Homosexuality

[Lisieux Flower]

I have a friend who has recently said that he is gay. He's a former Catholic and has actually been very strong in his faith throughout the time that I've known him, but I have had a feeling that he has been struggling with this for a while. Now he has decided to "come out" and as he says, "be proud of who he is." He has stopped going to Mass, has a boyfriend, and I know is doing very serious sins with this guy (and is actually proud of it). He seems to believe that the Catholic Church hates people that are gay. What should I say about the Church's teaching on homosexuality?

And what advice would you give to someone like that? He's a really good friend, and I know he would take what I said seriously. I have a really good opportunity to help him.

[StColette]

[quote name='Lisieux Flower' date='05 September 2009 - 12:47 PM' timestamp='1252169241' post='1961304']
I have a friend who has recently said that he is gay. He's a former Catholic and has actually been very strong in his faith throughout the time that I've known him, but I have had a feeling that he has been struggling with this for a while. Now he has decided to "come out" and as he says, "be proud of who he is." He has stopped going to Mass, has a boyfriend, and I know is doing very serious sins with this guy (and is actually proud of it). He seems to believe that the Catholic Church hates people that are gay. What should I say about the Church's teaching on homosexuality?

And what advice would you give to someone like that? He's a really good friend, and I know he would take what I said seriously. I have a really good opportunity to help him.
[/quote]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches the following regarding homosexuality:


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,140 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."141 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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With any sin, the Church teaches us that we should hate the sin, but not the sinner. I grew up with many friends that were sexually active before marriage. Even though these relationships were between a male and female, the Church still disapproves of sexual activity before marriage. The Church does not hate these people, rather she loves them but hates the sin that these people commit. Jesus teaches us that we should abandon the sinner (Mark 2:13), but rather we should help heal them. The Church views the sinner the same as Jesus did when he sat at table with them. The Church is the physician for the sick. She cares for them and helps to cure them. She does not encourage their sickness, but just as Christ does She loves them unconditionally.

We should continue to love our friends as Christ and the Church loves them. We should help guide them down the right path. We should make them aware that we don't support their sinful behavior, but reassure them that we love them regardless.

Hope this helps.

God Bless,
Jen

[CatherineM]

I also highly recommend reading through the [url="http://couragerc.net/"]Courage[/url] website. It can give you ideas about how to approach him.

[Theoketos]

Your loving actions towards him and all homosexual persons will speak louder then any words