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I was in Hell: Huw Raphael on What It Was Like to Be Affirmed in Homosexuality
Touchstone ^ | Huw Raphael

Posted on 04/23/2016 6:37:34 AM PDT by NRx

...I stand by those words of Fr. Seraphim. This Hell is being driven by one’s hormones and knowing that to deny them is “unhealthy.” Hell is being driven by one’s desires and fantasies and knowing that to deny them is to deny the only joy there is, the joy that defines your whole being.

Hell is a fine San Francisco morning standing trapped in your bedroom while an orgy takes place in the hallway outside. Hell is a foggy San Francisco afternoon standing in a room full of men involved in various actions with each other—and somewhere a voice tells you it’s all wrong, but you don’t know what to do. Hell is a balmy San Francisco evening on a back porch listening to ten homosexual men in the middle of the most liberal Episcopal diocese in the country insist that all churches are homophobic and evil.

Hell is being told in a Sunday sermon that Jesus died in first-century Judea, that Jesus isn’t alive, that Jesus isn’t coming back, and that he would want you to “follow your bliss” to find the will of God in your life—all of this when you know now that your “bliss” makes you more depressed every time you indulge in it. Hell is knowing that the same biblical scholarship that allows for your own sexual antics also allows for clergy who deny the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection.

(Excerpt) Read more at touchstonemag.com ...


TOPICS: Moral Issues; Orthodox Christian; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: homosexualagenda; redemption
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To: NRx

That was a really sad read.
I can’t stand that our government encourages this type of behavior. These people should be getting the help that they need to break out of that vicious and self destructive cycle.


21 posted on 04/23/2016 10:53:32 AM PDT by Trillian
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To: NRx; don-o
Do you know exactly when this first appeared in Touchstone? I seem to remember reading this maybe 10 years ago or more, when I had a slight personal connection with Huw Raphael.

Not that it isn't still true. It will forever be true, and eloquent. Thanks for posting it.

22 posted on 04/23/2016 11:04:00 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (We're getting so educated, ignorance will be a novelty. I'll belong to the select few. - Will Rogers)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

There is no date on the article which came from the Touchstone archives. I remember reading it many years ago as well and was reminded of it by the thread about Michael Voris’ very frank and heroic confession. A few years ago I saw Huw when I was in San Francisco for a diocesan council meeting. Our parish priest was indisposed so they sent me as a substitute. As it happened the meeting fell on a major feast day and we all attended liturgy at the OCA cathedral where I recall seeing Huw with the choir. He has had a bumpy ride over the years. I heard that after converting to Orthodoxy he fell away from the faith for a period before returning again.

God does not promise that bearing our cross will be easy. Only that He will be there to help.


23 posted on 04/23/2016 11:23:23 AM PDT by NRx (It's sad when there is no one running for President that I can vote for with a clear conscience.)
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To: dp0622; Tax-chick
[re: being fat]

but you’re right. It’s the last thing you can insult with no repercussions. Well, that and white men, and sometimes white women.

An anecdote:

While standing in a grocery checkout line the other day, I heard the cashier comment on one of my purchases: a loaf of Wonder Bread. I forgot her exact words, but they were a bit critical.

"Yeah," I said, "a lot of people look down on this bread."

"Why, because it's white?" the cashier asked.

I paused before I replied. "It's because it's fluffy, like cotton. But," I continued, "it's good for so many things. It makes the best French toast and the best grilled cheese sandwiches."

"Yeah, it does," the bagger agreed.

Neither the cashier nor the bagger were "white."

24 posted on 04/23/2016 11:39:50 AM PDT by thecodont
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To: Slyfox

“The first time I went to SF I saw a man walking on Pier 39 with his arm around a woman’s waist and his other hand holding a man’s hand.”

The last time I was in SF (late Feb.), I saw a old man riding a bike down the Embarcadero with nothing on— except for a ring in a very private part.

