Why are homosexuality threads so popular?

[Newbie2]

I don’t want to rehash old territory, i.e. I don’t want to start yet another thread debating whether homosexuality is right or wrong, natural or unnatural, genetic or not, etc., so please, let’s not go there.

What I’d like to know is why threads on homosexuality generate so much discussion in these forums (Moral Theology and Social Justice)

My opinion is that for whatever reason, such a “lifestyle sin” issue is out there (no pun intended ) in our society, and that for whatever reason, such sexual sin is considered more serious then, say, heterosexuals living together or adultry.

Any thoughts?

 

[guanophore]

I don’t want to rehash old territory, i.e. I don’t want to start yet another thread debating whether homosexuality is right or wrong, natural or unnatural, genetic or not, etc., so please, let’s not go there.

What I’d like to know is why threads on homosexuality generate so much discussion in these forums (Moral Theology and Social Justice)

My opinion is that for whatever reason, such a “lifestyle sin” issue is out there (no pun intended ) in our society, and that for whatever reason, such sexual sin is considered more serious then, say, heterosexuals living together or adultry.

Any thoughts?

Sadly, there is some truth to this postulation. When people can point fingers at the sins (sexual and otherwise) of others, they can keep the focus off themselves. I also think that one of the reasons that Roman Catholics have little credibility in this matter is that there are so many other sexual sins going on in the Church that are not being dealt with effectively. In addition to recent scandals come to light, Roman Catholics are having fornication, fanned by the flames of birth control and abortions, adultery, and all manner of other offenses. If one is going to have a prophetic voice, one must speak from a foundation of holiness, which has been somewhat lacking.

Another reason I think is unrelated. I think that pandering one’s sexual orientation in public serves as a magnet for criticism. You don’t generally see other types of sexual sins “paraded” through the city and celebrated as you do the gay lifestyle. I realize that this is as much politcal and societal as it is sexual, but it does tend to draw fire. When I see the gay pride parade go through my city, I don’t see any parallels with the “pedophiles for politial freedom” or the “fornicators for social justice” following along, you know what I mean?

 

[buffalo]

Sadly, there is some truth to this postulation. When people can point fingers at the sins (sexual and otherwise) of others, they can keep the focus off themselves. I also think that one of the reasons that Roman Catholics have little credibility in this matter is that there are so many other sexual sins going on in the Church that are not being dealt with effectively. In addition to recent scandals come to light, Roman Catholics are having fornication, fanned by the flames of birth control and abortions, adultery, and all manner of other offenses. If one is going to have a prophetic voice, one must speak from a foundation of holiness, which has been somewhat lacking.

Another reason I think is unrelated. I think that pandering one’s sexual orientation in public serves as a magnet for criticism. You don’t generally see other types of sexual sins “paraded” through the city and celebrated as you do the gay lifestyle. I realize that this is as much politcal and societal as it is sexual, but it does tend to draw fire. When I see the gay pride parade go through my city, I don’t see any parallels with the “pedophiles for politial freedom” or the “fornicators for social justice” following along, you know what I mean?

I do not see too many Catholics defending sexual sins. By definition we know they are sins. No one is justifying them and embracing them as OK. What is the issue is the agenda to eliminate the gay lifestyle as a sin.

That is what is objected to.

 

[blessedtoo]

Another reason I think is unrelated. I think that pandering one’s sexual orientation in public serves as a magnet for criticism. You don’t generally see other types of sexual sins “paraded” through the city and celebrated as you do the gay lifestyle. I realize that this is as much politcal and societal as it is sexual, but it does tend to draw fire. When I see the gay pride parade go through my city, I don’t see any parallels with the “pedophiles for politial freedom” or the “fornicators for social justice” following along, you know what I mean?

On CAF, thread topics ebb and flow. When a big news story hits the msm about birth control for 11 year olds, you will see a proliferation of threads on that issue. If a story breaks about abortion (like when the partial birth abortion ban was upheld) you will see many threads about that issue. Heavens, when the Pope issued the MP, there were about 20 threads on that!

Currently, this issue is in the news again due to the recent abomination committed against our Church in San Fran. In addition, with an election coming up, you will see more and more threads debating this topic because no doubt the issue of “same sex marriage” will be front and center.

