The following comes from an October 15 Renew America article by Matt C. Abbott:
On October 5, The Catholic Voice, a publication of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland, published the text of a homily by Father Dan Danielson, who all but endorses same-sex “marriage.” Click here to read it.
I asked Father John Trigilio Jr., author, EWTN personality, and president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, to respond to Father Danielson’s assertions.
Father Trigilio’s excellent response is as follows [edited]:
Mother Angelica often spoke about misplaced or misguided compassion. It is when someone wrongly tolerates or permits an immoral act out of a desire not to offend the sinner. The intention not to offend is good, but it can never contradict the truth. It has no power to alter reality. An evil act is not good merely because a good person does it. It is of a higher priority that our love of neighbor sometimes requires fraternal correction as called for in Sacred Scripture.
Father Danielson is guilty of misguided or misplaced compassion. It is laudable that he wants to show compassion and mercy to those who suffer from same-sex attraction. Whether or not the homosexual orientation or inclination is biological, psychological or sociological is not the issue.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear, as has been the magisterium. The orientation or inclination itself is disordered, while homosexual activity is immoral and sinful. Any and all sex outside of marriage is immoral and sinful. The sixth commandment is applicable to all human beings regardless of their sexual disposition.
Father Danielson is grossly mistaken when he asserts, ‘So while the Church’s teaching is certainly in general correct, it does not work out that way in many instances.’ This is doctrinally erroneous and morally incorrect.
The natural moral law and the divine positive law are not arbitrary. They exist to promote and protect the common good. Doing what is sinful is not just unlawful; it is injurious. Sin and moral evil are lethal threats to the life of grace. They endanger the soul. Just as there are unhealthy habits one needs to eliminate and avoid in order to stay alive, so, too, in the spiritual life.
Compassion for the homosexual means accepting and treating them as a child of God. It also means warning them about dangerous behavior such as engaging in immoral sexual activity. Marriage is the keystone and cornerstone of the family. It is of divine origin and it is between a man and a woman. Pretending or acting as if gay marriage was an alternative or viable option is dangerous as well as erroneous.
Two people in love are not de facto candidates for parenthood merely because of their mutual affection. Parenthood is biological, emotional and spiritual. It is built on marriage. Hence, the best mother and father are a husband and his wife. Marriage alone is not the only factor, but it is an integral one nonetheless. Children deserve a mom and dad who are married to each other. Separated or broken families should be the exception, not the norm nor an alternative.
Two men or two women cannot become spouses any more than a brother and sister. It violates nature. It doesn’t mean both do not love each other. Father Danielson muddies the water at best and creates a moral cloud at worst. Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery and thus prevented her being stoned to death. But He also told her to go and ‘sin no more,’ so she avoided spiritual death (mortal sin) – much worse than physical death.
Human persons can have a homosexual orientation or a heterosexual orientation. Their sexuality does not define them, however. A human person is a corporal body and immortal soul, endowed with an intellect and will, made in the image and likeness of God. It is unjust to reduce a person to one aspect or component of their entire being.
Therefore, Holy Mother Church rightfully teaches that all men and women are called to live moral lives of goodness and seek to become holy by doing the will of God. Condoning or tolerating that which is immoral, sinful and evil is itself an evil, i.e., a privation of good.
What we should do is not give a wink and a nod, nor a blind eye and deaf ear, but a loving, compassionate and correct word of salvific truth. Sinful acts can kill the life of grace and may endanger a person’s soul for all eternity. To hide or ignore that is not love; it is a culpable sin of omission.
When Fr. Trigilo refers to me as “..the homosexual…” it makes it hard to believe he loves and respects me as a fellow child of God or to consider his arguments.
You have chosen to call yourself a “homosexual”.
Otherwise you would merely consider yourself a person with the temptation of “same sex attraction”.
notice how you just stated that C&H has defined himself as a homosexual, when Fr. Trigilio did, and you then went on to paraphrase, defining him in the same way?
Would calling yourself heterosexual be defining yourself?
Joyce ….actually I refer to myself as a lesbian when that aspect of my life comes up.
C&H there is no reason to discuss your sexual temptations with anyone at all except your Priest (in Confession only),
unless you are also seeing a good psychiatrist.
In either of these two cases, your sexual temptations are kept strictly confidential.
Do you ever talk about aspects of your sexuality to others. Obviously you’re looking to talk about homosexuality and actively participating in it. Do you ever mention being attracted to the opposite? Aren’t you talking about your particular sexual temptations when you do?
How often to you talk about anything to do with your particular sexuality? Your attraction to the opposite sex, family composition, spouse, dating, it’s all about your sexuality. We have the same freedom of speech
C&H, don’t shoot the messenger! As an admitted homosexual, you are already predisposed to reject the Church’s position. Fr. Trigilio is simply addressing a twisted version of truth as presented by Fr, Danielson. Do you really believe that those who believe and teach Church truths aren’t loving and respectful? Clearly this issue is your sacred cow and you are refusing to accept truth.
