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To: SnakeDoctor
Whether a homosexual is Hellbound is not for me to say. Their behavior is clearly wrong, contrary to scripture and the will of God, and I have no problem declaring as much. But, their admissibility to Heaven is not for me to judge.

I agree with much of your post but this is where I believe you can do better. St. Paul was very clear that this sin, among other related sexual sins, will lead the practitioner to Hell. This is a sad fact. We are all called, as an act of Christian love, to proclaim this truth to those whose souls may be in jeopardy. In fact, it would be a most dire form of cruelty not to speak this truth to those who are at risk.

“Judge not, lest ye be judged” is a widely over-quoted verse (particularly by immoral hacks that cannot tolerate condemnation) — but I have always believed that it was intended to refer to judging the Salvation of another.

As for the often misquoted and even more often misapplied "Judge not, lest ye be judged...", we should first remember that it isn't saying that those moral relativists who refuse to judge anything will themselves be free of all judgment. Rather, it tells us that we should be prepared to be condemned the standards by which we condemn other people. The verse doesn't tell us not to judge or condemn, merely to do so with prudence, justice, and love.

Judge actions, not Salvation. Active homosexuality is wrong ... whether homosexuals are denied admittance to Heaven based on that wrongdoing is between them and the Almighty.

Finally, the cardinal in the article was not condemning any individual to Hell. The Catholic Church has never claimed with any authority that any individual is in Hell. The Cardinal was simply making a factual warning about the tragic consequences of bad behavior. To do any less would be a dereliction of his duties as a priest and shepherd.

37 posted on 12/03/2009 6:22:20 PM PST by Ronaldus Magnus
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To: Ronaldus Magnus; SnakeDoctor
this sin, among other related sexual sins, will lead the practitioner to Hell.-RM

I think SD is right in that we cannot judge who God will and will not forgive, but Paul is clear.

I wonder though if his message is such that this kind of narcissism will lead you away from God because you choose the sin over godliness?

This makes more sense to me as so many sins have as their companion ingratitude.

41 posted on 12/03/2009 7:10:34 PM PST by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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