For the most part, when Catholics in the public eye openly dissent against Catholic teaching, there is a public correction of some sort. Who doesn’t know that Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Teddy Kennedy, etc., all hold heterodox opinions? Is anyone confused about the position of the Church on abortion? Yet when it comes to homosexuality, even life-long Catholics are not sure how they should approach the issue. With incidents occuring like the San Fran debacle, the priest scandals, the dissent among certain clergy members, and the relentless pressure and push of our culture to be “tolerant”, it’s no wonder such debates here and elsewhere stir such an emotional response. All one need do is a quick search of this forum to see how much confusion exists among the faithful. IMO, it should be discussed as often as necessary until everyone is clear on the wisdom of Church teaching.

 

[bilop]

Two thoughts.

1. Homosexual conduct has traditionaly been considered a more grievous sin than other sexual sins.

It is among the 4 sins in the Bible that “cry to heaven for vengeance”

Q: What are sins that cry to heaven for vengeance and sins against the Holy Spirit?

A: Most Catholics are familiar with the term mortal sin. Mortal sins deprive the soul of grace. They are serious transgressions of God’s law, done freely and deliberately with a clear understanding of what they are. Their result is to deny a soul entrance to heaven.

There are particular mortal sins that are so evil that they are said to be sins that cry to heaven for vengeance: murder (Gen. 4:10), sodomy (Gen. 17:20-21), oppression of the poor (Ex. 2:23), and defrauding workers of their just wages (James 5:4).

link
catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9202qq.asp

1. There has been a well organized political campaign to force acceptance of homosexuality as an “alternative lifestyle”.
   No other sexual sin is presented in such a way. Adulterers and masturbators are not campaigning for acceptance. So, we are faced with our faith telling us that homsexual acts “cry to heaven for vengeance”, and secular society saying they are okey dokey. This spurs a lot of debate to try and reconcile these ideas.

God Bless

 

[Publisher]

My own opinion the reason is, many (and a growing number) are not comfortable any more declaring homosexuality a sin. We are moving into the modern world, with modern ideas and modern understanding of sexuality. Many “struggle” to reconcile what one’s religion teaches and what we “know” in our daily lives.

Raciscm was once a “hot topic”…as our children and grandchildren grow up in a world where sexual orientation will no longer be an issue and people of all sexual orientations will be accepted in society…we are just in the “figuring it out” phase of society…so we need to talk it out…and talk it out…and talk it out some more…eventually our world will change.

 

[bilop]

My own opinion the reason is, many (and a growing number) are not comfortable any more declaring homosexuality a sin. We are moving into the modern world, with modern ideas and modern understanding of sexuality. Many “struggle” to reconcile what one’s religion teaches and what we “know” in our daily lives.

Raciscm was once a “hot topic”…as our children and grandchildren grow up in a world where sexual orientation will no longer be an issue and people of all sexual orientations will be accepted in society…we are just in the “figuring it out” phase of society…so we need to talk it out…and talk it out…and talk it out some more…eventually our world will change.

Orientation is one thing; but we can never accept homosexual acts as good. No more than we can accept adultery as good. The world may change. The Church can not, on faith and morals.

God Bless

 

[blessedtoo]

…eventually our world will change.

Watch out. It might not be changing in the direction you hope for!

 

[brianwalden]

What I’d like to know is why threads on homosexuality generate so much discussion in these forums (Moral Theology and Social Justice)

I think it’s because there’s so much open dissent. With other topics on these forums someone usually asks a question and then is usually given pretty good answers that explain the Catholic belief. There might be a few objections, but others are usually able to clearly demonstrate where they vary from the orthodox position.

It seems that in threads concerning homosexuality theres so many people preaching heterodox beliefs that those defending the Church’s teachings almost have justify their doing so. I think that’s what results in so many long threads on the topic.

 

[Publisher]

Watch out. It might not be changing in the direction you hope for!

No, it will change in the direction I am hoping for…it will simply take some time.

 

[buffalo]

Orientation is one thing; but we can never accept homosexual acts as good. No more than we can accept adultery as good. The world may change. The Church can not, on faith and morals.

God Bless

Getting us to accept orientation is step 1 of the agenda. Once done they move to discrimination and get it written into law and corporate policies.

 

[Genesis315]

Many “struggle” to reconcile what one’s religion teaches and what we “know” in our daily lives.

Why would there ever be a struggle in choosing between the wisdom of the omniscient, all-good, God and the limited, and one’s own limited, and wounded reasoning? The struggle only exists because of the fallen nature–which is why we must crucify the flesh to the Spirit. Some people sadly prefer to crucify the Spirit to the flesh…

 

[FishMonger]

My own opinion the reason is, many (and a growing number) are not comfortable any more declaring homosexuality a sin. We are moving into the modern world, with modern ideas and modern understanding of sexuality. Many “struggle” to reconcile what one’s religion teaches and what we “know” in our daily lives.

