What ex-gay men can teach us about marriage (article)

[westNwewaxation]

Pretty interesting article! While I’m not sure about all his conclusions, sharing lived experiences like this can give young people with homosexuality or same-sex attraction (SSA) hope, instead of feeling like they have no other option but getting into the gay scene.

QUOTE:
“What I did not expect was the repeated confession that this seemingly insurmountable obstacle of SSA was overcome through emotional intimacy. Although I did not ask about it, most participants made some kind of statement, in passing, about how sexual intimacy with their wives grew from emotional intimacy with them. One said, “[Titillation from] the female body … always felt like it was kind of a reach to me … times I got … excited … was all emotional and psychological.” Another recalled how “the tenderness, the patience of … my wife toward me [awakened our] exploring one another. …” So the power of emotional intimacy to make marriages successful was confirmed in this unexpected way. This also comports with findings that some in mixed-orientation marriages experience a lessening of SSA over time…”
SOURCE: worldmag.com/2013/06/what_ex_gay_men_can_teach_us_about_marriage

 

[ringil]

Ex-gay man.

 

[westNwewaxation]

Ex-gay man.

Haha I think maybe I know what you mean. Many men identify as ex-gay because they no longer identify with the label “gay”, which implies it is your core or primary quality. Married men who still experience homosexual feelings, for example Alan Chambers who has recently been in the news, often say they do not think of themselves as “gay”. You may feel this is silly or hypocritical because you may define gay as meaning the same as homosexual. But some men identify as “ex-gay”, and by that they may not necessarily mean they no longer experience homosexual temptatons, but they mean that they think of themselves as men first, husbands second, and the homosexual temptations as a part of their psyches that they experience, but that they do not let define them. Hope that helps.

 

[manualman]

The sad thing is the fact that we try to make everything so simplistic. I have little doubt that there are plenty of people out there who will experience SSA their entire lives, regardless of any attempt to alter that orientation. I also have no doubt at all that there are people out there who for a time identified themselves as gay, but later found it to be a transitory experience ar that it had a root in problems of the past that could be healed. People are complex and one size rarely fits all.

One thing I DO like in the article that should be emphasized is that today’s Hollywood notion of romance is a stupid setup and a disservice to humanity. Love isn’t fundamentally about tingles or “being completed.” It’s about giving yourself up out of love for the beloved. It’s about giving more than getting. The fact that our culture fundamentally misses that is (IMO) the root of an awful lot of sexual misery in the world.

What bothers me in the article is the unspoken assumption that life can’t be meaningfully lived apart from marriage. Perhaps it’s a protestant thing, but the article seems to presuppose that people NEED to be married. I’m not sure that the evidence is conclusive that gay people can just go ahead and marry heterosexual and things will be fine because love trumps attraction. It might turn out the love builds ON attraction. Asking the hetersexual inclined spouse to sign up for that risk is arguably not such a loving strategy. You’re potentially setting her up for misery if your experiment turns out badly. The article and the mindset behind it need to more thoroughly contemplate the value of consecrated virginity for the sake of Christ. Such things are rarely contemplated in the protestant world, I realize.

 

[LisaA]

Really an interesting article and as is so often true, it may be unintentional but supports the Church’s teaching that the complementary relationship of a man and a woman has substantial mental and physical and emotional benefits. We were MADE male and female. One does not have to be Catholic or even Christian to understand basic biology.

I think that the men’s perspective of learning to appreciate their wives differences, their gifts and graces was really a positive approach to encouraging those with SSA to not simply “give up” and assume that this is inherent, unchanging and the way “God made me…” As the essay on same sex attraction on www.catholic.com notes, no one is born responding to fetishes or scents or specific appearance but that conditioning is incredibly powerful, as any porn addict knows.

As to those with SSA marrying the opposite gender (this happens with women although not featured in this article) it is not a recipe for disaster if like other issues the couple works together and faces the challenges of overcoming this compulsion just as they would another compulsion or addiction or obsession.