Kristin … We have here on CCD posters who are predisposed to culmany and even physical violence. Personally I, and my pastor, are more concerned about my predisposition to blind, raging, and vicious anger than my finding women attractive.
C&H. There is no requirement for you to find anyone attractive to get to Heaven.
As someone who has stated he has same sex attraction temptations, you are bound to celibacy as are all single (unmarried) persons.
You are no better or worse than the rest of singles regarding celibacy.
C&H what does the word of God says? Not what C&H believes and says. Love Jesus more than your homosexuality. Honor His natural law. Having an attraction to same-sex is not a sin but practicing and defending it, is.
How does one reject the church just by acknowledging their sexual attraction? How does someone approach the church without doing so? I think “loving and respectful” is actually listening to someone, which I do not see here. Rather, you call him a “twisted version of truth”.
The Catholic Church does NOT have any questionnaire that requires one to publically state their sexual temptations.
Who said they did?
Why does the existence of a questionairre make a difference?
Why does the statement of a fact so threaten you?
Why cannot you see that at least from the Inquisition to the present day “Examination of Conscience” issued in San Francisco this summer ammount to a “questionaire”?
And they required answers with force of death in that era and eternal damnation in this one. (https://americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/san-francisco-lenten-examination-children-goes-awry),
AH yes folks the complaining lesbian does not like the Church’s moral teachings so her feelings are hurt,, well too bad, carry your cross or leave the Church. I am so friggin tired of people demand that Church teachings be changed so they can have wanton sex and not think they are sinning
Right, and we’re also tired of hearing the victim card being played over and over. Anything less than a ringing endorsement of homosexuality is rejected as “persecution” , disrespect etc.
Is your fear of losing “religious liberty” playing the victim card? Anyone want to compare notes on the hardships of being homosexual vs. heterosexual catholic? I don’t know anyone with the catholic view on gays who has ever taken any of it into consideration.
Canusis ……I have had my feelings hurt over peoples reaction to my lesbianism. You however have been hurt far worse by people close to you. Please try to accept God’s love and the love of your fellow man. The women on the way to the cross succored Jesus. Maybe they, in the form of your brothers and sisters in Christ today, can do that for you. Here’s a prayer for both of us.
C&H your sexual temptations are NOT the business of other people.
You must be purposely telling them (ADVERTISING it), therefore it is your own fault.
All un-repented MORTAL SINS send Souls to Hell.
Including but not limited to: Homosexual Acts, Adultery, Fornication, Pornography.
CHRISTINE, May God continue to bless you with sanctifying grace to wisely see such slithering machinations and truly care about the salvation of souls. It is clear from C&H’s posts that she repeatedly IGNORES Jesus by ignoring 1 Corinthians 6:9-!!. C&H and YFC are excellent examples of individuals who “pastorally” receive the Blessed Sacrament while still rejecting a NEW identity with Jesus Christ. Their chosen and preferred identity IS their temptations. Judas publicly pretended to “pastorally care” about the “marginalized” too. Jesus said it would have been better if Judas had never been born.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers: Nor the effeminate nor liers with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God. And such some of you were. But you are washed: but you are sanctified: but you are justified: in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God.”
“And such some of you were. But you are washed: but you are sanctified: but you are justified: in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11
Notice how C&H & YFC openly reject the mercy of Jesus the Redeemer of all sins and still choose to be justified in the name/identity of lesbian and homosexual. C&H and YFC prove/showcase just how widespread a practice it is to profane the Blessed Sacrament without a true conversion taking place. Was Judas more merciful than Jesus when he also publicly feigned “pastoral care” for the “marginalized”?
CHRISTINE W is right. But C&H its not you its what you promote against God that offends me. But who cares how I feel, lets consider Jesus suffering instead. He suffers when we sin or encourage others to choose sin. He is back on that cross. Our sins continue to do that to Him. He doesn’t deserve that from us. He is true love, why do people choose to sin knowing this? I dont know. Fear the Lord and love Him more. God love you!
C&H for whatever reason God has decided to give me suffering after suffering. Though I am filled with so much hate, and I admit to that… I will not attack you C&H I don’t want to know the crosses you carry…However I see so much attack on the Faith by LGBT types, who want what they want ie change the Church …you particularly do not comes across and an activist type, unlike YFC who I am convinced is has evil intentions and should be excommunicated For whats its worth C&H God be with you this day….
And yet you already are attacking, aren’t you? If you’re admittedly so filled with hate, you really need to work on that before someone else. And if you want to play the victim card, it’s already been pointed out you will never win that game.
When you attack others they tend to respond unfavorably.
JR you are correct I was verbally and physically attacked by mother’s lesbian “life partner” all while I was growing up, I was stabbed, kicked and beaten, so yeah I tend to respond unfavorably to lesbians and gays as you are all pretty much the same in my book.
Canisius, I have been attacked, several times, physically and verbally, by people with hate.I’ve landed in the ER within an inch of my life because of it.
I’m not talking about people who simply have different theologies, ideologies, or politics than I do. But people who take those disagreements to a next level, to a level of hate, have their own issues to work on. And those who take hate to the next level – to physical or verbal violence against people, who justify it, who promote it – truly have problems that are far beyond whatever agenda I might bring. God bless you. Peace be with you.
