What if a "Gay Gene" exists?

[tqualey]

Hi, CopticChristian,

Not quite… I do not think Moore missed the mark at all!

Yes, homosexuality does exist in the mind of the homosexual - but, that is not the only place where it exists. There is quite a lot written about disordered behavior both in Scripture and by the Church. And, as you know, homosexual behavior is clearly condemned by both. We are not talking about a mere attraction - but disordered behavior that is both objective and sinful.

If a person had a ‘bank robber gene’, he would not be condemned for having this gene - something he had no control over. If this person tried to rob a bank, or in fact did commit robbery, he would be guilty of disordered behavior and an objectively gravely immoral act.

We can define acts in many different ways. If we neglect to identify that there is an objective behavior component we run the risk of thinking things just exist in our mind - and thinking one was as opposed to another will make them so. This would be an example of delusional thinking.

God bless

Moore,

Your generalization does not equate to understanding. Homosexuality exists in the mind of the homosexual. The attracting is defined by the one that manufactures this thinking in their head.

Polygamy involves attracting by two heterosexuals in a potential normal relationship that for one or both does not involve promise/covenant. Mormons would be an exception.

Incest is the attracting in the head of the parent that has lost concern for their progeny and has lost boundaries.

Bestiality is a one way street. The attracting can only be explained by the person and not the beast.

Pedophelia like incest is a skewed understanding in the mind of the adult.

Fornication and straight sex are two consenting adults whose minds equate to accepting that they do no wrong outside of marriage.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Working Catholic,

Welcome to CAF!

This was an excellent post. …

Natural Law does have a way of ‘popping up’ in the most obvious places!

I do find it very sad that there is such focused disinformation out there. It does not look like many have spent any time testing the spirit to see if this guidance is really from God, or not from God,

God bless

I agree with the others that have said that it would not change anything–and rightfully so.

Homosexual attraction is not a sin whether it is the result of genetics or environment. However, homosexual activity always has been and always will be a sin. Regardless of the cause of same sex attraction, the individual still has free will and can choose to sin or to avoid sin.

As an analogy, it is not a sin for me to be attracted to another man’s wife, as long as I do not act on that attraction and make efforts to purify my thoughts. Just as I am called on to be chaste in my marriage, a homosexual must also remain chaste. Otherwise, he commits sin.

Like most of our moral laws, the Church’s teaching on homosexuality is derived from the natural law.

You may choose to conclude that a “gay gene” means that homosexuality is “natural.” However, “natural” sexual intercourse involves the insertion of a male sex organ into a complementary female sex organ. Putting a sex organ into a digestive tract is not “natural” and is a sin.

 

[InSearchofGrace]

its only a sin because they are not allowed to get married. if they were married, there would be no sin. just as for married heterosexual couples.

Homosexual acts are wrong whether they are done before or outside any contrived union or ‘marriage’ or even within a committed loving relationship of the partners.

To sign onto gay ‘marriage’ so that their approximation of the marital act would not be sinful is like saying that counterfeit bills should be regarded as official legal tender in commerce because they appear to be like the real thing.

A serious reading of natural law and fonts of morality would benefit you, not to mention so that your beliefs on the matter on sexuality conform to the faith with which you identify.
,

 

[Stratocatholic]

There have been numerous instances of cases of identical twins in which one is homosexual and one is heterosexual. Is homosexuality genetic? I highly doubt it. Sexuality and who you are compelled to seek out for companionship is as much a choice as a reaction. It is a response. And what of those brave individuals who break themselves of same sex attraction and even then live normal healthy lives in heterosexual relationships? Did they simply turn off the gene by choice?

I often here people ask me, “Do you choose who you are attracted to?” and my answer is yes. While my basic compunction is to respond to women, who I am attracted to is my choice. Attraction is more than a internal reaction to visual or other external stimuli. Attraction is an informed response, an answer to who we see as a person (and how we decide to act towards them), not simply what we see as another body.

As our culture changes and homosexuality becomes more socially acceptable, especially among the young, there are more and more young people experimenting with sexuality, (to decide their preference?) as though their own sexuality were a choice to be made, rather than something innate. I think that homosexuality is as much a culturally conditioned reaction to a society in which normal male-female attraction is mocked and marginalized as it is a improper training in right and moral thinking of young people.