In my own experience having close personal friendships with gay males, working with them, hiring them and socializing with them, I have seen a very large continuum with respect to “gayness” if that’s a word. In only one instance did the man say he was NEVER attracted to females after puberty. The others indicated that they had had close relationships with females, some had married women, some had romantic relationships that as they noted, included an active sex life. But the pull of the homosexual lifestyle, the excitement, the “thrills and chills” is particularly compelling in young men. I think sadly our pro gay culture ENCOURAGES this rather than considering that there are choices and options to make.

I hope this article gets wide readership as it’s a perspective we rarely hear in today’s anything goes environment.
Lisa

 

[manualman]

…I have seen a very large continuum with respect to “gayness” if that’s a word. In only one instance did the man say he was NEVER attracted to females after puberty. The others indicated that they had had close relationships with females, some had married women, some had romantic relationships that as they noted, included an active sex life.

Isn’t it interesting that this aspect of the homosexual community simply isn’t seen in media? From TV and movies, they’d have us believe that all gay men have no sexual interest in women whatsoever and that they’ve always felt that way from a very young age.

Being a suburban guy in the construction field, my interaction with gay folks is rather limited, but even I’ve had a much more diverse sample than that! Gay people are as varied as any other group of people. Generalizing generally works poorly!

 

[LisaA]

Isn’t it interesting that this aspect of the homosexual community simply isn’t seen in media? From TV and movies, they’d have us believe that all gay men have no sexual interest in women whatsoever and that they’ve always felt that way from a very young age.

Being a suburban guy in the construction field, my interaction with gay folks is rather limited, but even I’ve had a much more diverse sample than that! Gay people are as varied as any other group of people. Generalizing generally works poorly!

I was involved in breeding and showing horses for several decades. The gay community is very much a force and has been long before being gay was “cool.” What I appreciate about this education so to speak is that when someone is NOT focused on others’ sexual activities, we all get along just fine. Gays, straights and whatever all competed, socialized, did business and it simply was NEVER an issue. Further people only cared how talented you were, not what you did in the privacy of your home. Of course there was the usual sniping, gays will only pin (give awards) to other gays or such but no different than any real or perceived favor trading based on business deals or friendships. Trainer X sold a high priced horse to Trainer Y so when Trainer Y is in the ring, maybe he gets a second look. It’s human nature but the point is that it’s not all about sex.

Anyway we saw a number of people who had married, raised kids, and then came out. Others sort of dallied in both worlds, coming out one way or the other at some point. Some were married but were known to have ‘flings’ with the same sex. It’s not like being born black or female…for whatever reason, people change, make decisions and priorities.with respect to sexual activity.

Lisa

 

[edwest2]

Hi Lisa,

Your experience reflects my own. I never had any issues dealing with gay, lesbian and bisexual persons in the past, but the present, loud, emotional and in your face approach is quite off-putting. And the assumed characteristics of the “average” heterosexual:

Homophobic? After I found out someone was gay, I didn’t have irrational feelings. Now it’s, for example, a professional athlete on CNN who had come out and kept repeating: “Stop being homophobic.” Again, this causes unnecessary confusion. Can the average person pick out the gay guy in a crowd of 100 people? Of course not. Are his teammates cowering in fear when he walks by?

Bigot: A needless smear to all heterosexuals, like saying all blacks, Mexicans, fill in the blank, are bigots or lazy or whatever.

Hate: Another broad smear as in bigot.

Gay/LGBT activists are creating hurt with their in your face, you’re all that way attitude. Tolerance? I treat everyone on a one on one basis since we’re all different.

Yes, there are a spectrum of ex-gay people out there but there appears to be a negative reaction to them by the gay/LGBT community at large.

pfox.org/about_us.html

Being confrontational and aggressive does not promote tolerance.

Peace,
Ed

 

[epan]

Hi Lisa,

Your experience reflects my own. I never had any issues dealing with gay, lesbian and bisexual persons in the past, but the present, loud, emotional and in your face approach is quite off-putting. And the assumed characteristics of the “average” heterosexual:

Homophobic? After I found out someone was gay, I didn’t have irrational feelings. Now it’s, for example, a professional athlete on CNN who had come out and kept repeating: “Stop being homophobic.” Again, this causes unnecessary confusion. Can the average person pick out the gay guy in a crowd of 100 people? Of course not. Are his teammates cowering in fear when he walks by?

