Cappadocious said:Yes. And if they do not repent, they are not "shunned" from the community. They only do not participate in the Eucharist, etc.
Anyone can repent.So, could a married homosexual couple repent for having sex, and then be members just like heterosexual couples who might commit sins and repent?
Your answer is a bit surprising to me. I figured it'd be in the best interest of all parties, especially the children, to remain in a single home with a family. No sex between the same-sex parents, and perhaps move to two separate bedrooms, but keep the family intact. Their love could evolve from a sexual relationship to that of true brotherly love and affection while raising their children in the Faith.
If any priest would suggest put the children back up for adoption, which means to take the only parents they have ever known away from them, and destroy their home... that is just cruel, and not Christ-like or loving at all. Surely Jesus would not treat those children so unjustly.
The Church as a spiritual hospital and we cannot simply turn away people who come to seek Christ there.
it was suggested in this thread that this couple go seek out Episcopalians.
I think there are already a lot of gay people who get married, have children and are relatively normal families, and Orthodox.
I am not trying to dismiss your question, but perhaps you really might want to ask a priest about this. I do not usually respond so generally but this is something we will probably just be grasping at.
Sorry, AA, Orthodox teaching on sex, marriage and the family is not a function of the modern opinions of individual priests ( thank God!) but of the collective witness of the Church throughout history. So no, it is not nearly as chaotic or sticky as you imagine. There is no room for debate on the legitimacy of same-sex relations within the Orthodox Church. What people may politically advocate OUTSIDE the Church might be debated, but here we are talking about the inside, not the outside.This is a very sticky issue, to say the least.
To the satisfaction of some and dismay of many, this is a situation that many Orthodox parishes are faced with. I know of two married women, one of which have adopted several children, who are communing members in the Orthodox Church. Mind you, these women were born into the Orthodox faith. Someone coming to the Church in this type of relationship would be received differently (which doesn't make sense, but it's the way of the world.)
This also depends on the parish priest. There are priests who are staunchly opposed to homosexuality, even those who have unfounded prejudices. There are also Orthodox priests who advocate LGBT rights and such. Both of these priests and their bishops would handle this differently. They're only men, after all.
Sorry, AA, Orthodox teaching on sex, marriage and the family is not a function of the modern opinions of individual priests ( thank God!) but of the collective witness of the Church throughout history. So no, it is not nearly as chaotic or sticky as you imagine. There is no room for debate on the legitimacy of same-sex relations within the Orthodox Church. What people may politically advocate OUTSIDE the Church might be debated, but here we are talking about the inside, not the outside.
So let's fast forward a decade or two. There's a legally "married" homosexual couple, and they have two children together. A loving, relatively normal family. Let's say one partner, or both partners, are suddenly drawn to the Holy Orthodox Church. How would this be handled? I know it'd take a lot of personal pastoral care, but just for discussion, how would the Church handle this?
There would an actual family, with children, a home, etc. and they are legally married in the eyes of the government (but not the Church, of course). But yet they seek the fullness of the Faith, and are strongly convicted to join Orthodoxy.
What would happen? I know they wouldn't be turned away. Surely the Church wouldn't seek to break up the family. Would they still be able to be a family and the two homosexual parents refrain from sex over time, assuming they were both committed to converting? Etc.
Justin,
I had a long talk with my priest about this a few weeks ago. He said that everyone, regardless of their state of life, is welcome in the Church. I was specifically asking about transgendered people (in addition to gays/lesbians) and he said they should come and wear whatever they want. If they are sincere about becoming members of the Church, they have to understand that we are ROCOR and in his words "one of the most traditional forms of Christianity in the world." So, if they want to join ROCOR, that means adopting many traditional ways including traditional dress. Men dress like men, women dress like women and one's biological sex determines that, not how they feel.
In regard to gays and lesbians who have families, there are obligations that have to be fulfilled. If a child sees two women as her parents, she shouldnt be punished by losing one of her parents. But gential expressions of love between people of the same sex cannot be a part of an Orthodox life. Sure, a gay couple can attend church together, go to school plays together, etc. But romance and sexual activity have to stop. If they stumble into sin, confess and repent.
God is merciful and full of loving kindness.
M.
I know of two married women, one of which have adopted several children, who are communing members in the Orthodox Church. Mind you, these women were born into the Orthodox faith. Someone coming to the Church in this type of relationship would be received differently (which doesn't make sense, but it's the way of the world.)
I converted to Christianity when I was 14. I'm now going on 19. Coming to terms with my sexual orientation and what I thought the Church's teachings were regarding it was difficult, and caused me to defect from Holy Orthodoxy for a long while.genital expressions of love between people of the same sex cannot be a part of an Orthodox life. Sure, a gay couple can attend church together, go to school plays together, etc. But romance and sexual activity have to stop. If they stumble into sin, confess and repent.
God is merciful and full of loving kindness.