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Some with Same-Sex Attraction Choose Celibacy – A Reflection on an Article in the Washington Post
Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 12-14-14 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 12/15/2014 7:48:25 AM PST by Salvation

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**But the truth, in accord with Scripture and natural law, is that human sexuality is ordered to the good of procreation, and by extension, to the good of the husband and wife so that they may be strengthened for their role as parents through the bonds of sexual intimacy and the stable love and loyalty cultivated there. This benefits not only them, but even more so their children, who need a loving and stable family in which to be best raised. It is to this that human sexuality is properly ordered and why its legitimate expression is only within the bonds of marriage. All other types of sexual expression are, in one degree or another, disordered (i.e., not properly ordered to the proper ends of sexuality). Thus sex as recreation, fornication (pre-marital sex), adultery, pornography, masturbation, and homosexual acts are disordered.**

Bravo, Monsignor Pope!

1 posted on 12/15/2014 7:48:25 AM PST by Salvation
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To: All
Courage and Encourage Video

Well worth watching.

2 posted on 12/15/2014 7:50:09 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...

Monsignor Pope Ping!


3 posted on 12/15/2014 7:51:08 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
"Gay Christians choosing celibacy emerge from the shadows."

I have no thing but the utmost respect and admiration for one who has the strength of faith to choose and live this path. It is an example for us all with regard to our own sinful inclinations, whatever our pet sin happens to be. Christianity is not a religion for weaklings, yet in our weakness God shows his strength.

4 posted on 12/15/2014 7:52:50 AM PST by circlecity
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To: circlecity

**yet in our weakness God shows his strength. **

And the way to amend our own ways.


5 posted on 12/15/2014 7:54:40 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

I think we tell them the homosexual lifestyle is an abomination, a sin against God.

If they are celibate and not trying to rationalize their past behavior, they need to know that they are listening to lies from the devil, especially if they have a need to refer to themselves as gay or homosexual.

What is the Church doing for those that are sexually attracted to children, nothing I hope.

If they feel that gay marriage is acceptable in any way shape or form, or if they try and rationalize it as being no different from other sins, that is troubling.

The word abomination isn`t used very often in the Bible.

I think they need to be told that Homosexuals will not inherit eternal life.

I say tough love is the most loving, it`s a sin against God, and they need to have this made clear to them.

A good Pentecostal Church (meaning not a ALL Black one) has it right, The Salvation Army etc. Tough Love is the only way to go, pray over them, but becoming liberal to accomodate them is to turn our backs on God


6 posted on 12/15/2014 8:11:32 AM PST by Friendofgeorge (I AM OFFICER DARREN....CRUZ 2016 OR BUST)
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To: Friendofgeorge

One more thing...if they vote Democrat there is no hope for them, the same as any Democrat.

To vote Democrat in any way shape or form is to support gay marriage, abortion and the removal of God/Christ from the classroom/public square.

Repentance for anybody coming to Christ would have to include repenting from being a Democrat and or liberal.

Liberal Christianity or Christian Democrat...both terms are oxymoron’s.


7 posted on 12/15/2014 8:20:00 AM PST by Friendofgeorge (I AM OFFICER DARREN....CRUZ 2016 OR BUST)
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To: Friendofgeorge

Church recovery program for this addiction.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3237366/posts?page=2#2

**I think they need to be told that Homosexuals will not inherit eternal life.**

What happens if they repent and choose to lead a single celibate life?


8 posted on 12/15/2014 8:40:09 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

I commend Msgr. Pope for reminding his readers that all unmarried persons are called to complete sexual continence, not just those with same-sex attraction. Many seem to take the position that heterosexual sins, including sodomy, are “merely” bad, while homosexual activity is “really most sincerely” bad.

Simply from a sociological standpoint, without reference to religion or morality, we can observe that the turmoil afflicting families and the resultant individual and social harm is almost entirely attributable to unrestrained heterosexual activity. The current prominence of homosexual activism is a trailing indicator, what you get when you’ve abandoned all previous standards of normalcy.


9 posted on 12/15/2014 8:44:37 AM PST by Tax-chick (R.I.P., Dad, 11/25/14. Thanks for the lawyers, guns, and money.)
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To: Salvation

For sure would be great, they need to get over this lie that they are still homosexual once they repent. Personally I dont think the Catholic Church is equipped to help them unfortunately.

praise the Lord if they stop and invite Jesus into their life

They need the Baptism in The Holy Spirit, so perhaps Charismatic Catholics could help, but in a regular main line Catholic Church, dont see it. With God all things are possible... and BTW God Be merciful to me a sinner

Teen Challenge, even their program is not open to homosexuals. Not out of a lack of love, just because of the reality of the situation.

I believe Jesus can remake them if they completely submit to God, the outcome would not still be refering to oneself as homosexual.


10 posted on 12/15/2014 8:52:29 AM PST by Friendofgeorge (I AM OFFICER DARREN....CRUZ 2016 OR BUST)
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To: Salvation
This was exactly the logic used in the late '50s and '60s, when vocations were at a low ebb. That is, the hierarchy decided that celibate homosexuals ought not to be barred from the seminaries and ordination.

"After all," the reasoning went, "there have been homosexuals in The Church ... priests, bishops ... cardinals ... perhaps Popes. As long as they are celibate, or chaste (not the same thing), no foul. A sin is a sin, a matter for the confessional."

Foolish. Because when a candidate renounces heterosexual attraction, he or she is sacrificing a positive good, that is giving up the right to take a spouse and have a family. A Homosexual (same sex attraction) vowing to be celibate (or chaste) does not offer the Church anything but the promise to avoid an abomination to which a disordered nature leads.