Bigot: A needless smear to all heterosexuals, like saying all blacks, Mexicans, fill in the blank, are bigots or lazy or whatever.

Hate: Another broad smear as in bigot.

Gay/LGBT activists are creating hurt with their in your face, you’re all that way attitude. Tolerance? I treat everyone on a one on one basis since we’re all different.

Yes, there are a spectrum of ex-gay people out there but there appears to be a negative reaction to them by the gay/LGBT community at large.

pfox.org/about_us.html

Being confrontational and aggressive does not promote tolerance.

Peace,
Ed

“Homophobic” and “gay” seem like odd choices of words to me, if I understand clearly what they are meant to refer to.

It is well known that people who have a strong contempt (or other strong negative reactions) to homosexuals SOMETIMES are homosexuals who are suffering with accepting and coping with their own sexual impulses, and the negative emotions or behaviors indicate an underlying “reaction formation”. In those limited number of cases, “homophobia” might be an appropriate word. The phobia is of the person’s own feelings.

My opinion is that those who protest the most to deny traits perceived in them by others, frequently do indeed exhibit those traits, but lack the insight to see it themselves at the moment. Denial is a very powerful psychological defense mechanism.

Certainly, the ‘bigotry brush’ is used too often to try to paint people with opposing points of view on strongly held opinions. On the other hand, there is usually merit to the accusation, when large groups of people perceive themselves to be subjected to unfair prejudice or bigotry.

I think that if we keep this in mind, then rational discussion of these topics is easier.

 

[LisaA]

Hi Lisa,

Your experience reflects my own. I never had any issues dealing with gay, lesbian and bisexual persons in the past, but the present, loud, emotional and in your face approach is quite off-putting. And the assumed characteristics of the “average” heterosexual:

Homophobic? After I found out someone was gay, I didn’t have irrational feelings. Now it’s, for example, a professional athlete on CNN who had come out and kept repeating: “Stop being homophobic.” Again, this causes unnecessary confusion. Can the average person pick out the gay guy in a crowd of 100 people? Of course not. Are his teammates cowering in fear when he walks by?

Bigot: A needless smear to all heterosexuals, like saying all blacks, Mexicans, fill in the blank, are bigots or lazy or whatever.

Hate: Another broad smear as in bigot.

Gay/LGBT activists are creating hurt with their in your face, you’re all that way attitude. Tolerance? I treat everyone on a one on one basis since we’re all different.

Yes, there are a spectrum of ex-gay people out there but there appears to be a negative reaction to them by the gay/LGBT community at large.

pfox.org/about_us.html

Being confrontational and aggressive does not promote tolerance.

Peace,
Ed

It’s the ultimate irony that those leaving the gay lifestyle and cause, are demeaned and criticized in the same way the homosexual activists claim they were attacked for being homosexuals. It’s as if “treat me as an individual” only counts if you follow the approved track of politically correct choices.

I agree that the ‘in your face’ approach does not win friends or influence people. I realize that many are energized by the thought of revenge for past slights, but like the theory of reparation, the people paying the price now did not engage in the egregious behavior they object to. It’s sort of the over reaction to a real problem that creates new problems in its wake. Those who in the past had to hide their sexual orientation are not content with having the government and neighbors, out of the bedroom, they want to bring their bedrooms out to meet the neighbors. People are subtly or not so subtly pressured to remain “part of the tribe” and any who dare leave face public scorn.

Lisa

 

[LisaA]

"

Certainly, the ‘bigotry brush’ is used too often to try to paint people with opposing points of view on strongly held opinions. On the other hand, there is usually merit to the accusation, when large groups of people perceive themselves to be subjected to unfair prejudice or bigotry.

I think that if we keep this in mind, then rational discussion of these topics is easier.

True but while few reasonable people deny that there were some significant persecution of homosexuals in the past, that it was difficult to arrange financial or other legal affairs, hospital visits, that they were targeted for harassment and cruel treatment, THINGS HAVE CHANGED. The stubborn unwillingness to acknowledge that the vast majority of Americans neither know nor CARE about anyone else’s personal life mirrors those race baiters who claim nothing has changed since the Jim Crow days.

