Homosexuality has two main organizations attracting Catholics: Dignity and Courage. Dignity’s position : “We believe that God created us, Christ died for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctified us in Baptism. As GLBT Catholics, it is our right, our privilege, and our duty to live the sacramental life of the Church. We believe that we can express our sexuality in a loving, life-affirming manner that is in keeping with Christ's teaching.”
That sounds good, but the call is for advocacy for change in the teaching of the Catholic Church: they want their loving sexuality to be allowed outside marriage.
Courage, on the other hand, strictly follows the teaching of the Church. Here’s a powerful testimony of grace that proves homosexuality can be controlled:
"Courage is a wonderful apostalate. I'm not a member, no chapter in my area. I lived a homosexual lifestyle for about 30 years and there was nothing gay about it. When I was given the grace to accept the church's teaching and went to confession I was instantly healed of years of depression. I struggled for about a year, falling and getting back up again. I have a wonderful lady friend(my spiritual mother) who believed that God would deliver me from this struggle. She took me to a Healing Mass on September 26th, 2006, the priest said that he was going to pray that Jesus would deliver me from same sex attraction, I went under the power of God, and wept and wept and wept. A year and a half later I am still free of all homosexual obsession. My lover of 20 years+ returned to the Church and has lived a perfectly chaste lifestyle ever since. A young man who had been in our life as a sexual partner for 8 years plus was baptized and crismated in the Byzantine Catholic Church and now living a chaste life as well. I would not trade the peace that I now have for a roll in the pig slop again. I know that the truth really does set you free. Thank you Jesus, he's my Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer. If the Son sets you free you shall be free indeed."
Kent Lomison quoted in The Cafeteria is Closed
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9 comments:
Isn't that nice?
In the meantime my daughter, who was engaged to a man for two years got pregnant and no Catholic church would marry them. They wer married by a minister who basically rented himself out to the place where the reception was held, to have some semblance of religion in their service. Because of that no Catholic church would baptize my grandchild. I was a more than faithful Catholic all of my life. I taught CCD, etc. I raised my daughter in the church and her now husband of seven years went through 12 years of Catholic school.
The Byzantine Catholic Church I loved treated my daughter as an outcast. I've since left and don't even bother with organized religion anymore...after 45 years of never missing a Sunday. Its nice to know gay men can get baptized without issue but a newborn baby can't. That speaks volumes about what is really important to the Church.
Anon 11:53,
Your story sounds fishy. Is there something more you'd like to share?
gravey
Fishy isn't quite the word for it. Crushing is more like it. There isn't much more to share- first marriage for both of them, no irregularity, etc.
This happens all the time. Mine was not an isolated incident. People in the pews are held to a different standard sometimes.
anon 11:40am,
If I'm reading your story correctly, the issue is with the individual priest. The sacrament of confession can give us all an opportunity for a new beginning. What you describe is not consistent with Church teachings. In other words, go find another priest.
gravey
Thank you for the advice, At the time we called many local parishes besides the one we belonged to. No one would marry them while she was pregnant.
Although I am still upset by it, that was 6 years ago and sadly my daughter and son in law just aren't interested anymore. :(
I've tried to move on as well, but when I read stories of acceptance elsewhere, it still really bothers me. We were good people. We still are.
The reason no responsible Catholic priest would marry the couple while the woman was pregnant is because the circumstances of the pregnancy could be construed as impeding the couple's will to "enter freely and without reservation" into matrimony. If there is any reason no suspect that one or both of the parties to a marriage is not acting in complete freedom, then the marriage cannot be celebrated. After the birth of the child, then the marriage could be celebrated in accord with the canons of the Catholic Church. Why didn't the priest explain that?
I don't know?
They've been married six years, have a brand new house, good jobs, a great marriage and a beautiful daughter -but no religion. I know my daughter was insulted by the whole rejection, and I doubt they'll ever go back to church. They have friends in the same boat. None of them feel the need to go back. Oh well. Say a prayer. :(
This does not sound at all like something that happens in a Catholic community. There have been cases when a couple opt for a quiet ceremony instead of a large wedding regardless of the "condition" of the bride. Your story sounds fabricated in an attempt to discredit the church. There are details you have left out. What are they..........?
>> "The Byzantine Catholic Church I loved treated my daughter as an outcast."
>> "Your story sounds fabricated in an attempt to discredit the church."
First of all, there's no such thing as "Byzantine Catholic Church." There are Byzantine (Greek) Rite churches a.k.a. "Constantinopolitan Rite," of which some are Greek-Catholic and the rest are Eastern-Orthodox Churches - not in union with the Roman (Latin) Catholic Church.
Secondly, it does seem you are not telling the whole truth in here. Since you mentioned "Byzantine Catholic Church" and rejection of "marriage in the Church," I'm guessing there was a mix up involved.
The Orthodox churches impose excommunication on their members who marry in the Roman CC, while there is not such problem from the Roman CC's side. Therefore in mixed (Orthodox-Catholic) marriages it is always advised that people marry in the Church of the Orthodox party rather than the Roman CC party, to avoid the Orthodox excommunication.
I think you should talk to a knowledgeable priest and encourage your daughter to have her marriage and religious life rectified. It’s not good for them to stay away from the sacraments for too long.
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