I Don't Know Where To Begin

[farglefeezlebut]

This is an example of what I'm up against.
[i]the pope thinks that homosexuality is more of an issue than climate change.
He may be the pope but it's still interpretation no matter how high up he stands. There are many different interpretations of the bible about what people are and aren't allowed to do, such as wearing polyester is considered a sin. But christianity also believes that all sins are equal, and so if people are going to pick and choose which they think are relevant I don't see why homosexuality will make you go to hell and yet wearing polyester won't.[/i]
Now, I don't need help pointing out how much of this is illogical/prejudiced/based on false premises.
I need help understanding how to compassionately deal with this level of raw, naked hatred.
I suffer from SSA. So did the author of these words. This person has been abused by fundamentalists and can't see the difference between condemning a person an an action.

[farglefeezlebut]

bump.

This really frustrates me.

[T-Bone _]

I don't even know where to begin.

[Hilde]

Maybe some ad absurbum(sp) logic?

[CatherineM]

I've dealt with hundreds of people over the years who have SSA. When the AIDS epidemic hit Oklahoma, I was practically the only attorney who would take them on as clients. I didn't care how they had gotten the illness. I'm never going to sit in judgment on how someone lives their lives, and it certainly doesn't mean that anyone deserves to get sick. I also know that doesn't apply to everyone you are going to meet. You have been given a heavy cross, and having people condemn you, doesn't make it any easier. People often assumed that I was gay because I was willing to take gay clients, so I do understand the kind of abuse you may be subject to.

I'm also not going to tell you that what you do in the privacy of your life is no one's business but your own. It's certainly not my business, but it does involve the Lord, and the other person who may be involved. When you love another person, you never want to do anything to them, or with them, that would endanger their souls. I don't know you, and will not make assertions on the life you lead, but I will tell you, of all the clients I had with SSA, even those who had been in committed relationships for decades, I never met one who was truly happy and content in their life. I can't say if that was just because of the discrimination they faced, or their lifestyle.

One person I met who was active in Courage told me once that he always knew deep down that there was an emptiness in how he was living. That emptiness only began to be filled when he accepted the church's teaching and regained his chastity. He's now happily married to a woman. When you are in a relationship that has been blessed by the church, and is a true sacramental marriage, you can feel the difference.

[T-Bone _]

Any sinfulness is more important than climate change, which hasn't even been proven that we men are the root cause (or can do anything to prevent). Even if we could stop it (or even slow it down), we must ask, "what benefits a man to save his body, but lose his soul?"

The polyester thing is just stupid. Nowhere in the bible does it say that one cannot wear polyester. (Besides, the whole ritual purity thing only applies to Jews--"kosherness" was tossed out when we became Christians.)

It says that Christians believe all sins are equal. That is wrong. We, as Catholics don't believe that.

Actions are what the sin is. The Pope never condemned those of us who have feelings of attraction to the same sex. He never even condemned those of us who act on those feelings. He only condemns the actions.

[Seven77]

any book by Fr. John Harvey the founder of Courage should help

[Seven77]

any book by Fr. John Harvey the founder of Courage should help

[Guest]

dude you weren't born tha way
adam and eve not adam and steve
putting that aside though you have my prayers
God can deliver you from same sex attraction

Edited April 21, 2009 by Guest

[Guest]

[quote name='farglefeezlebut' post='1841676' date='Apr 20 2009, 06:50 PM']But christianity also believes that all sins are equal, and so if people are going to pick and choose

[font="Arial Black"]There are deadly sins Jesus talks about it.[/font]

I don't see why homosexuality will make you go to hell and yet wearing polyester won't.

[font="Arial Black"] Im sorry I cant help it[/font]

[font="Arial Black"]and btw straight people who fornicate will go to hell to.[/font][/quote]

Prayers !

Edited April 21, 2009 by Guest

[T-Bone _]

[quote name='Delivery Boy' post='1842251' date='Apr 20 2009, 10:10 PM']btw straight people who fornicate will go to hell to.[/quote]

This is true.

I seldom hear whining about this teaching, though.

[Ziggamafu]

The [i]mosaic [/i]law (which the polyester comment is referring to) was done away with; Christ reasserted the Decalogue, interpreting it in a more strict manner (by self-sacrificial love). St. Paul makes clear that homosexuality is a violation of Christian law. However, I would just take it to the level of Church authority. The Church is protected from binding the Church to a moral error and homosexuality has always been condemned.

[Groo the Wanderer]

Hey all - I just have to weigh in here. Some of the stuff I am reading are kinda disturbing, not because of the topic, but because of the potential of uncharitableness (is that a word?) in them. Lemme take these as I see 'em listed:

Pope thinks homosexuality is more of an issue than climate change - T-Bone is right here. The Pope and the Church are primarily concerned with moral and spiritual matters. Climate change is mostly a bunch of hype being pushed on us to in an attempt to assert control.

I am completely lost on the polyester thing...wow.

The Church does not beleive all sins are equal. See CCC 1852-1864.

Homosexuality will not make one go to hell. The topic is covered in 3 paragraphs of the catechism (2357-2359) whereas other sexual sins (lust, masturbation, fornication, pornography, protitution, and rape) take up 6 paragraphs (2351-2356), fully twice as much space. In particular look at paragraph 2358 regarding homosexuality: "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." Homosexuality/SSA is not a sin in and of itself. It is in acting out and giving in to the unchaste urges that constitute sin and can lead one to choose hell. This is the same for heterosexuals who choose to act out and give in to their unchaste urges listed above. People with SSA are called by God and His Church to chastity.

Pointing out the sin inherent in homoswxual acts is not hatred; it is love. One of the duties of Christians is to call a sin a sin and to help our loved ones, our brothers and sisters, our fellow creations to recognize sin so that it may be avoided. We are called to be our brother's keeper indeed. Unfortunatly, as was pointed out, some fundys do tend to bash people in the head with thier interpretation of the Bible and end up wounding instead of healing.

DB - please don't say a person wasn't born that way. We really do not know what causes SSA. The most likely scenario is that some people are born with a predilection toward it, but are then pushed into it by societal pressures. You are right though that God can deliver from SSA. But remember also that He may wish instead for a person with SSA to carry that cross in chastity for His glory. He refused to remove the thorn in Paul's side, remember?

Please all - be loving to those with SSA, especially those who are confused, hurt, and lonely. It is obvious that Fargle is not one of those raving loony gay-pride in-your-face activists. I sense here a desire for love.

[StColette]

[quote name='Groo the Wanderer' post='1842393' date='Apr 21 2009, 10:26 AM']I am completely lost on the polyester thing...wow.[/quote]

Old Testament teaching which we are not bound by I'm sure it's probably based off of Deut 22:11 or somewhere around that verse

[Groo the Wanderer]

[quote name='StColette' post='1842399' date='Apr 21 2009, 10:46 AM']Old Testament teaching which we are not bound by I'm sure it's probably based off of Deut 22:11 or somewhere around that verse [/quote]


"You shall not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together." Dt 22:11.


but..polyester is a synthetic. it's plastic! I relly do not see how one gets from wool+linen to polyester.


Am I just too old?