 

[QuickCat]

It’s not a matter of science for the Church. It’s a matter of morality that has been passed to us by divine revelation in the bible. Homosexuality is consistently consider sinful and disordered. The bishops haven’t made this stuff up, they merely uphold what the Church…and prior to the Church, the Jews…has always taught.

It’s a difficult issue and one I too struggle with, becasue I have several gay or lesbian friends. But ultimately I cede to the teaching authority of the Church on this issue, as with any other moral issue that they teach on via the magesterium.

The God of Heaven calls homosexuality an “abomination.” See Lev. 18:22; 20:13 also note Romans 1:24-27 and 2 Tim. 3:1-3. It is not an acceptable “alternative lifestyle.”
Grace and Peace,
QC

 

[Allen2Saint]

It isnt a red herring, it is a direct parallel…etc.

Bestiality? With an animal.

Incest? With a sibling.

Pedophilia? With a child.

Homosexual sex between two consenting adults=Homosexual sex between two consenting adults

I believe anyone who has had exposure to these experiences in life can tell the difference.

Too bad there is such a hasty impulse to pile on people who dissent here. I frankly don’t care if anyone agrees with me, but to be so dismissive of someone who just disagrees with you? I would never have expected this from fellow Catholics.

 

[Moore11]

Bestiality? With an animal.

Incest? With a sibling.

Pedophilia? With a child.

Homosexual sex between two consenting adults=Homosexual sex between two consenting adults

I believe anyone who has had exposure to these experiences in life can tell the difference.

Too bad there is such a hasty impulse to pile on people who dissent here. I frankly don’t care if anyone agrees with me, but to be so dismissive of someone who just disagrees with you? I would never have expected this from fellow Catholics.

You don’t expect adhering to morality from Catholics? You should.
Pile on? I dont see that here. It’s just that the Church, history, nature, and some posters here dont buy into your flawed premise. That isnt piling on that is just disagreeing with you. But, if victimizing yourself helps your argument go for it!

Homosexuality between two men involves sex that is unnatural, dirty, unsafe, painful, unhealthy and a host of other problems. Male and female sexual actions are ordered to natural purposes and usages of the organs. This is what God made, not homosexuality.

It is part of the homosexual agenda to skip over the reality and portray things as they are on tv. Gosh, it’s just two guys who want to love and cuddle.
It isnt like that.
I know many couples who are gay, male and female. Some are older, like the lesbian couple next door to us. Or my old freinds who are two elderly gay fellows. Or my cousin who is a mid thirties man who likes young men. Or the gay party scene prevalent in the youth I know.

One thing they all have in common is they truly think and buy into the idea that they are just being themselves, but they are sooo soooo lonely. Why? Because they are not living within God’s will. They truly do not understand love, because they do not connect with real love. God’s love, his sacrifice and his presence. Many strait people have this same problem.

There is a direct parallel in those things which you mentioned. They are against natural law and they are sexual deviations. Just like being attracted to one’s own sex.
I like redheads but my wife is a brunette. How I act on that decides the fate of my soul.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Allen2Saint,

I went back and re-read several of your posts and the comments that they generated.

It really appears that you are attempting to ‘sell’ this idea that homosexual behavior is natural. It also really appears that none of the responders is ‘buying’ this idea. No one responded in a hostile or combative manner as they rejected your hypothesis. In my view this comment about a pile on is a fantasy. And, quite the contrary - your hypothesis was not dismissed - it was rejected and the reasons given.

The ball is in your court. By setting the stage with remarks that you do not care if anyone agrees with you - it makes me wonder what you want to accomplish with your posts. Using words that lashing out at responders (pile on, dismiss,) does nothing to further dialogue.

But, please, do not think it is this small group who do not agree with you. The entire teaching of the Catholic Church focuses on our relationship with God and man. Disordered behaviors actually work against that goal - and, maybe you do care what Christ’s Church teaches.

God bless

Bestiality? With an animal.

Incest? With a sibling.

Pedophilia? With a child.

Homosexual sex between two consenting adults=Homosexual sex between two consenting adults

I believe anyone who has had exposure to these experiences in life can tell the difference.