Raciscm was once a “hot topic”…as our children and grandchildren grow up in a world where sexual orientation will no longer be an issue and people of all sexual orientations will be accepted in society…we are just in the “figuring it out” phase of society…so we need to talk it out…and talk it out…and talk it out some more…eventually our world will change.

I agree. The gay issue will follow the same path as artificial birth control. ABC is firmly entrenched, accepted by the vast majority, including Catholics, and is not an issue.

Look at the younger people. They don’t care about gays. They accept them and see it as normal. A few more years and nobody will pay any more attention to gays than they now pay to ABC.

 

[burnside]

No, it will change in the direction I am hoping for…it will simply take some time.

What,as a Quaker,are you hoping for?That it will no longer be regarded as a serious sin.?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_views_of_homosexuality

 

[Genesis315]

What,as a Quaker,are you hoping for?That it will no longer be regarded as a serious sin.?

Quaker’s don’t really believe anything anymore accept that you can believe whatever you want. They are essentially unitarians now. Because of this, Quaker’s can range from strict conservative Christians to hedonistic atheists and everything in between.

 

[brianwalden]

I agree. The gay issue will follow the same path as artificial birth control. ABC is firmly entrenched, accepted by the vast majority, including Catholics, and is not an issue.

Look at the younger people. They don’t care about gays. They accept them and see it as normal. A few more years and nobody will pay any more attention to gays than they now pay to ABC.

Once the generation under the spell of the spirit of Vatican II is gone, we’ll implement the true spirit and letter of the fathers of Vatican II. Your analogy is flawed. It doesn’t matter how accepted contraception is, it’s still a mortal sin. Same with homosexual acts. In fact, given that contraception is a mortal sin I don’t see how homosexual acts could not be. On the flip side, the fact that contraception is so widely accepted explains why homosexual acts also are.

 

[bilop]

Getting us to accept orientation is step 1 of the agenda. Once done they move to discrimination and get it written into law and corporate policies.

What I meant is to accept that people have this orientation and it is a heavy cross to bear. They should not be vilified or shunned for the orientation.

To act on these inclinations, however, is gravely sinful. This can never change, and we must not deny this truth.

God Bless

 

[burnside]

I agree. The gay issue will follow the same path as artificial birth control. ABC is firmly entrenched, accepted by the vast majority, including Catholics, and is not an issue.

Look at the younger people. They don’t care about gays. They accept them and see it as normal. A few more years and nobody will pay any more attention to gays than they now pay to ABC.

I think you will find that gay people will actually only get a kind of phoney respect.The way the law is being manipulated people will pay lip service to it in order to keep their jobs.I may well watch what i say in public,but i won’t be leaving any homosexual alone with any young boys in my family,just as i won’t be leaving any heterosexual with an adulterous reputation alone with any of the girls.
If everyone kept their sex life to the bedroom,noone would know what our orientation was.Nowadays,a perfectly innocent case of students of the same sex sharing a Flat for sensible financial reasons has some people nudging and winking.

 

[buffalo]

I think you will find that gay people will actually only get a kind of phoney respect.The way the law is being manipulated people will pay lip service to it in order to keep their jobs.I may well watch what i say in public,but i won’t be leaving any homosexual alone with any young boys in my family,just as i won’t be leaving any heterosexual with an adulterous reputation alone with any of the girls.
If everyone kept their sex life to the bedroom,noone would know what our orientation was.Nowadays,a perfectly innocent case of students of the same sex sharing a Flat for sensible financial reasons has some people nudging and winking.

Right on. A chaste homosexual has no need to declare himself to anyone. When he does it is to advance the agenda.

 

[Publisher]

What,as a Quaker,are you hoping for?That it will no longer be regarded as a serious sin.?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_views_of_homosexuality

Many Friends have not considered homosexual orientation a “sin” as far back as the '50’s. Friends were among the first religious body to celebrate same sex unions. The Evangelical Friends Church still holds beliefs very similar in regards to gay people as do more conservative Christians, including official CC teaching, but Friends have seen it as an issue of the worth and dignity of persons and have not based their stance on the 5-6 Bible verses taken from their historical and cultural context.

I have had the privelege to sit under the guidence of some very godly Clerks, who happened to be gay.