Why would a straight person leave the Catholic Church over our teaching on gay marriage?

[DeniseNY]

There are people who call the Catholic Church a cult

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I think I have posted enough in this thread to make whatever points I needed to make, so stepping off now. Adios.

 

[JanSobieskiIII]

It’s popular for straight people to fall on their swords for homosexuals in modern society.

 

[MP_Kid]

And that is their opinion. They might think that because that is what they were taught. Baptists I know spread a lot of lies about the Catholic Church. I know from questions I got from Baptists in College. I had to explain to them what the Catholic Church actually teaches.

 

[guanophore]

This is why my brother left the church. His daughter is gay. He believes that my parents, very traditional, simple peole would not accept it. My niece is terrified to tell them even though she come out to everyone else.

It’s caused tension in my family. My parents would be baffled, shocked and could potentially react unfavorably at first.

I think that some people want to come out for their own needs, rather than thinking of the needs of others. It is not a good idea to do things that will cause stumbling blocks for others.

1 Corinthians 8:9 “Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block …”

Why push one’s views, especially about sexuality, on those for whom it is a stumbling block?

As persons called to carry the cross, is it not more loving to carry one’s cross in such a way that does not force others to carry it also?

No I was talking about you.

There is no need to question or be concerned about @Tis_Bearself .

You misread what I said.

I am glad to read this.

A cult is still a cult no matter what.

Are you suggesting that Protestants belong to a “cult”?

I have been to other churches and from my experiences a lot of them offer nothing.

This may be, but it is not the Teaching of the Catholic Church.

I do have respect for most non-catholic churches, but I will not pussyfoot around and be silent when i see churches telling lies.

No one is asking you to do this. What is required is that you accept the Catholic teaching about our Protestant brothers and sisters.

Baptists I know spread a lot of lies about the Catholic Church.

Pray for them, and forgive them, for they know not what they do. There is not need to bring your resentment to CAF.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

Umm… okay…

 

[DarkLight]

I think that some people want to come out for their own needs, rather than thinking of the needs of others. It is not a good idea to do things that will cause stumbling blocks for others.

I think people don’t quite get this from the perspective of a gay person who believes they are doing nothing wrong. Imagine telling a straight Catholic man that he couldn’t talk about his girlfriends or later his wife with his family, and that he should keep the fact that he wanted to marry a woman under wraps. Even if he does get married, he should keep it quiet because people don’t want his lifestyle choices rubbed in their faces.

Most gay people also believe that the cross of those who oppose gay marriage is not a real cross at all. They would say that if they chose to accept gay marriage it would not be a cross, and that is what they should do. They would even say it is better for them to confront that there are gay people out there and even in their own family than to stay divorced from the issue.

I’m not saying I agree with any of this, but I understand it.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

Maybe the same reason that causes people to say that Bach is better than Mozart.

 

[DarkLight]

I think pride can be, but I don’t think it always is. I think people can be genuinely deceived.

I think there is a difference between people who say “well, such-and-such behavior is wrong, but it’s ok for me/it’s not what I’m doing”, and those who say “such-and-such behavior is not wrong for anyone.”

You really can’t expect someone who doesn’t believe in anything close to a catholic understanding of sexual morality to accept that they shouldn’t engage in homosexual behavior because it’s against how God designed us.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

A couple years ago I read an article written by a gay man who had a reversion to the Catholicism of His youth and decided to live chastely.
His Christian friends supported his decision.
His gay friends were mixed–some gave him crap about his decision, but some of them supported him.
His biggest pushback came from his straight, non-religious friends–they were really mad and told him he was a fool and letting the Church think for him.

 

[DarkLight]

I’m not saying that they’ve never heard it.

Put it this way: I come up to you and tell you that you shouldn’t drink coffee, because according to the Mormon church it’s wrong. What would you care? If anything, it would probably just convince you that the Mormons are being silly. Now if I come up and say you’re making excuses because you’ve been told that drinking coffee is wrong, and you’re just giving in to pride, I think you’d laugh

I think many are in that state regarding the Catholic church. They may know what she teaches, but they do not see any reason why they should believe in her. She’s just one voice among many shouting at them, they see no reason to care.

 

[guanophore]

it is better for them to confront that there are gay people out there and even in their own family than to stay divorced from the issue.

I think this is true in any case. It is better to deal with what is, than to pretend it is not there. However, it is also not loving to force others, who are not ready, willing or able, to face “facts” that they would rather not.

 

[DarkLight]

However, it is also not loving to force others, who are not ready, willing or able, to face “facts” that they would rather not.

I’m not sure this holds up if you step away from homosexuality.

I know people who don’t want to face the fact that I’m Catholic. Should I have kept it quiet from my parents?

 

[ComplineSanFran]

Do you see straight people leaving the church because we say that premarital sex is wrong or using condoms is wrong? No. You do not.

Actually, those are the primary reasons people leave the Catholic Church. According to Pew Research Center, the top reasons that the majority of baptized Catholics leave are:

1. Teachings on abortion and homosexuality
2. Teachings on birth control
3. The role of women
4. Teachings on divorce and remarriage

I would add that the sexual scandals are right in there too. Personally, I would say that rings true in my experience. Just guessing, I know maybe a hundred people who have intentionally left the RCC out of anger or disappointment. Most express anger over most of the five.

Leaving Catholicism | Pew Research Center

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

I remember when the teachings on premarital sex were right up there, too.

 

[Lara]

This perspective wouldn’t hold water for biological reasons. Any person, male or female, or transgender, knows that it takes a mother and a father to create a baby. And knowing that babies keep the world going, they know that it is good for a man to tell people he is married and has a wife.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I remember when the teachings on premarital sex were right up there, too.

True. I would probably categorize reasons people leave the Church as sexual issues - and that would include birth control, premarital sex, divorce, homosexuality, etc. And when sexuality goes bad and the outcomes that produces, meaning as priests act out when they molest and rape minors.

There is also the issue around gender, which might also include LGBTQ issues, and clearly the role of women. Lots of feminists have left, although not all. Look at Rosemary Reuther, Phyllis Zagano, and Mary Daly.

 

[Lara]

The line “we are all sinners” doesn’t really address the problem of people acting as though they believe in the Church when they hold views that are diametrically opposed to the Church.

I don’t know what God wants but I surmise honesty and integrity are more important to Him than “feeling” like you’re Catholic. I really wish all the dissenters would be honest and just join the United Church.

It saddens me greatly to know that there are people on this forum claiming to be Catholic by the smallest of threads, when they are clearly holding incorrect views. I call them non-Catholic Catholics now because I recognize the value of their Baptism. But my goodness. Have the decency to not try to change the Church from within with your heresies.

 

[guanophore]

I know people who don’t want to face the fact that I’m Catholic. Should I have kept it quiet from my parents?

This is an individual decision that must be discerned. Some family members just to not need to carry this cross. There are certain grandparents, for example, that should not be put in a position to suffer this. It is hard enough to carry such a cross, without pressuring others to carry it.

Some family members and friends know, but don’t want to acknowledge that they know. This kind of situation makes it hard on the person that suffers SSA and wants to be able to be open about it, and get support.

Actually, those are the primary reasons people leave the Catholic Church.

I find it curious that they are all below the waist!

 

[DarkLight]

Lots of people don’t think them having babies is all that important - they figure there’s enough babies being born right now and they don’t need to bring any more in.

Even from a Catholic perspective I’m not sure that holds water. After all, as a committed single person I’m not going to produce any more babies than someone who’s in a homosexual relationship, and I don’t think any of us think I should hide the fact that I plan on staying single.