Too bad there is such a hasty impulse to pile on people who dissent here. I frankly don’t care if anyone agrees with me, but to be so dismissive of someone who just disagrees with you? I would never have expected this from fellow Catholics.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Moore11,

Good post!

By the way, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has years of research on the morbidity and mortality directly associated with the unnatural activities of homosexual behavior. HIV/AIDS is a serious death sentence from which the body can not escape - just produce efforts to delay the process. This is not only an inherently disordered behavior - it is a killer.

Knowing this - it is beyond me to even imagine why there are some out there that are promoting homosexual behavior as a life style. If anything, it is just a death style on the natural order. Ultimately, all of our bodies will die - but, certain behaviors bring on a death to the spirit way before natural death intervenes.

God bless

You don’t expect adhering to morality from Catholics? You should.
Pile on? I dont see that here. It’s just that the Church, history, nature, and some posters here dont buy into your flawed premise. That isnt piling on that is just disagreeing with you. But, if victimizing yourself helps your argument go for it!

Homosexuality between two men involves sex that is unnatural, dirty, unsafe, painful, unhealthy and a host of other problems. Male and female sexual actions are ordered to natural purposes and usages of the organs. This is what God made, not homosexuality.

It is part of the homosexual agenda to skip over the reality and portray things as they are on tv. Gosh, it’s just two guys who want to love and cuddle.
It isnt like that.
I know many couples who are gay, male and female. Some are older, like the lesbian couple next door to us. Or my old freinds who are two elderly gay fellows. Or my cousin who is a mid thirties man who likes young men. Or the gay party scene prevalent in the youth I know.

One thing they all have in common is they truly think and buy into the idea that they are just being themselves, but they are sooo soooo lonely. Why? Because they are not living within God’s will. They truly do not understand love, because they do not connect with real love. God’s love, his sacrifice and his presence. Many strait people have this same problem.

There is a direct parallel in those things which you mentioned. They are against natural law and they are sexual deviations. Just like being attracted to one’s own sex.
I like redheads but my wife is a brunette. How I act on that decides the fate of my soul.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, InSearchofGrace,

Great post!

God bless

Homosexual acts are wrong whether they are done before or outside any contrived union or ‘marriage’ or even within a committed loving relationship of the partners.

To sign onto gay ‘marriage’ so that their approximation of the marital act would not be sinful is like saying that counterfeit bills should be regarded as official legal tender in commerce because they appear to be like the real thing.

A serious reading of natural law and fonts of morality would benefit you, not to mention so that your beliefs on the matter on sexuality conform to the faith with which you identify.
,

 

[aragonjohn1]

I guess that is where I tend to question the church. The church says homosexuality is a disorder based on what? I support the church on 90% of its teachings but I start to question when the Church starts making claims on things based on what it considers science since it has a dodgy record in that regard. I don’t believe the bishops are scientists who are qualified to make claims whether homosexuality is a disorder, disease, or an act of free will.

I’ve read many comments on these boards that say homosexuality doesn’t actually exists because it isn’t “natural” and can’t be deemed a form of “sexuality” because it violates the natural law of man. But I tend to think that the evidence is pointing toward the fact that homosexuality is an innate trait just like heterosexuality and that the homosexual is hard-wired to be gay, therefore meaning that cohabitation and sexual relations with the same gender are natural and intentional.

In Romans 1:18-32, still building on the moral traditions of his forebears, but in the new context of the confrontation between Christianity and the pagan society of his day, Paul uses homosexual behaviour as an example of the blindness which has overcome humankind. Instead of the original harmony between Creator and creatures, the acute distortion of idolatry has led to all kinds of moral excess. Paul is at a loss to find a clearer example of this disharmony than homosexual relations. Finally, 1 Tim. 1, in full continuity with the Biblical position, singles out those who spread wrong doctrine and in v. 10 explicitly names as sinners those who engage in homosexual acts.

1. The Church, obedient to the Lord who founded her and gave to her the sacramental life, celebrates the divine plan of the loving and live-giving union of men and women in the sacrament of marriage. It is only in the marital relationship that the use of the sexual faculty can be morally good. A person engaging in homosexual behaviour therefore acts immorally.