At some point they lost credibility with me. And I’m someone who went out on a limb to defend a gay co-worker back in the bad old days, someone who worked with, socialized with, hired and applauded the efforts of gays.

I thought good old “DADT” worked in the public sphere as well as in the military. But for those in your face activists, nothing will satisfy until they have literally and figuratively browbeaten anyone who stands for traditional marriage and family.

Lisa

 

[edwest2]

I’m seeing less and less constructive dialogue. Here, it boils down to: (A) The Church is wrong. (B) Stay out of civil marriage and keep your beliefs to yourself. I don’t mean that dialogue should end here, just that it be civil.

Peace,
Ed

 

[edwest2]

True but while few reasonable people deny that there were some significant persecution of homosexuals in the past, that it was difficult to arrange financial or other legal affairs, hospital visits, that they were targeted for harassment and cruel treatment, THINGS HAVE CHANGED. The stubborn unwillingness to acknowledge that the vast majority of Americans neither know nor CARE about anyone else’s personal life mirrors those race baiters who claim nothing has changed since the Jim Crow days.

At some point they lost credibility with me. And I’m someone who went out on a limb to defend a gay co-worker back in the bad old days, someone who worked with, socialized with, hired and applauded the efforts of gays.

I thought good old “DADT” worked in the public sphere as well as in the military. But for those in your face activists, nothing will satisfy until they have literally and figuratively browbeaten anyone who stands for traditional marriage and family.

Lisa

Well said, Lisa. It is obvious that pride days and flags and months must be celebrated everywhere. And it’s obviously the case of “Hi. Let me tell you about my bedroom.” What really disturbs me is gay/lesbian story books being handed out to little kids in public schools. I think anyone who’s been a child knows that we don’t “get” a lot of things until we’re mature enough. It’s always been that way.

Strengthening traditional marriage and families is our only way forward.

Peace,
Ed

 

[holyrood]

In my own experience having close personal friendships with gay males, working with them, hiring them and socializing with them, I have seen a very large continuum with respect to “gayness” if that’s a word. In only one instance did the man say he was NEVER attracted to females after puberty. The others indicated that they had had close relationships with females, some had married women, some had romantic relationships that as they noted, included an active sex life. But the pull of the homosexual lifestyle, the excitement, the “thrills and chills” is particularly compelling in young men. I think sadly our pro gay culture ENCOURAGES this rather than considering that there are choices and options to make.

Lisa

Thank you for this, Lisa.

Two of my friends who now call themselves gay were both very interested in girls in high school and college. I get tired of the insistence that all homosexuals were born that way, when even in my limited experience, it’s obviously not true.

 

[LisaA]

Well said, Lisa. It is obvious that pride days and flags and months must be celebrated everywhere. And it’s obviously the case of “Hi. Let me tell you about my bedroom.” What really disturbs me is gay/lesbian story books being handed out to little kids in public schools. I think anyone who’s been a child knows that we don’t “get” a lot of things until we’re mature enough. It’s always been that way.

Strengthening traditional marriage and families is our only way forward.

Peace,
Ed

We had a long time City Councilman who became Mayor. He prefaced EVERY press conference, every speech at every event with “I am the first openly gay…blah blah blah…” What on earth DIFFERENCE does it make what Hizzoner does in the bedroom when we are discussing potholes on 24rd Street or opening a new school or swearing in a new Police Chief?

As a member of a local Peace Institute I attended a Sister City celebration where a number of officials from the Korean city attended. Imagine a group of dignified, immaculately dressed city officials as the translator lets them know before we discuss the glories of our new sister city, our new commemorative park, our city, we had to hear about his sexual interests. The men’s faces originally beaming with pride fell flat and it was a very uncomfortable moment. Talk about a buzzkill for international relations

I just do not understand the obsession with injecting sexual activity into every public event, into primary school curricula, and into private organizations.

DADT just like what they claimed they wanted…us out of their bedrooms. Not good enough is it?

