October 24, 2005
Love of Neighbor and the Homosexual Person
In our modern society, we are continually urged to “accept” as normal the homosexual person. We are told to “stop judging” them. Any suggestion that active homosexuality is gravely immoral is quickly condemned and ridiculed. We are encouraged to get with the times….to embrace same-sex marriages, to approve health insurance benefits for homosexual partners, and to allow homosexual persons to adopt children. So what is a Catholic to do? What does Christ desire of us? How do we, as Catholics, love our homosexual neighbor?
First and foremost, we are called to imitate Christ. We know that God is love. Christ came to earth and died on the Cross out of love for us. He commanded us to do likewise in His explanation of how we are to love our neighbor:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – Mt 22:39Those of homosexual orientation deserve to be loved and accepted for who they are, namely fellow human beings created in the image and likeness of God. Yet, through and in Jesus Christ, love and truth are made one. As brothers and sisters of those of homosexual orientation we are obliged to love them as Christ loves. Jesus Christ, while accepting sinners, also challenged them and called them to repentance. It is important that we love every brother and sister this way. Some Christians believe that it is not their place to challenge another, they feel as though they are condemning them. Yet there is a difference between condemning someone and calling them to repentance. This is most perfectly demonstrated by Christ Himself in the encounter with the woman caught in adultery:
Jesus looked up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.” – Jn 8:10-11
Here Jesus specifically states that He does not condemn her, but at the same time calls here to abandon sin. Our society tells that active homosexuality is not a sin, so there is no need to call the active homosexual person to repentance. Sacred Scripture contradicts this claim:
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error. – Romans 1:24-27
As imitators of Christ we must “bear witness to the truth” (Jn 18:37). Love is truth. To say we love our neighbor demands that we do all we can to assist them in living lives of holiness; this includes challenging them to abandon sin. As St. James wrote:
My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:19-20
In discussing the need for love and acceptance of those with homosexual orientation it is vital that we also speak about the intrinsic disorder of homosexuality. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
Chastity and homosexuality
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
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141 Cf. Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10.
142 CDF, Persona humana 8.
The Catechism presents to us the ideal format for speaking about homosexual orientation – clear condemnation of the sin itself, genuine love and acceptance of those who have homosexual tendencies, and then the call to virtue. As John Paul II was once noted as saying:
Love the sinner, hate the sin.This is love, this is truth. In proclaiming the truth we remove the possibility of confusion and untruth. Sin affects us all. We must strive to live lives of holiness and, at the same time, assist our brothers and sisters in doing so.
In Christ,
Joe
Posted by Joe at October 24, 2005 09:22 AM | TrackBack
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What a brave article from a Christian perspective. You steered clear of the stereotype of Christians thowing stones at gays and instead laid out the Biblical view on homosexuality. I suspect that many readers will think you were fair and loyal to the Biblical texts, but they may be afraid to say anything critical about the subject. One day it will be acceptable to be openly gay and anyone who is against that on faith will be branded a bigot and maybe even persecuted. I don't think the tolerance will go both ways.
Posted by: AJ at October 26, 2005 02:40 AMRev. Mario Bergner, an Episcopal priest, founded Redeemed Life ministries. He works with those in sexual sin especailly homosexuality and lesbianism.
For more information about Rev. Mario and his ministry please visit: Redeemed Lives
Why can't the Roman Cathoic Church which has the best healing sacrament the Eucharist actually get off our butt and help people caught in this sin.
Redeemed Lives (RL) is a program of pastoral care and discipleship for the cure and maturation of the soul, written by Rev. Mario Bergner. It begins with an all-day seminar on The Shepherd's Voice, followed by twenty-six weekly meetings which include worship, teaching, and small group prayer & discussion.
The RL program may be used to help people overcome sexual problems (including homosexuality), identity confusions, deprivation, relational difficulties and hurts from living in a fallen world. RL includes insights from Biblical theology, Christian spiritual formation, depth psychology and classical Christian philosophy.
The weekly RL meetings consist of twenty minutes of worship, forty minutes of teaching, and ninety minutes of small group time. Consistent attendance and personal sharing in small group is mandatory for continuation in the RL program.
RL is currently offered in a number of locations in the US, Canada, and Europe. Individuals interested in participating in an RL group should contact the sponsoring church or ministry for an application. Once the application is received, there is a personal interview to ensure that RL would be the right fit for your needs. RL participants are required to purchase the RL Student Workbook and two additional books. There is also a fee for participation in RL that is set by each local RL group.
If you are interested in starting an RL program in your area, you may attend the Training for Redeemed Lives, Alive Again, and Returning Sons.
For more information about the program, please read the Introduction and Table of Contents from the Redeemed Lives Student Workbook. Applications for the Wheaton area program are made available online about two months before the program begins.
Posted by: Doug at November 5, 2005 07:57 PMDoug,
I modified your comment a little. All of the bio info on Rev. Mario, the mission statement, vision statement, etc. I removed. All of that info can be found on the organization's website, which I provided a link to.
In reference to your comment about the Catholic Church not doing anything like this, all I can say is that you are mistaken.
Courage, an apostolate of the Roman Catholic Church, ministers to those with same-sex attractions and their loved ones. We have been endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family and our beloved John Paul II said of this ministry, "COURAGE is doing the work of God!"
Courage was founded 25 years ago and is now a global organization. You can find out about local chapters, free info, programs, etc. on their website.
The founder, Fr. John Harvey, O.S.F.S., has written an outstanding book on the topic of homosexuality, The Truth About Homosexuality: The Cry of the Faithful, A Comprehensive View of the Issues Involved in Homosexuality. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to gain a better understanding about homosexuality.
From what I saw on Rev. Mario's website it appears that his organization is doing a good work based on sound Christian ethics and moral theology. However, I would be much more in favor of Catholics looking into what Courage has to offer, given that it is supported by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and sacramentally oriented.
In Christ,
Joe
So mysteriously no words can express. Immensely pray for all to love God, deeply retained with in (minds and hearts). Universal solutions to all problems, given to every need as answers to every prayer request. The salvation for all lives to live completely free of sufferings. Sow, flowering bliss, blessings, oneness, and love for all forms and states of life. From butterflies to spirits - ghost. Fulfilling every life living with infinitely most eternal beautiful experiences.
Posted by: Belove at November 27, 2005 11:30 PM
