Posted on 11/16/2010 9:44:10 AM PST by Pyro7480
Regarding the problem of homosexuality that is emerging today, the Christian conception tells us that one must always distinguish the respect due to persons, which involves rejecting any marginalization of them in society and politics (except for the unalterable nature of marriage and the family), from the rejection of any exalted "ideology of homosexuality," which is obligatory.
The word of God, as we know it in a page of the letter to the Romans by the apostle Paul, offers us on the contrary a theological interpretation of the rampant cultural aberration in this matter: such an aberration – the sacred text affirms – is at the same time the proof and the result of the exclusion of God from the collective attention and from social life, and of the refusal to give him the glory that he is due (cf. Romans 1:21).
The exclusion of the Creator determines a universal derailing of reason: "They became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:21-22). The result of this intellectual blindness was a fall, in both theory and practice, into the most complete dissoluteness: "Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies" (Romans 1:24).
And to prevent any misunderstanding and any accommodating interpretation, the apostle proceeds with a startling analysis, formulated in perfectly explicit terms:
"Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper" (Romans 1:26-28).
Finally, Paul takes pains to observe that the greatest abjection takes place when "the authors of these things . . . not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" (cf. Romans 1:32).
It is a page of the inspired book, which no earthly authority can force us to censor. Nor are we permitted, if we want to be faithful to the word of God, the pusillanimity of passing over it in silence out of concern not to appear "politically incorrect."
We must on the contrary point out the singular interest for our days of this teaching of Revelation: what St. Paul revealed as taking place in the Greco-Roman world is shown to correspond prophetically to what has taken place in Western culture in these last centuries. The exclusion of the Creator – to the point of proclaiming grotesquely, a few decades ago, the "death of God" – has had the result (almost like an intrinsic punishment) of the spread of an aberrant view of sexuality, unknown (in its arrogance) to previous eras.
The ideology of homosexuality – as often happens to ideologies when they become aggressive and end up being politically triumphant – becomes a threat to our legitimate autonomy of thought: those who do not share it risk condemnation to a kind of cultural and social marginalization.
The attacks on freedom of thought start with language. Those who do not resign themselves to accept "homophilia" (the theoretical appreciation of homosexual relations) are charged with "homophobia" (etymologically, the "fear of homosexuality"). This must be very clear: those who are made strong by the inspired word and live in the "fear of God" are not afraid of anything, except perhaps the stupidity toward which, Bonhoeffer said, we are defenseless. We are now even charged sometimes with the incredibly arbitrary accusation of "racism": a word that, among other things, has nothing to do with this issue, and in any case is completely extraneous to our doctrine and our history.
The essential problem that presents itself is this: is it still permitted in our days to be faithful and consistent disciples of the teaching of Christ (which for millennia has inspired and enriched the whole of Western civilization), or must we prepare ourselves for a new form of persecution, promoted by homosexual activists, by their ideological accomplices, and even by those whose task it should be to defend the intellectual freedom of all, including Christians?
There is one question that we ask in particular of the theologians, biblicists, and pastoralists. Why on earth, in this climate of almost obsessive exaltation of Sacred Scripture, is the Pauline passage of Romans 1:21-32 never cited by anyone? Why on earth is there not a little more concern to make it known to believers and nonbelievers, in spite of its evident timeliness?
Catholic ping!
Nothing to say but repent of your sins, homosexuality is a flesh passion not a genetic calling...
Excellent from beginning to end.
“the Christian conception tells us that one must always distinguish the respect due to persons, which involves rejecting any marginalization of them in society and politics”
The Cardinal is making this up. We have an obligation to “marginalize” persons who engage in various behaviors. This double-minded approach to unrepentant sodomites is cowardice and will fail.
The Church needs to show more courage and be less afraid of “offending”.
This is completely false, and I stopped reading right there. Does this give them open license to "non-discrimination" such as in employment (including child care), adoption "rights" and other marriage-like unions? The true Christian says "no." And we consider them unbelievers, as is scripturally mandated.
Thanks to the LEFT in this country, yesterday’s deviants are today’s alternative lifestyle.
I don't think the cardinal would agree with that, given his "unalterable nature of marriage and the family" phrase.
Then read the first paragraph again. So softpeddling on the issue.
It isn’t when you read THE REST of it.
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, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." 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.
I agree with much of what the Cardinal has to say, but I don’t think that is what the quote says (your due process point). Moreover, homosexual sodomy has everywhere in Christendom for over a millenium been a crime, and with good reason....until relatively recently, and mainly because of the courts.
The church has allowed sodomites to infiltrate and destroy. They need to be identified and thrown out of every position of authority in the church and in our public and private institutions. No compromise; no exceptions.
I think that the catechism is excellent teaching, but I don’t think I’m missing the context. My comment was directed at an initial comment made by the Cardinal before he launched into some worthwhile commentary. Frankly, the “don’t marginalize” language is included in many discussions of this subject almost reflexively, and it reflects a fear of man ingrained in us by the culture.
The Church has paid and is paying a very heavy price for not having dealt with unrepentent sodomites biblically long ago.
The church has allowed sodomites to infiltrate and destroy. They need to be identified and thrown out of every position of authority in the church and in our public and private institutions. No compromise; no exceptions.
An excellent analysis.
This has to be one of the biggest straw men that the homo-activists promote. As if they HAVE been denied due process.
And now the straw man is being erected by a "Christian?" Incredible.
homosexuality is a flesh passion not a genetic calling...”
True...but it is much, much worse than that. It is much more deranged and sick than the flesh that normal men feel for with beautiful (and sometimes less than beautiful) women, for example. Perfectly understandable, and there is nothing perverted or distorted about that. It is flesh, and the flesh has to be beaten back.
But homosexuality is completely twisted.
At the minimum, it is a very, very serious mental illness. But of course the most accurate portrayal is in Romans 1. A mind that has gone down that road is one that has been turned over as depraved.
Yes, we should have compassion on homosexuals. They are usually abused, and very sad figures.
But...in my experience, they are truly depraved and sick. I a homosexual would very easily kill you if just pushed a little in the right direction. They are dangerous, sick, twisted characters who should not be trusted for anything.
Christ can bring them salvation and restoration, of course, as you have noted. But the repentance from homosexuality is not something that can be done glibly, because it is so deep rooted and so deranged.
sentence above should read (reminder to self, proofreading is a virtue!):
I BELIEVE a homosexual would very easily kill you if just pushed a little in the right direction. They are dangerous, sick, twisted characters who should not be trusted for anything.
That explains my disagreement.
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