IMNVHO, this naïve belief in, and at least semi-official acceptance of, the equality of heterosexuality and homosexuality is exactly what has led to the rash of scandalous boy buggering amongst the clergy of all denominations, but focused upon the Catholic Churches where vows of celibacy (and chastity) are taken. Celibate homosexuals should be barred from office in the church, but somehow welcomed as members of congregations, where perhaps they will be less likely to be put in the occasion of temptation and sin. It would at the very least prevent abuse of office!

Perhaps this sort of policy would be impossible to completely enforce. However, it ought to be stated for the good of any established church striving to be rid of this homosexual activity which has become a public scandal and the source of great harm.

11 posted on 12/15/2014 10:15:33 AM PST by Kenny Bunk (The fate of the Republic rests in the hands of the '15 -16 Congress. God help us.)
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To: Friendofgeorge
"For sure would be great, they need to get over this lie that they are still homosexual once they repent. Personally I don't think the Catholic Church is equipped to help them unfortunately."

I agree that labels such a "homosexual," "gay," etc. can signify some connection of "gay pride", i.e. the out-and-prouid mentality. That's a big red flag. "Gay" didn't exist before there was a "gay movement."

In the past, I would have said, "So if you're Christian, don't call yourself 'gay' anymore." But I'm reconsidering that now.

I now think there are some reasons why some people would keep the term "homosexual" or even "gay" or "lesbian" while nevertheless being celibate and Christian, and free from the sin. For one thing, the same-sex attraction may remain, and a person may want to let others know they don't want to be nudged into an inappropriate social or "dating" predicament.

Or it may be something that makes sense for a writer-speaker like Eve Tushnet, to explain in a shorthand manner where she's coming from.

I loved Eve Tushnet's new book, which helped me understand why this makes sense for some.

12 posted on 12/15/2014 10:39:33 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o (What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love tenderly, to walk humbly with your God)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I remember when gay was a nice word, having a gay old time etc, the movies I watch from the 40`s etc, a tough guy like Clark Gable or Jimmy Stewart could say...we had a gay old time.

I resent that they took such a nice word and brought shame to it.

Yes I want everybody to be saved.

If someone insists on calling themselves homosexual and they have left that lifestyle good for them I guess.

If they still say they support gay marriage for others I wont take them seriously though, and if they vote Democrat I certainly dont take anything they say seriously.


13 posted on 12/15/2014 12:30:51 PM PST by Friendofgeorge (I AM OFFICER DARREN....CRUZ 2016 OR BUST)
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To: Friendofgeorge

The people in the posted article don’t support gay marriage. Nothing posted about their political party affiliations.


14 posted on 12/15/2014 12:33:55 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("WeÂ’re all b@$+@&%$ but God loves us anyway." - Will Campbell)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I never read the article, I saw it was Wash board Post


15 posted on 12/15/2014 1:03:29 PM PST by Friendofgeorge (I AM OFFICER DARREN....CRUZ 2016 OR BUST)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Eve Tushnet.... my sense from a bit of reading is that she really does not believe that homosexuality is a sin....I dont get her quite getting there.

Normally you can just punch in such and such on homosexuality etc, but it`s like she is playing it down, or kind of talks around it.

Yes sin is sin I get it, but to explain it away like....heterosexuality outside of marriage is also a sin...true indeed but, still seems to be in denial.

Why dont I get a result on google with the honest question...does Eve Tushnet believe homosexuality is a sin or not

sounds like she is along the lines of Joel Osteen, who when pressed will only say....well it`s not God`s best

We know that sexual immorality seems to trump most sins, and homosexuality gets the ABOMINATION tag, so I see it as her playing it down


16 posted on 12/15/2014 2:19:27 PM PST by Friendofgeorge (I AM OFFICER DARREN....CRUZ 2016 OR BUST)
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To: Friendofgeorge

It’s a priest comments on the Wash compost.


17 posted on 12/15/2014 2:24:37 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Friendofgeorge
You may have been somewhat unaware of the fact that Tushnet's book (link) and most of her talks, start with the premise that homosexual conduct is a sin, and must be firmly and unequivocally rejected.

In other words, her particular task in writing is not "arguing against" acts of sexual perversity: that is taken as a given. She is writing to help people who arrive at that point and say, "OK, I'll go an sin no more. Now what do I do?"

She is a promoter of Spiritual Friendship --- she's definitely on the right track. And she's an excellent writer.

18 posted on 12/15/2014 2:42:15 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("WeÂ’re all b@$+@&%$ but God loves us anyway." - Will Campbell)
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To: circlecity

I doubt very much that it’s more difficult for homosexuals to be celibate than heterosexuals. Perhaps it’s easier, because they are not continually subject to the stimulation presented by a sex-obsessed popular media. I’m a bit tired of the mass media presenting the homosexual’s physical frustrations as the most hideous and unendurable torture, one that no one can be expected to survive.


19 posted on 12/15/2014 3:00:20 PM PST by ottbmare (the OTTB mare, now a proud Marine Mom)
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To: ottbmare

Interesting point. Would whatever temptation the general culture (as opposed to a specifically homosexual subculture) be the same for homosexual men and heterosexual women?

Personally, I doubt it. My husband is very into physically fitness and quite proud of his physique ... but his legs make me think of our greyhound when she was dying, which is NOT a sexually stimulating image.


20 posted on 12/15/2014 6:50:06 PM PST by Tax-chick (R.I.P., Dad, 11/25/14. Thanks for the lawyers, guns, and money.)
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