the key is that we make sure we live outwardly Christian lives. All of my friends know I am Christian and I am serious about it. If they aren’t Christian then they ask questions. They know I won’t be offended.

For my longest friendships, they often discovered that they had SSA after we had been friends for a while, so they asked questions about whether or not I’d still accept them as friends. The answer was always ABSOLUTELY!

I told them about the churches position on fornication, adultery, and other sex-based sins. I explained that there was no way for a same sex couple to get married in the eyes of God (what secular society does has no bearing on God’s teachings). Then I make it absolutely clear that they are in no way hated. Rather, they are loved even more because my religion says that I must love the sinner even as I hate the sin.

Finally, I tell them that it is up to them how they want to proceed and that I love them without reservation and still want to be their friend. We all sin and fall short. I’m not any better than they are.

I don’t think I’ve ever lost a friend after this kind of conversation. Friends don’t have to talk about everything. If they bring up their same sex partners I will be polite and courteous about it, and we will quickly move on to another topic of discussion.
 
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I think of when Paul visited the infamously sexually corrupt Greece. The place was known for hedonism.
So, did Paul wade in and start shunning everyone he met who practiced sexual immorality? Those who went to the temples for sex? Did he stand up pointing at the effeminate and those who had same sex relations? The prostitutes, the adulterers? The pederast?
No, he lived and worked among them…loved them. He became a tent maker.
Can you imagine how many folks he interacted with daily?
Do you think he wanted to alienate them or have them come listen to his message?
And every Saturday he taught and preached to both jews and Greeks. He taught of the love and sacrifice of our Lord, and of the resurrection of Christ.

I know it is true that Jesus always said…“Go and sin no more”…but first the we must preach and teach so as the other person can truly understand what their sin is, who it is against and how it will effect them.

So to the OP, try and imagine yourself as Paul walking down the streets of Athens with a friend you had made and he just told you the same news.
How do you think Paul would react?
Because I would bet dimes to donuts at some time, after a normal day at the ol’ tent making plant as Paul was speaking with a coworker or friend he encountered this same thing.

Just my .02

M
 
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