To chose someone of the same sex for one’s sexual activity is to annul the rich symbolism and meaning, not to mention the goals, of the Creator’s sexual design. Homosexual activity is not a complementary union, able to transmit life; and so it thwarts the call to a life of that form of self-giving which the Gospel says is the essence of Christian living. This does not mean that homosexual persons are not often generous and giving of themselves; but when they engage in homosexual activity they confirm within themselves a disordered sexual inclination which is essentially self-indulgent.

As in every moral disorder, homosexual activity prevents one’s own fulfillment and happiness by acting contrary to the creative wisdom of God. The Church, in rejecting erroneous opinions regarding homosexuality, does not limit but rather defends personal freedom and dignity realistically and authentically understood.

1. Thus, the Church’s teaching today is in organic continuity with the Scriptural perspective and with her own constant Tradition. Though today’s world is in many ways quite new, the Christian community senses the profound and lasting bonds which join us to those generations who have gone before us, “marked with the sign of faith”.
2. The movement within the Church, which takes the form of pressure groups of various names and sizes, attempts to give the impression that it represents all homosexual persons who are Catholics. As a matter of fact, its membership is by and large restricted to those who either ignore the teaching of the Church or seek somehow to undermine it. It brings together under the aegis of Catholicism homosexual persons who have no intention of abandoning their homosexual behaviour. One tactic used is to protest that any and all criticism of or reservations about homosexual people, their activity and lifestyle, are simply diverse forms of unjust discrimination.

There is an effort in some countries to manipulate the Church by gaining the often well-intentioned support of her pastors with a view to changing civil-statutes and laws. This is done in order to conform to these pressure groups’ concept that homosexuality is at least a completely harmless, if not an entirely good, thing. Even when the practice of homosexuality may seriously threaten the lives and well-being of a large number of people, its advocates remain undeterred and refuse to consider the magnitude of the risks involved.

The Church can never be so callous. It is true that her clear position cannot be revised by pressure from civil legislation or the trend of the moment. But she is really concerned about the many who are not represented by the pro-homosexual movement and about those who may have been tempted to believe its deceitful propaganda. She is also aware that the view that homosexual activity is equivalent to, or as acceptable as, the sexual expression of conjugal love has a direct impact on society’s understanding of the nature and rights of the family and puts them in jeopardy.

1. It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church’s pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.

• vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html

Shalom

 

[keepingfaith4]

You don’t expect adhering to morality from Catholics? You should.
Pile on? I dont see that here. It’s just that the Church, history, nature, and some posters here dont buy into your flawed premise. That isnt piling on that is just disagreeing with you. But, if victimizing yourself helps your argument go for it!

Homosexuality between two men involves sex that is unnatural, dirty, unsafe, painful, unhealthy and a host of other problems. Male and female sexual actions are ordered to natural purposes and usages of the organs. This is what God made, not homosexuality.

It is part of the homosexual agenda to skip over the reality and portray things as they are on tv. Gosh, it’s just two guys who want to love and cuddle.
It isnt like that.
I know many couples who are gay, male and female. Some are older, like the lesbian couple next door to us. Or my old freinds who are two elderly gay fellows. Or my cousin who is a mid thirties man who likes young men. Or the gay party scene prevalent in the youth I know.

One thing they all have in common is they truly think and buy into the idea that they are just being themselves, but they are sooo soooo lonely. Why? Because they are not living within God’s will. They truly do not understand love, because they do not connect with real love. God’s love, his sacrifice and his presence. Many strait people have this same problem.

There is a direct parallel in those things which you mentioned. They are against natural law and they are sexual deviations. Just like being attracted to one’s own sex.
I like redheads but my wife is a brunette. How I act on that decides the fate of my soul.

 

[Nec5]

Bestiality? With an animal.

Incest? With a sibling.

Pedophilia? With a child.

Homosexual sex between two consenting adults=Homosexual sex between two consenting adults

I believe anyone who has had exposure to these experiences in life can tell the difference.

I like how all your descriptions indicate what’s different until you get to homosexuality. All of those categories are different than traditional male-female sex. That’s the point. And two grown male brothers can be consenting. And who says an animal wouldn’t consent? And then there’s polygamy with consenting adults.

The parallels are obvious if you are honest.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Voctor09,

I guess I must have missed something in your post. Homosexual behavior is condemned throughout the OT, and enjoys no favorable response in the NT. So, if you see the Bible as God’s Inspired Word - you have the beginnings of an answer. But, not everything is in Scripture.

