How is that different from those who say “embrace our religion or else you are a hateful sinner that will burn in hell”?
Replace the language the word “homosexual” with “religious people” and the language used would be quite offensive to many-but the truth is “militant” Christians act in much the same way. They want to use civil government to force people to obey rules that are specific to their denominations. If you are committed to your faith, you should NOT need a civil law to obey the rules. Not to mention the lack of foresight involved-what if your religion is no longer the majority and one you don’t follow is? You want to give up bacon because now that religion has voted in an anti-pork law?
If you believe that your religious teachings lead to salvation, then work to convert people to be committed to your faith and the rest will take care of itself. Changed hearts lead to changed lives-I’m living proof.
Point One: Nobody needs anybody else’s permission to engage in any type of sex act or living arrangement they choose. Nobody. You set up any kind of rules you want.
No One needs to see same-sex marriage at the voting booth. Nobody. As a friend of mind said: “Why do they need my permission?” It’s a fair question.
Once again, who is stopping anybody from living how they want - right now? A priest will not be pounding on your door on Monday demanding to know why you missed Mass last Sunday, or that there was 5 bucks less in the collection basket and it’s your fault.
Point Two: Starting from the time I was a boy in the late 1950s all the way up to today, Catholics understood that whatever happened behind closed doors was private. 100% private. We NEVER looked into anybody’s windows, much less bedroom windows.
As Catholics, we do not need the law telling our adoption agencies that we must allow gay couples to adopt or that our hospitals must provide abortion services or that we should pay for insurance that includes contraception. Contraception does not heal, treat or fix anything – it’s primary purpose is to interfere with the proper functioning of the average normal human body.
And everyone, Catholic or not, should not get this agenda shoved in our faces wherever we go or whenever we watch movies or TV, or on the internet or in newspapers.
Finally, You are absolutely right, the Holy Spirit of God changes hearts and causes a renewal of your mind. But Jesus tells us: If you love me, keep my commandments, and he gave authority to His Church on earth to bind and loose. The Teaching Authority of the Church is meant for our good and the good of all. The fact is, Christianity, which was once respected by most of our culture, has been under constant attack, especially over the last 40 years. We can’t ignore that.
And we can’t ignore the fact that some want us to practice our faith
only in our Church buildings and nowhere else. I remember when the ACLU won a court case where a religious monument was removed from a public building. I watched on TV as a priest lay prostrate across stone steps while the object was being physically removed.
I never felt threatened by the homosexuals I worked with.
Peace,
Ed
