Today I finally got round to giving a sermon on the Catholic teaching on homosexuality. Not something that I would particularly choose to do except for the widespread promotion of homosexuality among young people as simply an alternative lifestyle.
If we never speak about the Church's teaching in this area, youngsters simply believe whatever is the last thing they heard on the telly.
I was just going to do a whole series on moral issues but I think I will intersperse it with other topics - otherwise it becomes just a bit too depressing. Perhaps I'll talk about Our Lady or the Sacred Heart next week.
9 comments:
And yet another excellent sermon. Very inspiring (regarding our need to defend the right to speak out on Church teaching) and very sensitively done...
...though there might be the odd question from some of your younger parishioners on their way home: "daddy, whats a homosexshool?"
Actually that was a serious concern on my part. I took the decision to preach on it because even in the infant school, children call each other "gay" and watch soap operas where the homosexual lifestyle is promoted.
Very good sermon Father. These things need to be said. If only there were more courageous priests and bishops that would have the guts to stand up and 'call a spade a spade'.
The homosexual lobby is really quite small but they have an oversized mouthpiece - the media!
So unfortunately all you hear about is this 'alternative and valid' lifestyle thing, which it patently is NOT!
It is a destructive, hollow, empty sham of a lifetsyle choice which leads many young men into deep depression, drug addiction and suicide. There is no such thing as a happy homomarriage! Just look at the state of George Michaels life - hopelessly addicted to homosexual sex in Clapham Commons bushes and recreational drugs. Only able to keep his 'husband' by throwing £zillions at him. So so sad. What kind of marriage is this???
Church teaching is absolutely on the nail on this subject. Homosexuality is dysfunctional and disordered and the homosexual act is totally depraved completely devoid of anything 'life' giving.
But Catholic Church teaching is there to offer help. Jesus came to save the world because we are sinful and the clear message of Church teaching is to 'hate the sin but love the sinner', as you clearly stated in your sermon Father.
Catholics cannot stand by and let this homosexual agenda gain momentum because our very existence is being challenged. The devil uses everything he can to destroy our Catholic Faith, the Sacrament of Marriage and Family Life which is the bed-rock of a healthy society.
We are also entrusted with the Truth so that we can offer fraternal correction - however unpopular that may be - to our homosexual brothers and sisters.
Don't ever let it happen that someone, a youngster perhaps, might meet you in the street in years to come, look you in the eye and ask with broken voice and tears in their eyes 'why didn't you tell me about these things'.
Catholics need to be courageous.
Very good sermon, Father. You are right that it needs to be heard. Thank you for saying what needed to be said.
I was glad to see that you referred to the 'respect compassion and sensitivity' that is part of the official Church teaching on this subject.
Sadly those qualities are almost invariably absent in pronouncements of Church leaders. What follows on from that in the Catechism of the Catholic Church is that 'Every sign of unjust discrimination in their (ie gay people's) regard should be avoided.
Again I have never come across a Chruch leader identifying anything that is done to gay people (including murder) as being 'unjust discrimination'. Maybe you have better information.
The danger of a sermon such as that which you publish is that it is merely accepted as confirmation of the hatred and prejudice of people like "george"
I have seen plenty written by "Church leaders" on respect, compassion and sensitivity. What is often lacking is any clear teaching that homosexual acts are themselves sinful. This teaching itself is regarded by many as "homophobic".
Plenty of "Church leaders" will condemn any discrimination against homosexuals. But will the homosexual lobby admit that much of the violence against homosexuals (including murder) is committed by other homosexuals?
Alnwickian - what would be the point of the Church teaching respect, compassion, sensitivity and yes even forgiveness were it not that the 'sinner' (which homosexuals clearly are in the 'eyes' of the Magisterium) should be challenged to change his/her damaged lifestyle to be pleasing to God - which again homosexuality clearly is not.
It does not take rocket science to work this one out. You do not even have to be religious (or indeed a Catholic) to see that homosexual activities are against Natural Law, devoid of anything remotely life-giving and damaging to those involved - STD's, AIDS, HIV,drug abuse, physical abuse etc...
Can anyone honestly equate homosexual activity to heterosexual activity. If you are honest - the answer has to be no. Sadly - few homosexuals choose an honest appraisal of their lifestyle because they remain firmly addicted to this 'gay scene'.
In my earlier comment post I provided a truthful and reasonable argument. There was not a hint of 'hatred and prejudice' in my commentary as you put it.
These are typical words together with 'homophobic, intolerant, discriminatory, non-inclusive etc', that the homosexual lobby throw up time and again to 'brow beat' any reasonable opposition to their viewpoint when they find themselves at a loss to justify their dysfunctional lifestyle choice.
So I would say to Alnwickian - if you are searching through Catholic Bloggs do not be surprised to find people with viewpoints different to yours. Do not jump to stupid conclusions that every person who disagrees with your lifestyle is somehow full of hatred, prejudice etc... As Fr Tim said - 'Hate the sin but love the sinner'. This is the teaching of the Catholic Church and pretending sin does not exist or hiding from the Truth will not get any of us to Heaven.
If you are homosexual ask yourself the simple question; 'Is my lifestyle choice pleasing to God?'
The honest answer has to be NO.
The challenge then has to be to change. Jesus will meet and help you at any point on your 'road' through life, if you ask Him.
Final words which I borrow from St Thomas More:
'Pray for me, as I will for thee, so that merrily we may meet in Heaven'.
many of our lifestyles are not pleasing either,
as Matthew Shepard taught us in the US, (before being brutally murdered for being gay,)
we must accept everyone as another Christ.
i think that a homosexual life choice is wrong.
however, many people who practice such a life demonstrate virtues i will never acquire. i have many hidden sins that they are free from.
therefore, my only example to my gay brothers, and sisters can be that of deepening my relationship with Jesus, and praying that they do the same in the manner proper to them.
a wonderful, mystical communion of spirit enables us to carry each other on this journey to the Father.
it is never 'them' and 'us,'
it is always 'all with Jesus!'
maranatha!
peter
Peter - I hope you were able to read the sermon itself. I agree with you that we should pray, and preach by example. But we are also enjoined to practice the spiritual works of mercy with compassion and sensitivity as I explained in the sermon.
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