Where I live, law enforcement would be called. There....meh....


25 posted on 04/23/2016 11:49:44 AM PDT by BelleAl (Proud to be a member of the party of NO! NO more deficit spending and government control!)
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To: dp0622
But there wasn’t a fat one out of the bunch. go figure

One of the biggest celebrities in my hometown of La Crosse, Wi was a local deejay and musical business manager/entrepreneur named Lindy Shannon who died some years back. He was a homosexual and a tubbo. A very nice guy though from what I heard from other people (didn't know him personally).

But I will say the few other male homosexuals I've been acquainted with were in shape.

26 posted on 04/23/2016 11:56:47 AM PDT by driftless2 (For long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion)
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To: thecodont

My mother always insists on Wonder Bread for French toast. She won’t accept off-brand white bread.


27 posted on 04/23/2016 12:01:42 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("The world is full of wonder, but you see it only if you look." ~NicknamedBob)
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To: Mark17
. I noticed there were weird looking people everywhere. I didn't like it much.

I've never been there, but from what I've read and seen about it, that seems to be the singular aspect of S.F above every other American city. Lot's of weird people doing whatever.

28 posted on 04/23/2016 12:04:34 PM PDT by driftless2 (For long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion)
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To: NRx
Courage and EnCourage
29 posted on 04/23/2016 12:17:24 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

He went through a lot of changes. Even walked this essay back at one point. He has acknowledged his dilettantism in his journey. Latest I have read is that he is a postulant at an Orthodox Benedictine monastery on Colorado.


30 posted on 04/23/2016 1:24:09 PM PDT by don-o (He will not share His glory. And He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the Name of the Lord forever!)
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To: Mark17
I was in San Francisco last week. Not much has changed. I noticed there were weird looking people everywhere. I didn't like it much.

My niece recently visited SF for the first time. She reported the city was physically beautiful but every where she went there was the stench of urine.

31 posted on 04/23/2016 1:32:03 PM PDT by Robwin
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To: driftless2

well, the way I see it, when I was even 250 I could get women that had very sexy figures. they saw something in me I guess. don’t know what lol.

I wasn’t monstrous, but even 220 would have been a big improvement.

but imagine only GUYS dating each other?? the competition must be fierce in the looks department because no one is dating for substance.

er, not that straight men don’t look for substance in a woman


32 posted on 04/23/2016 1:34:39 PM PDT by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
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To: thecodont

insane


33 posted on 04/23/2016 1:36:01 PM PDT by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
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To: Robwin
My niece recently visited SF for the first time. She reported the city was physically beautiful but every where she went there was the stench of urine.

And feces. Down by Fisherman's Wharf is an absolute toilet.

34 posted on 04/23/2016 2:56:49 PM PDT by hattend (Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)
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To: hattend

What you smelled was LIBERALS!


35 posted on 04/23/2016 2:59:58 PM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?.)
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To: hattend

My girlfriend and her family went there on vacay about a year ago and she said you cannot use the restroom in any store or restaurant because they would have to let the homeless who are everywhere use them. Insane.


36 posted on 04/23/2016 3:08:44 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: BelleAl

In that same trip to SF in 1979, I went a diner for breakfast. My friend and I got a booth and just after we ordered I noticed a strange person sitting at the counter. I had face view of him. He was wearing a flowered dress and old grandma earrings. He had badly applied makeup on. He had an Adam’s apple. His hair was short and gray. He ate his breakfast carefully and did not look at anyone. Watching him I was truly overcome with sadness. He was so messed up and confused and I wanted to put my arm around him.


37 posted on 04/23/2016 9:22:37 PM PDT by Slyfox (When someone tells it like it is, is it the truth?)
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To: HLPhat

What they’ve deceptively done is perverted forgiveness of sin into PERMISSION to sin.


Ouch, There is much to think about there.


38 posted on 04/24/2016 6:35:11 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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