Christ gave His Spirit to the Church to guide it and show it all truth. The Catholic Church can not teach error regarding Faith or Morals. Supporting the Church of Christ 90% of the time may sound like a lot - but, then one is left to wonder who you are supporting for the other 10%?

The Church has not issued any ‘scientific’ pronouncements. Clearly identifying homosexual behavior as gravely disordered is a moral pronouncement. So, here is your chance to demonstrate your point - kindly provide a link where the Catholic Church has made a scientific pronouncement on homosexual behavior. To the best of my knowledge none exist. Claiming other-wise would appear to be a hollow straw man argument.

And, your accusation on the Catholic Church being ‘dodgy’ concerning science really needs to be refreshed. Please give a reference here - and let me tell you Galaleo was not questioned about his knowledge of science but his pronoucements on theology. here is just one of many links on this topic: catholic.com/tracts/the-galileo-controversy.

So, if there is any ‘hard-wiring’ in homosexual behavior - then there must be evidence to support this. There has yet to be presented one credible bit of evidence for a so-called ‘Gay Gene’ or any other item that supports the theory you are proposing. Now, you may have one - so, please, do not keep us in suspense any longer - show us the documentation to support your point.

Disordered human behavior comes in many forms - not all being sexual. Murder is quite disordered, yet there is no gene to explain this behavior - just a life-time of poor personal choices. The same is true with theft, stealing, cheating and what have you. No gene, just the results of one’s poor exercisse of free will.

Your comments seem to lead one to conclude that since all of this homosexual behavior is so natural, and so hard-wired that it can’t be disordered. Can the same be said of pedophilia, prostitution or murder? Surely this must be the case - all disordered behavior must be ‘OK’ because it appears in nature. Alas, no! We really are responsible for our choices - and this is where personal responsibility lies. Fortunately, we have the Grace of God to call upon 24/7 - just ask God in prayer. Miracles of years of overcoming bad choices can be seen every day.

A real role model of someone who was caught up in sexual sin was Augustine of Hippo. He would have probably ended his life in a very sad way had he not cooperated with the Grace of God. Today, we usually think of him as St. Augustine. One of his famous prayers was, “Oh God, give me more faith that I may understand”. Many of us have most of the words but have lost the order… and pray for more understanding so that we can have more faith. God does not show Himself to us that way.

God bless

I guess that is where I tend to question the church. The church says homosexuality is a disorder based on what? I support the church on 90% of its teachings but I start to question when the Church starts making claims on things based on what it considers science since it has a dodgy record in that regard. I don’t believe the bishops are scientists who are qualified to make claims whether homosexuality is a disorder, disease, or an act of free will.

I’ve read many comments on these boards that say homosexuality doesn’t actually exists because it isn’t “natural” and can’t be deemed a form of “sexuality” because it violates the natural law of man. But I tend to think that the evidence is pointing toward the fact that homosexuality is an innate trait just like heterosexuality and that the homosexual is hard-wired to be gay, therefore meaning that cohabitation and sexual relations with the same gender are natural and intentional.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Nec5



But, I think you are asking too much for the supporters to be honest. We have yet to get anyone to back up their claims of homosexual behavior being ‘hard wired’ as opposed to it being a choice…and a gravely disordered one at that.

God bless

I like how all your descriptions indicate what’s different until you get to homosexuality. All of those categories are different than traditional male-female sex. That’s the point. And two grown male brothers can be consenting. And who says an animal wouldn’t consent? And then there’s polygamy with consenting adults.

The parallels are obvious if you are honest.

 

[Jules_Verne]

Regarding the “natural order” argument.

I assume that means that all of you here wish to legalize rape and infanticide, correct? After all, these attributes are intrinsic to the “natural” world. It is only humans which have prohibitions against rape and infanticide. In many species, these behaviors are completely commonplace and quite natural.

I also assume that none of you have ever flown in an airplane. After all, this is CERTAINLY against the “natural order” of humans not being able to fly.

I assume none of you use any synthetic materials, or take any synthetically designed drugs, as they are not “natural.”