Lisa

 

[edwest2]

We had a long time City Councilman who became Mayor. He prefaced EVERY press conference, every speech at every event with “I am the first openly gay…blah blah blah…” What on earth DIFFERENCE does it make what Hizzoner does in the bedroom when we are discussing potholes on 24rd Street or opening a new school or swearing in a new Police Chief?

As a member of a local Peace Institute I attended a Sister City celebration where a number of officials from the Korean city attended. Imagine a group of dignified, immaculately dressed city officials as the translator lets them know before we discuss the glories of our new sister city, our new commemorative park, our city, we had to hear about his sexual interests. The men’s faces originally beaming with pride fell flat and it was a very uncomfortable moment. Talk about a buzzkill for international relations

I just do not understand the obsession with injecting sexual activity into every public event, into primary school curricula, and into private organizations.

DADT just like what they claimed they wanted…us out of their bedrooms. Not good enough is it?

Lisa

Nope.

That’s been the pattern for upending an American, and Western society that worked. No, it was not perfect, but it worked. But just like the servants of the landowner that found weeds growing among the wheat, their master replied, “An enemy has done this.”

Yes, in the late 1960s, ALL authority had to be rejected - mom, dad, priests, nuns. Cohabitation with sex? “Leave us alone! We’re grown adults! We’ll do what we want!” Gay people did not want to be bullied or harassed and I knew, pre-1973, that gay people existed and what homosexual meant but I thought nothing of it. Certainly none of my friends wanted to bully anyone who was gay. So everybody was left alone, cheered on by liars who kept yelling “Freedom!” From what?

The no authority vacuum was filled by porn bookstores, sex with anybody and smoking dope. Throw in legalized abortion in 1973 and the APA tossing homosexuality out of its DSM by vote, and you’ve got all the ingredients you needed for today. But it had to happen gradually, very gradually. Too fast and there would be a quick backlash. So everything had to be infiltrated, lies had to be spread. Take Gloria Steinem and the National Organization for Women. “Sisters! Throw off the chains of your oppression!” Those chains would be men. Forget being a mom, go out and get a career because evil men will kick you to the curb and leave you with the kids!

That’s just one example. Hope? No. Solutions? No. Just LISTEN TO US!!!

I wonder what I would send to a foreign head of state as examples of American culture. Game of Thrones on DVD? Revenge films like The Brave One (Jodie Foster) or our favorite season of that lovable serial killer, Dexter? Or perhaps his kids would like a season of Family Guy.

You’ll note that most of Western societies’ current problems revolve around the wrong use of human sexuality and the use of illegal drugs. Take STDs:

"The information I am about to share is from data gathered by the Medical Institute for Sexual Health out of Austin, Texas.(1) All of these statistics are readily available from reputable medical and scientific journals.

"Today, there are approximately 25 STDs. A few can be fatal. Many women are living in fear of what their future may hold as a result of STD infection. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans between the ages of 15 and 55 are currently infected with one or more STDs, and 12 million Americans are newly infected each year. That’s nearly 5% of the entire population of the U.S. Of these new infections, 63% are in people less than 25 years old.

“This epidemic is a recent phenomenon. Some young people have parents who may have had multiple sexual partners with relative impunity. They may conclude that they too are safe from disease. However, most of these diseases were not around 20 to 30 years ago. Prior to 1960, there were only two significant sexually transmitted diseases: syphilis and gonorrhea. Both were easily treatable with antibiotics.”

But the message is have lots of sex with anybody. Perhaps we should throw in a season of Two and a Half Men. And the “what’s wrong with marijuana?” crowd posts here regularly.

Peace,
Ed

 

[LisaA]

Nope.

That’s been the pattern for upending an American, and Western society that worked. No, it was not perfect, but it worked. But just like the servants of the landowner that found weeds growing among the wheat, their master replied, “An enemy has done this.”

Yes, in the late 1960s, ALL authority had to be rejected - mom, dad, priests, nuns. Cohabitation with sex? “Leave us alone! We’re grown adults! We’ll do what we want!” Gay people did not want to be bullied or harassed and I knew, pre-1973, that gay people existed and what homosexual meant but I thought nothing of it. Certainly none of my friends wanted to bully anyone who was gay. So everybody was left alone, cheered on by liars who kept yelling “Freedom!” From what?

