Praetorian: And that is true. And then, as we know, after confession of sins (any / all sins) and genuine conversion, we're NOT supposed to stay where we WERE at. There should be the dying of the "old man (natural / carnal self)" ... the Fruits of the Holy Spirit ... spiritual growth and maturity. In 2010, while I was still NOT politically savvy and rather unaware of the spread of Marxism / Socialism in "the church," and Protestant attending a Presbyterian church at the time, a man named Brian, a year younger than I, offered me a book to read via my husband. I was astonished at what I read: It was authored by a tattooed Feminist who proudly announced her many faults ... and that Jesus accepted her faults ... and she still has those faults because, hey, nobody's perfect. She's going to KEEP those faults because, after all, she's only human. That is also THE mentality I encountered in an Episcopal church in 2006: A famous member of the "priesthood" was pushing this notion that it's OK for him to this and that, including being an actively drinking alcoholic. I dunno, I thought St. Paul said deacons / leaders are supposed to be SOBER, responsible, and with integrity.
This is a tough and agonizing situation for parents. No easy answers for a devout Catholic. Every avenue is fraught with pain. For child and parent. But Pretorian is right. Jesus meets us where we are at. As Mother Teresa said when asked about homosexuals: "you mean God's beloved children?" The person interviewing said "no I mean practicing homosexuals" and Mother Teresa said again : "yes. God's beloved children."
Yes, but God created them male and female and gave them the 10 Commandments and the Sacraments of Holy Matrimony and Confession. He said he would make the crooked way straight.
Notice, he doen't say pray for their conversion (that would lead to him being persecuted). A conversion towards purity of heart. That is the solution to same sex attraction. Good old fashioned conversion and the virtue of purity. But of course that message is anathema to our contemporary culture of hedonism.
I'm reading "Life of Christ" by Fulton Sheen in a men's group and in the chapter about the woman caught in adultery, he argues that "some of these men had kept themselves from her vice, because they had other vices. Some are exempt from certain vices simply because of their preference from other vices... The alcoholic may not be the thief, though he is often a liar; and the thief.. may not necessarily be the adulter... There are many people who sin by pride, by avarice, by the craving for power, and think they are virtuous simply because these sins in modern society bear the note of respectability." The Pope is correct in saying not to condemn your children if they are homosexual, the same way as Catholics we should not condemn anyone. I do think at times Christianity has been harder on same sex attraction than other very real vices that plague our culture. With that being said, however, as responsible parents we should most certainly teach our children about sin and the areas of their lives that don't align with Christ's teachings.
German Catholic priests come out as queer, demand reform Over 120 priests and employees with the Catholic church community in Germany came out as queer and launched a campaign demanding an end to institutional discrimination against LGBTQ people. LGBTQ Catholics in Germany have launched an "'OutInChurch' initiative to call for support The Roman Catholic Church in Germany on Sunday faced renewed calls for better protection of LGBTQ rights and an end to institutional discrimination against queer people. Around 125 people, including former and current priests, teachers, church administrators and volunteers, identified themselves as gay and queer, asking the church to take into account their demands and do away with "outdated statements of church doctrine" when it comes to sexuality and gender. The members of the church community published seven demands on social media under the "OutInChurch" initiative. These demands range from queer people saying they should be able to live without fear and have access to all kinds of activities and occupations in the church without discrimination. They said their sexual orientation must never be considered a breach of loyalty or reason for dismissal from their occupation. They ask the church to revise its statements on sexuality based on "theological and human-scientific findings." Besides asking for equal rights, employees also put down demands that the church takes accountability for their discrimination against people of the community throughout history, calling on the bishop to take responsibility on behalf of the church. What has been the Vatican's stance? The Vatican, home of the pope and the Roman Catholic Church, ruled last year that priests cannot bless same-sex unions and that such blessings weren't valid. But the ruling also reignited a debate on the matter, and there was considerable resistance against it in some parts of Germany. Last year, at least two bishops in Germany, including Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich, one of the pope's top advisers, showed some support for a kind of "pastoral" blessing for same-sex unions. In Germany and the United States, parishes and ministers also began blessing same-sex unions in lieu of marriage, with growing calls for bishops to institutionalize gay marriage. However, in response to formal questions from a number of dioceses on whether the practice was allowed, the Vatican's doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) made clear it wasn't, ruling: "negative." Pope Francis approved the response, adding that it was "not intended to be a form of unjust discrimination, but rather a reminder of the truth of the liturgical rite" of the sacrament of marriage. rm/fb (dpa, KNA) https://www.dw.com/en/german-catholic-priests-come-out-as-queer-demand-reform/a-60531857
I think I looked and did not see it posted here, the National Catholic Register published these articles on possible transgender applicants to seminaries if thus is not off-topic. This is where treating this situation could tend to be difficult. I hope no laws would ever be passed forcing this on any faith. I will have to check out the Abp. Sheen book mentioned above. That sounds like it would be worth reading. Transgender Seminary Applicants: What Is the Church’s Pastoral Response?| National Catholic Register (ncregister.com) US Seminaries Grapple With the Issue of Transgender Applicants| National Catholic Register (ncregister.com)
Priests are supposed to be celibate. NO sexual activity. Do these people advocate staying true to the vows of celibacy? Because, when it comes to celibacy, it doesn't matter if one is hetero or homo. "You" aren't "doing anything" anyway. Right? But of course it can't ever be that simple.