How do you feel about hermaphrodies? Should they be killed? They go against the “natural order” aren’t they an affront to God? How do you account for the existance of hermaphrodites, and how should they be treated in society? Should they been exiled, jailed, killed, or banned from ever having any kind of romantic relationship? Whose “fault” is there existence? Did Satan create hermaphrodites?

Should people who marry if one partner is sterile, or postmenopausal be denied marriage licenses, or should they be expected to be celibate for the course of their marriage?

If a woman refuses to have sex with her husband one night, should he be legally allowed to rape her? Marital rape was legal until just a couple decades ago, specifically because it was considered that having sex with his wife was the natural right of the man.

What’s more, homosexuality does occur in nature. For instance, swans mate for life and are known to form same sex pairs on occasion. The swans in the Boston Garden, for instance, while called “Romeo and Juliet” are actually two female swans. However, one of the female swans takes the role of the “male” swan. That is, she behaves the way male swans behaves, while her mate continues to behave as a female swan.

 

[Jules_Verne]

Also, the historical information regarding Galileo othe posters have listed here here is not correct, in that it is said that he was persecuted not for promoting the heliocentric theory, but because he drew theological conclusions from it without first consulting the Church.

This is wrong for several reasons. First off, before Galileo, less famous scientists were burned by order of the Catholic Church for researching and believing the heliocentric theory. The only reason Galileo himself escaped a death sentence was most likely his close relationship with the very powerful Medici family.

Secondly, Galileo did NOT draw theological conclusions from his theory. He presented the heliocentric theory as a “dialogue.” That is, he wrote a book with three different characters discussing the theory. One character promoted it, another character denied it, and a third character was undecided. The dialogue was designed to be portrayed as a hypothetical discussion that debated the merits of the heliocentric theory.

Thirdly, at the time when Galileo published his work, published works were strictly censored in the Iatlian provinces and all books were required to be submitted to Church authorities to review it before publishing. Galileo submitted his work to a Church reviewer, they approved it and told him he was allowed to publish it and he was not breaking heresy laws by doing so specifically because he wrote out the theory in such a way that it drew no theological conclusions and in fact did not even state that heliocentrism was certainly true, it only presented the merits of the heliocentric theory. It was only after the publication, when powerful and influential cardinals who had a long standing grudge against Galileo due to past personal dealins with him started petitioning Pope Urban VIII and later Pope Paul V to persecute Galileo that he was arrested and charged with heresy by the Inquisition.

What about the fact that early practitioners of medicine, particularly in the dark ages, were often regarded as witches and burned as heretics? I’m not talking about people who called themselves witches and who sought to make magical remedies. I’m talking about midwives, physicks, etc, who, as practicing Catholics, sought natural remedies for afflictions. Were they right to be burned? Why aren’t we burning nurses, doctors, pharmacists, etc today if these past actions of the Church were not wrong and were guided by the Holy Spirit?

What about the Jews who were burned during the Black Death? When the Black Death ravaged Europe throughout the 1300s, an unfortunate scapegoat became the Jews. many believed that either the Jews had deliberately caused the plague, either through poison or witchcraft. The result was that Jews, sometimes on the orders of Church authorities, were killed in the thousands. One of the more common methods was to round up all the Jews in a community, lock them all in a wood structure (such as a barn), and then set it on fire. Thousands of Jewish men, women, and children were burned to death, sometimes on the authority of (or with the blessing of) Church authorities. Were they not wrong to do this? Did Jews actually cause the Black Death?

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland is Cardinal Sean Brady. The Cardinal not only was aware of sexual abuse of children by one of his priests, he not only allowed this priest to continue to work with children directly after he became aware of abuse, but he actually accosted and made the children sign documents promising to never tell anyone they had been abused.** Did the Holy Spirit tell him to be an accessory to child molestation, and tell him to coerce child molestation victims into silence?

 

[Jules_Verne]

Hi, Moore11,

Good post!

By the way, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has years of research on the morbidity and mortality directly associated with the unnatural activities of homosexual behavior. HIV/AIDS is a serious death sentence from which the body can not escape - just produce efforts to delay the process. This is not only an inherently disordered behavior - it is a killer.

Knowing this - it is beyond me to even imagine why there are some out there that are promoting homosexual behavior as a life style. If anything, it is just a death style on the natural order. Ultimately, all of our bodies will die - but, certain behaviors bring on a death to the spirit way before natural death intervenes.