The no authority vacuum was filled by porn bookstores, sex with anybody and smoking dope. Throw in legalized abortion in 1973 and the APA tossing homosexuality out of its DSM by vote, and you’ve got all the ingredients you needed for today. But it had to happen gradually, very gradually. Too fast and there would be a quick backlash. So everything had to be infiltrated, lies had to be spread. Take Gloria Steinem and the National Organization for Women. “Sisters! Throw off the chains of your oppression!” Those chains would be men. Forget being a mom, go out and get a career because evil men will kick you to the curb and leave you with the kids!

That’s just one example. Hope? No. Solutions? No. Just LISTEN TO US!!!

I wonder what I would send to a foreign head of state as examples of American culture. Game of Thrones on DVD? Revenge films like The Brave One (Jodie Foster) or our favorite season of that lovable serial killer, Dexter? Or perhaps his kids would like a season of Family Guy.

You’ll note that most of Western societies’ current problems revolve around the wrong use of human sexuality and the use of illegal drugs. Take STDs:

"The information I am about to share is from data gathered by the Medical Institute for Sexual Health out of Austin, Texas.(1) All of these statistics are readily available from reputable medical and scientific journals.

"Today, there are approximately 25 STDs. A few can be fatal. Many women are living in fear of what their future may hold as a result of STD infection. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans between the ages of 15 and 55 are currently infected with one or more STDs, and 12 million Americans are newly infected each year. That’s nearly 5% of the entire population of the U.S. Of these new infections, 63% are in people less than 25 years old.

“This epidemic is a recent phenomenon. Some young people have parents who may have had multiple sexual partners with relative impunity. They may conclude that they too are safe from disease. However, most of these diseases were not around 20 to 30 years ago. Prior to 1960, there were only two significant sexually transmitted diseases: syphilis and gonorrhea. Both were easily treatable with antibiotics.”

But the message is have lots of sex with anybody. Perhaps we should throw in a season of Two and a Half Men. And the “what’s wrong with marijuana?” crowd posts here regularly.

Peace,
Ed

Sadly you are absolutely right. The STD situation is particularly chilling and what is the response? Not something like abstinence or limiting sexual relations to your spouse. No, let’s get a vaccine so we can continue to have sex with anyone we want! It’s funny how something that seems like a positive (a vaccine for a potentially fatal disease) can create more problems than it addresses. Same thing with many of the AIDS treatments. Certainly no one wants to see anyone die from these diseases but treatments and certain protections give people a very false sense of security.

What was it about the 60s? It was a world gone mad and look what kind of a bitter harvest reaped from sowing so many wild oats.

Lisa

 

[edwest2]

Lisa,

Here’s a basic list. Keep in mind that all pillars of a normal, functional society had to be torn down. Why? So you didn’t have to worry about God or any kind of pesky morality. The Israelites did it. And those Roman Orgies… ah, the good old bad days.

1960 The FDA approves the birth control pill but most people didn’t live in places with easy access to it. My mom was like, “Who needs this?” I was born before The Pill and the average number of kids in my neighborhood and for miles around? Two. That’s Two.

1967 Time to sell product. Now we see the marketing of anti-life/anti-God freedom. That gift of God, that bundle of joy? Uh uh.

time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843551,00.html

Read the headline and find out that you need this! “Contraception: Freedom from Fear.” Fear of what? Babies. Yes, babies.

And let’s convince Catholic institutions of higher education to get more freedom by cutting ties with the Church hierarchy:

catholichistory.net/Events/LandOLakesStatement.htm

Yep, we can be “modern” like our secular counterparts in no time.

1968 Time for the Pope to get told off. How dare he go against the advice of his advisors by reaffirming the constant teaching of the Catholic Church in Humanae Vitae? We can’t have people listening to the Pope! It would hurt sales of ABC!!!

"Within 24 hours, in an event unprecedented in the history of the Church, more than 200 dissenting theologians signed a full-page ad in The New York Times in protest. Not only did they declare their disagreement with encyclical’s teaching; they went one step further, far beyond their authority as theologians, and actually encouraged dissent among the lay faithful.

