Posted on 11/28/2005 5:39:50 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
BOSTON, November 28, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley wrote a pastoral letter last week calling on Catholics to show true love to persons with homosexual tendencies. This is done he said by telling them that homosexual acts are sinful, he said. Otherwise, the bishop continued, we are dangerously "deceiving people."
After clarifying that the Catholic Church does not tolerate unjust discrimination towards persons with homosexual tendencies, the leader of the Catholic Church in Boston reminded Catholics that although Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery, he did however - after saving her life - tell her "Go and sin no more."
Archbishop O'Malley thus tells some Catholics who are misled into false kindness towards those with homosexual tendencies, "If we tell people that sex outside of marriage is not a sin, we are deceiving people." The pastor of souls, who's first priority is the spiritual wellbeing of his flock, warns that that spiritual wellbeing may be threatened by such false kindness. "If they believe this untruth, a life of virtue becomes all but impossible," he warned.
Archbishop O'Malley acknowledged that it is difficult for all Christians, priests and bishops included, to preach the truth in charity on the matter of homosexuality and other aberrant sexual practices such as adultery, and pre-marital sex. "It is never easy to deliver a message that calls people to make sacrifices or to do difficult things. Sometimes people want to punish the messenger. For this reason we priests at times find it difficult to articulate the Church's teaching on sexual morality," he said.
In presenting the message of truth, the Archbishop counsels, "We must never deliver the message in a self-righteous way, but rather with compassion and humility."
Despite the hardships however, Archbishop O'Malley says Catholics must nevertheless present the truth. "It is important to express the moral teachings of the Church with clarity and fidelity. The Church must be Church," he said. "We must teach the truths of the Gospel in season and out of season. These recent times seem to us like it is "out of season", but for that very reason it is even more urgent to teach the hard words of the Gospel today."
Concluding his letter, the Archbishop answered a common objection made by those with homosexual tendencies . "Sometimes we are told: 'If you do not accept my behavior, you do not love me.' In reality we must communicate the exact opposite: 'Because we love you, we cannot accept your behavior," he said.
The tide is aturnin'....
I don't preach but am wondering why it would be "difficult" to preach the truth.
Is there anything else worth preaching?
Yowzah!
(The source needs an editor though. "WHOSE!")
"This is done he said by telling them that homosexual acts are sinful, he said."
- That was weak. There are a thousand real health reasons why homosexuality is wrong.
Ack! Quit tip-toeing around the subject. The message is simple: Quit yer pole smokin' and corn holin'!
he let some of the 'yutes' type it up for him
Weak? He's addressing spiritual implications. Calling something sin I don't see as "weak". It's a lot stronger than most dare say.
The message is simple: Quit yer pole smokin' and corn holin'!
now, now, it ain't just the females ya know ;-)
:-).
If you're reading this, "journalist" John-Henry Westen, FReepmail me about commas, apostrophes, and the other fine things in life.
Tough Love
How about, "because your life style disgusts us in such a way that we would rather you not use our restroom."?
-That was weak. There are a thousand real health reasons why homosexuality is wrong.
The Priest is teaching and preaching morality not health awareness.
No, it was not a weak statement. It is the truth. In addition to it being a sin, it is also a very unhealthful practice. It can and does kill. The bishop was speaking in theological and spiritual terms, not physical health. No one should mistake his meaning.
"Weak? He's addressing spiritual implications. Calling something sin I don't see as "weak". It's a lot stronger than most dare say."
- If you tell someone it is a sin the next logical question is "why?". What's so wrong with expecting the church to explain WHY things are a sin rather then expecting people to just take their word for it? Just labeling something a sin doesn't enlighten anyone. I still think it is a weak argument and prone to failure, especially to people who either don't know or don't care. Sometimes in order to spread the word of Christ you have to approach people from their own level. All the sin and religious elements can come later.
The main advantage homosexuals have in public discourse about their lifestyle is that normal people don't want to lay out exactly what is wrong with that mentality and sexual practice. Yes, it is hard to address it in a sermon in a meaningful way. We should be addressing the public health consequences of the sex and lifestyle. Knowing the consequences, it would be understood why it would be hateful for anyone to promote it or accept it. Priests and ministers have to be trained on how to address it without getting into the rated X gutter.
I am Baptist and I have heard Baptist Ministers address the subject by simply calling it what they believe it is - a sin. Just like any other sin. They do it without getting into any seedy aspects of homosexuality, they are preaching to adults and adults know what homosexuality consists of.
Teaching children would be a little more difficult and would require a lot of parental input in my opinion. On second thought a church class to give helpful ideas to parents might be best and then the parents could teach their own children only when they deem the child to be ready and only in terms the parents are comfortable using with their child.
Good for him. At least he's got the balls to says so.
No kidding. As an ex-Sunday School teacher, I used to get REAL nervous when Sodom and Gomorrah would come up in the schedule.
And if he was speaking as a medical doctor those would be his talking points.
Glad to read this!
However, I have to highlight a pet peeve of mine.... how can the Archibishop say the Catholic Church is not practicing discrimination? I know that in most of my life the word 'discrimination' has turned into a a term meaning something like unjust prejudice. But 'discrimination' in and of itself really is a GOOD thing. And the Catholic Church can and MUST discriminate against bringing homosexuals into the clergy.
Perhaps someone more into semantics can correct me or clarify this further.
Best regards,
-- Joe
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