God bless

As a health care worker, I find this shockingly and dangerously ignorant. The reason that AIDS was initially considered a “gay disease” is because the “patient 0” in America…the first person believed to bring AIDS into the country, was gay, and he was also very promiscous and infected many partners single handedly. Thus AIDS hit the gay community first before moving to other segments in society. In other countries, the disease is not associated with homosexuality and it is much more commonly spread via heterosexual intercourse, i.e. Sub Saharan Africa or Haiti.

In fact, a huge problem right now is HIV with the elderly, who are one of the fastest growing cohorts of HIV/AIDS patients. STDs are practically epidemic in nursing homes, it is actually a huge problem in the health care system. Unprotected sex is rampant within nursing homes, who erroneously think of STDs as being “after their time” or and something that does not affect their generation. The fact that elderly women cannot get pregnant also lowers their incentives for practicing safe sex.

You’re information regarding AIDS being a “gay disease” is outdated by about twnety years. You don’t get AIDS from “being gay.” You get AIDS by a virus that can be passed (among other ways) by unprotected sex. Heterosexuals are just as capable of having unprotected sex as homosexuals. As we are seeing in nursing homes across the country, an 85 year old grandma is just as capable of getting HIV as a marcher in a gay pride parade.

Promiscuous and unprotected sex is absolutely a health hazard and should be treated as such. But this applies no less to promiscuous heterosexuals who do not use protection than it does to gays who do the same.

It should be noted that The Netherlands is unquestionably the most tolerant society towards homosexuals and they have been freely accepted in their society for some time. The Netherlands is also probably the most sexually libertine country in the world. Yet they have the very lowest rate of abortion in the world (despite abortion being legal), and one of the lowest rates of teen pregnancy AND of HIV in the world. Why? Because of their sexual education programs and widespread availability of cheaply obtained condoms and birth control.

Massachussetts is probably the most tolerant state for gays, and has had gay marriage the longest. Yet our HIV infection rate is quite low, and is a fraction of the rates in many other states where gay marriage is illegal and homosexuals are far less permitted in society. Vermont allows gay marriage and is another very gay tolerant state, and they have the lowest HIV rate in the nation.

In Maryland, 80% of AIDS cases reported are in African Americans. In 2009, African Americans comprised 14% of the US population but accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections. Although Africa is home to about 14.5% of the world’s population, it is estimated to be home to 69% of all people living with HIV and to 72% of all AIDS deaths in 2009

Why do you consider AIDS a gay disease rather than a “black disease?” (please note I am not claiming it IS a black disease, only asking why you don’t since you are so willing to call it a gay disease when it actually affects blacks more than gays - though it should be noted that gay blacks are at particularly high risk).

 

[Gandalf]

The church teaches in fact, that a person is born gay. plus it stands to reason-why would a person choose to be gay and therefore choose a life of social ridicule and rejection. It is also harder for those of strong faith who are gay (including me) it conflicts so much with our beliefs. I hate being like this. plus, The church also teaches that people who are homosexuals should be treated with the uttmost respect, and to inhibit or persecute them is a serious matter that only God’s forgiveness can absolve. They are given a test from God and it is up to the Catholic community to assist them. these are the words of the catechism and the only question I would have is-Why would God make a person and force them to never show affection-but to change this would mean that Gay Marriage would have to be permitted in the church which would NEVER EVER HAPPEN as sex outside marriage (fornication) is prohibited its a viscious circle because imagine the chaos that would insue if the church decided to permitt gay marriage there would be a second reformation and we CERTAINLY dont want another group of deluded spin off wrong people to emerge like the Protestant church. well that’s my rant over. I’m a 17yr old male from Ireland and hope to become a priest some day and study astrophysics also lol

 

[Gandalf]

I like how all your descriptions indicate what’s different until you get to homosexuality. All of those categories are different than traditional male-female sex. That’s the point. And two grown male brothers can be consenting. And who says an animal wouldn’t consent? And then there’s polygamy with consenting adults.

The parallels are obvious if you are honest.

you quoted dont say ‘don’t judge’ but it should be said because the only true Judge IS GOD therefore for a man to judge another man is to condemn himself. how dare anyone else judge another person. it annoys me people judging others and not everyone judges there is a difference between assuming and judging