"They asserted the following: “Therefore, as Roman Catholic theologians, conscious of our duty and our limitations, we conclude that spouses may responsibly decide according to their conscience that artificial contraception in some circumstances is permissible and indeed necessary to preserve and foster the values and sacredness of marriage.”
Source: Regnum Christi

The Sex without love Revolution was going on! But Pope Paul VI included warnings of what would happen if Catholics didn’t heed his words, including increased promiscuity.

1969 Time to sell abortion by using false and misleading information. The plan is all spelled out here:

catholicnewsagency.com/resources/abortion/articles-and-addresses/an-ex-abortionist-speaks/

1970s Just to make sure men are on the wrong track, let’s spend millions and open porn bookstores, strip clubs and topless bars everywhere. You know, to help make what is holy and private open to public view - an open scandal. And the planned addiction process began.

That’s the foundation. There’s more.

Peace,
Ed

 

[epan]

Lisa,

Here’s a basic list. Keep in mind that all pillars of a normal, functional society had to be torn down. Why? So you didn’t have to worry about God or any kind of pesky morality. The Israelites did it. And those Roman Orgies… ah, the good old bad days.

1960 The FDA approves the birth control pill but most people didn’t live in places with easy access to it. My mom was like, “Who needs this?” I was born before The Pill and the average number of kids in my neighborhood and for miles around? Two. That’s Two.

1967 Time to sell product. Now we see the marketing of anti-life/anti-God freedom. That gift of God, that bundle of joy? Uh uh.

time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843551,00.html

Read the headline and find out that you need this! “Contraception: Freedom from Fear.” Fear of what? Babies. Yes, babies.

And let’s convince Catholic institutions of higher education to get more freedom by cutting ties with the Church hierarchy:

catholichistory.net/Events/LandOLakesStatement.htm

Yep, we can be “modern” like our secular counterparts in no time.

1968 Time for the Pope to get told off. How dare he go against the advice of his advisors by reaffirming the constant teaching of the Catholic Church in Humanae Vitae? We can’t have people listening to the Pope! It would hurt sales of ABC!!!

"Within 24 hours, in an event unprecedented in the history of the Church, more than 200 dissenting theologians signed a full-page ad in The New York Times in protest. Not only did they declare their disagreement with encyclical’s teaching; they went one step further, far beyond their authority as theologians, and actually encouraged dissent among the lay faithful.

"They asserted the following: “Therefore, as Roman Catholic theologians, conscious of our duty and our limitations, we conclude that spouses may responsibly decide according to their conscience that artificial contraception in some circumstances is permissible and indeed necessary to preserve and foster the values and sacredness of marriage.”
Source: Regnum Christi

The Sex without love Revolution was going on! But Pope Paul VI included warnings of what would happen if Catholics didn’t heed his words, including increased promiscuity.

1969 Time to sell abortion by using false and misleading information. The plan is all spelled out here:

catholicnewsagency.com/resources/abortion/articles-and-addresses/an-ex-abortionist-speaks/

1970s Just to make sure men are on the wrong track, let’s spend millions and open porn bookstores, strip clubs and topless bars everywhere. You know, to help make what is holy and private open to public view - an open scandal. And the planned addiction process began.

That’s the foundation. There’s more.

Peace,
Ed

Where we are today is the logical result of modern history. The trend is clear. The whole “gay” thing is not separate from the whole “sex” thing, and “gender equality” thing. Even the “dodgeball” thing, is part of the same phenomenon. Everything else is sacrificed in the name of feeling good, and inclusion. We focus on one issue or another, but all of them are part of a larger whole.

I’m all for equal rights and human dignity. However, I think that there is a lot of confusion about what those things are. Indulging narcissism and hedonism seem to be confused with respect for personal rights.

 

[edwest2]

The answer to your thoughts is here:

crisismagazine.com/2013/how-catholics-can-avoid-cooperating-with-evil-in-public-life

The Church has always told us to be concerned about one another, but thinking everything is OK until I’m bored or feeling good is all that matters, leaves little room for the other and distorts what it means to be human.

Peace,
Ed