Catholics only-Difficulty aligning with Church teachings on homosexuality

[krstlros]

Understanding does not always bring agreement. Nor does agreement bring understanding. Nor does knowing what the Church teaching bring understanding and/or agreement.

Confused? You're not alone.

Not only in this area, but in other issues is there controversy which involves knowing yet understanding and agreement doesn't always follow and yet are still faithful Catholics.

Cathfolicism not only involves agreement, but also understanding why something is the way it is and knowing why it is the way it is.

 

[ZooMom]

Well, agreement implies a certain level of understanding. Assent doesn't carry the same connotation but instead presents a willingness to follow in spite of disagreement. IOW...when I tell my children that they can't do something that they REALLY want to do, but that I know is not a good thing or not a safe thing...they might not understand my reasons, they might not agree with my reasons even when I explain them, but they must assent to my conclusion and authority.

Understanding and agreement aren't always the same thing. And agreement and assent aren't always the same. We are required to assent to the Church's authority, and we should humbly pray for understanding and agreement. But the assent has to come, regardless.


Peace be with you!

Sandy

 

[JJM]

Well, agreement implies a certain level of understanding. Assent doesn't carry the same connotation but instead presents a willingness to follow in spite of disagreement. IOW...when I tell my children that they can't do something that they REALLY want to do, but that I know is not a good thing or not a safe thing...they might not understand my reasons, they might not agree with my reasons even when I explain them, but they must assent to my conclusion and authority.

Understanding and agreement aren't always the same thing. And agreement and assent aren't always the same. We are required to assent to the Church's authority, and we should humbly pray for understanding and agreement. But the assent has to come, regardless.


Peace be with you!

Sandy

I disagree you must only assent to the Church's authority on matters of tradition, but on matters of Tradition you must also agree. For example the Pope has barred gays from the priesthood. You must assent to this act but you don't have to agree with it. But when it comes to whether or not Homosexuality is a disorder you must not only assent but agree as well. Because one is a matter of discipline and the other a matter of faith. One must not understand to believe something. And if you believe you agree.

 

[JJM]

I'm having a hard time aligning with what the Catholic Church believes on homosexuality. Let me quote the relevant passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:



I want to be true to the deposit of the faith and believe what the Church believes, but I don't understand homosexuality as intrinsically and objectively disordered. I just can't bring myself to really care what sexual orientation one has.

I desperately yearn to be a proud ally, to support gay marriage, to have fun in the gay nightlife. My heart and soul believes, deeply, that there isn't a problem with homosexuality. The problem is, this is in clear contrast with Church teaching.

Is there any way to reconcile things, short of leaving the Catholic Church? I haven't officially joined yet, but I can't imagine anything but joining.

Those so inclined, please keep this all in your prayers. Thanks!

I'll pray for you. I'd like to try to explain it though. Sex is the physical manifestation of the Relationship created at marriage. It is meant to be a complete giving of ones self. In both sex and marriage Man gives his masculinity to Woman and Woman here femininity to Man. And the two become more human than they were before. But in a homosexual relationship a man is attempting to give his masculinity to a man who already have masculinity or a woman is trying to give her femininity to a woman who also already has it. It is fruitless and pointless. And thus is contrary to the good sex is meant to be and this is why it is a disorder. It's like trying to make Kool-Aid. You have to mix the water and the Kool-Aid mix but if you just put water in more water you have nothing but water. In the same way a man and a man can't become anything better.

 

[scraparcs]

Gay people, Straight people and people that are asexual are all human beings.
God's children, your brother and sisters - that is it!


BE YOURSELF - GOD MADE YOU AND HE LOVES YOU.

Sorry, quote chopping.

That's pretty much what I feel, yes. Of course, the problem is aligning it with Church teaching...I suspect this line of thinking wouldn't be wholly welcome there.

 

[ZooMom]

I'm not going to get into a debate over the nuances of agree/assent/understand. The point is that we must acknowledge, and submit to, the authority of the Church on these matters.


Lel...the Church does not teach that anyone is outside of God's Love or incapable of receiving His Grace. But there is a difference in embracing and loving someone as a brother in spite of their sins (as we are none of us without them), and an "I'm ok, you're ok" mentality that validates and celebrates those sins. Honey, the Church teaches that ALL are loved by God. You don't stop loving someone just because they do something wrong.

 

[scraparcs]

I understand why the Church teaches this, in order that sexual acts may be both unitive and procreative. This is honestly more of a question of action and attitudes, I suppose, than of beliefs. For I shall assent to the Church, but I do still have misgivings about how this whole pedophilia/homosexuals in seminaries thing has played out, and I still can't wrap my head around intrinsically disordered. Different from the Church's ultimate purpose for sexual activity, yes, but I suppose it's the wording that trips me up.

 

[scraparcs]

I'm not going to get into a debate over the nuances of agree/assent/understand. The point is that we must acknowledge, and submit to, the authority of the Church on these matters.


Lel...the Church does not teach that anyone is outside of God's Love or incapable of receiving His Grace. But there is a difference in embracing and loving someone as a brother in spite of their sins (as we are none of us without them), and an "I'm ok, you're ok" mentality that validates and celebrates those sins. Honey, the Church teaches that ALL are loved by God. You don't stop loving someone just because they do something wrong.

Oh, I know that. I mean, if we stopped loving others for doing wrong, we'd all hate everyone.

I just mean that I can't bring myself to even speak out against this. For deep down...I know what I will do in my life in the future, but I just don't want to dictate anything to others in this arena.

Do I need to speak out against homosexual acts, or can I just live my life in accordance with church teaching from this point forward and not concern myself with what others engage in sexually?

 

[ZooMom]

Oh, I know that. I mean, if we stopped loving others for doing wrong, we'd all hate everyone.

I just mean that I can't bring myself to even speak out against this. For deep down...I know what I will do in my life in the future, but I just don't want to dictate anything to others in this arena.

Do I need to speak out against homosexual acts, or can I just live my life in accordance with church teaching from this point forward and not concern myself with what others engage in sexually?

Do you need to become a radical protester? No, of course not. We should all be more concerned with our own sins than with our brother's...specks and planks and all that. Just don't debate it. If the question is ever unavoidable, present the truth with gentle kindness, and let it be. Our job is to plant the seeds...not harvest the crops. Especially on very emotional subjects like this.


Peace be with you!

Sandy

 

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