The Five Goals of Courage are very good advice for all Christians --- 1. To live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality. 2. To dedicate our entire lives to Christ through spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. 3. To foster a spirit of fellowship in which we may share with one another our thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone. 4. To be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in a chaste Christian life and to help one another in forming and sustaining them. 5. To live lives that may serve as good examples to others. https://couragerc.org/
The above is the proper course of action. But "Courage" was founded before the culture went over the cliff with same sex marriage and transgenderism. Lord have Mercy!
What do we do? How can a parent help a child try to convert from the disorder of same sex attraction, when our Pope says this? Persecution is here to stay for those who are trying to follow the truth. It’s just appalling.
I think this is perhaps the main Chastisement for sin. That we can no longer tell what is good from what is very evil , to become spiritually blind. But an even great chastisement is to have the spiritually blind leading the blind. That is Catastrophic. As indeed Jesus said of the Pharisees and the religious Elites of his time. Jesus said to leave such guides. Not bad advice. I have given up on Pope Francis a long, long time ago. I acknowledge him as Pope of course, but as far as Spiritual Guidance goes, forget about it. Matthew 15:14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
It truly feels like we are being stripped bare, as if we are with Jesus Christ when after His third fall on the way to Calvary, He was dragged to the place of His execution and stripped bare, naked. It is almost as if we are living the final steps on the way to Calvary. We know it gets worse, as it did for Our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of our Mystical body. We must fulfil Scripture as Jesus did to the very end. Focus on Jesus, pray for those who are diabolically disorientated in their sexuality. Give good loving example, pester Jesus, not those who are afflicted. The Grace of God's pure love conquers lust in the end. I think the hardest part for me is seeing Cardinals and Bishops acting as if they are not of the same Church when they oppose each other. Priests are bound by obedience, and we have to pray for them along with the Pope, Cardinals and Bishops. I am beginning to see the wisdom of Jesus Christ when He warned His Apostles and disciples, "Let the greatest among you be the servant of all." You see the devil is totally blinded by humility, and those who avoid the trappings of importance are invisible to the evil one. Cardinals, Bishops and any Priest who enjoys posh surroundings, or the trappings and privilege of his office, is a sitting duck for the devil to take aim at and fire like the darts of the noon day devil, with the soul of satan's poor victim, a prize that will bring many more foot soldiers (you and me) down to the pit of hell. The masons would not be bothered with our Church leaders if they were poor humble men, the masons are as full of pride as the devil himself, and our poor Church has been invaded by them, because there are rich pickings from a worldly perspective, and the masons want it all. Of course they have competition for the booty from Marxists, Muslims and other pagan entities. But hey, all we can do is Keep Watch and Pray. And stay humble. Praised be Jesus and Mary. And Glory be to dear God the Most High. Come Holy Spirit fill our hearts with the grace and Holy Energy that keeps us on the narrow path. Amen
Our Lady speaks about all this and what she should do about it in her last two messages to Pedro Regis. Most especially she keeps repeating, 'Have courage...'
God offers courage, guidance to those in difficulty, pope says Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service WORLD WEDNESDAY 26TH OF JANUARY 2022 VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- God always offers people the help and courage they need to face life's fears and difficulties, Pope Francis said. The pope said his thoughts were with all those who "are crushed by the weight of life and can no longer hope or pray." Parents, in particular, often must grapple with situations or problems that are out of their control, such as when their child is sick or has a chronic illness. "How much pain is there!" the pope said Jan. 26 during his weekly general audience. God offers courage, guidance to those in difficulty, pope says. Published Jan. 26 2022. World. (thebostonpilot.com) Maybe someone among us here is thinking: my sin is so great, I am as far from God as the younger son in the parable, my unbelief is like that of Thomas; I don’t have the courage to go back, to believe that God can welcome me and that he is waiting for me, of all people. But God is indeed waiting for you; he asks of you only the courage to go to him. How many times in my pastoral ministry have I heard it said: "Father, I have many sins"; and I have always pleaded: "Don’t be afraid, go to him, he is waiting for you, he will take care of everything". We hear many offers from the world around us; but let us take up God’s offer instead: his is a caress of love. For God, we are not numbers, we are important, indeed we are the most important thing to him; even if we are sinners, we are what is closest to his heart. Pope Francis Homilies - Courage Lust, pornography, the whole thing affects so many of us. Here is this ministry, "Integrity Restored"... in the end, many of us are affected and the words apply to all of us. IntegrityRestored.com
