[tuesday afternoon]

Can practicing homosexuals take the sacraments? (Excuse the ignorance of this question. I assumed the answer is no and wondered how the mother explains that to the daughter).

[OpusatFR]

You are right. A practicing homosexual, one having active sexual relations cannot receive The Eucharist.

Now, understand that adulterers, those in mortal sin, and others do on occasion receive it, and that is a grave sin. A person with homosexual inclination who lives a chaste life is, of course, able to receive since they live in accordance with Scripture.

How would the Church know she is sexually active with her live-in lover? She is quite vocal about her activities as posted in her website. She seems quite the activist.

The bottom line is this: receiving Communion is a serious matter. Catholics know that this Consecrated Host is the Presence, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The prayer after Communion is, ".......I pray that this holy Communion be not a condemnation to punishment for me, but a saving plea to forgiveness....."

The relationship of Christ to Sinner is in this prayer..repentence and a call for forgiveness.

It ends, "....I pray too that You will deign to bring me a sinner to that ineffable banquet, where You with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, are to Your Saints true light, fulfillment of desires, eternal joy, unalloyed gladness and perfect bliss. Through the same Christ our Lord..."

It would take someone so consumed with pride and selfwill to be in a state of mortal sin and not shudder at the offense to heaven.

Gosh, I can get long winded ( ;