Your suffering is because you won’t forgive.
I am not saying that you have been wronged because you don’t forgive, but that not forgiving is increasing your suffering.
You have to ask God for the grace to forgive and you may have to ask more than once, because you might fall back into anger and because you have to forgive every aspect of harm that has been done to you.
You don’t want to die in the state of unforgiveness.
So YFC you finally admit you have an agenda.. which contrary to Catholic morals and teachings…
Why? He is a loving person, but you cannot hear his message, meant for your soul’s eternal salvation, C&H.
If you’ll notice, he defines us in way after way, negatively and with no consideration of our lives, then goes on to say we should not be defined by our sexuality.
It’s fascinating how they say these impossible but very real paradoxes without even noticing.
Truth is, he does not get to define me. I do.
JR Yungk, why are you defining yourself as a homosexual ?
There are many different kinds of temptations for different people.
Same Sex Attraction (SSA) is merely one kind of temptation.
Temptations are not sins.
Homosexual Acts are Mortal Sins, as are Adultery and Fornication.
It’s certainly an aspect of my life, yes. One can’t really live without noticing one’s own attraction. And how can I address it without identifying it? Sounds like you expect the impossible. It’s been said here, which I responded to, that just being a homosexual or identifying it is sinful or rejecting God. Are you defining yourself as a heterosexual?
Why should anyone consider SODOMY as an appropriate lifestyle ?
Do as you wish in the privacy of your own home (consenting adults only).
Any commenters on this site will tell you that you have the right to choose Hell, if you so wish. No one will stand in your way. – That is a promise.
You don’t have to, You could just “leave everyone else alone”.
JR Yungk, do not lie.
We don’t care what you do in the privacy of your own home with consenting adults. You can choose Hell if you wish. Your choice.
However, do not make the rest of us support or remotely participate in your chosen lifestyle through legislation.
Further – Your public parades with almost naked persons, filthy language and gestures is repugnant. Clean up your own act, and those of your cohorts.
While I find your point of viow regarding my marriage offensive, as I am not a Christian, much less a Catholic, nor do I wish to be either, it has no bearing on my life as long as you limit your remarks and activism to religious marriage, particularly that of your own church. That’s an internal matter for Catholics to wrestle with and I wish you all the best in dealing with your consciences.
However, Christians, particularly the Catholic Church, are trying to impose its religious views on civil marriage and that’s where my line in the sand is drawn. You have no right to try to impose your theology into my private life and into the civil marriage that is my fundamental right and which brings legal order to my relationship. It is an…
Marla R. Stevens, you have the right to choose Hell based upon your own actions.
However, you do not have the right to force any others to ‘remotely’ participate in, or ‘approve’ of your mortal sins.
Quite frankly, I don’t care what you do in the privacy of your own home with consenting adults.
But do not force the rest of us to be part of it through our legal system.
Why is it YOUR legal system and not my or our legal system? You feel that because you have a certain catholic view of morality that you get to legislate it for others? And therefore it is “our” moral system? What you want is a conservateive catholic moral system, not a moral system that we all share.
And “choose hell”. What kind of language is that to use with someone who is honestly trying to lead her life in the most upright and moral way she know how?
Hell is fact YFC I know you and rest of the noveau Catholics don’t believe it exists… YFC if this culture followed a conservative catholic moral system as you call it do you believe AIDs would have wiped out the gay men population the way it did? You want it both ways, you want sex (any kind) and then still call yourself Catholic. Conscience is not king YFC. Christ is… deal with it.
Anyone who chooses to purposely violate SACRED SCRIPTURE and does not REPENT – is going to HELL.
And that includes you “Your Fellow Catholic” (aka YFC) – for your defense of Homosexual Acts, and defense of Sodomy Marriage.
You constantly and consistently publically PROMOTE and CONDONE the Mortal Sins of Homosexual Acts – while using the name “Catholic” in your moniker.
You personally will be responsible for others going to HELL.
I don’t want any of you to “approve” if whatever you assume my sinful life is, I just want you to stop imposing it on me through legislation and propaganda.
You are imposing your Mortally sinful life-style on the rest of us – through legislation and propaganda.
And through your DISGUSTING PUBLIC marches where you are not clothed properly, make obscene gestures, and spout filthy crude remarks, etc. – – Yes, these are YOUR kind of people.
I don’t care what you do (consenting adults) in the privacy of your own home. You can choose Hell if you wish.
and you’re not imposing anything on us? I don’t care what you do or what you say but I do have the same right.
Do you not understand equal rights because we’re gay or because you’re catholic?
No, the idea of civil marriage is itself the imposition – it imposes on God’s order and is an affront to legitimate sacramental unions. Civil marriage got its own nonsense idea to mimic sacramental marriage, because it wanted to legitimize faux marriage away from God in the first place. You’re way late to the party. Your act is a pantomime. We have no ‘right’? We’re trying to save souls. It’s not about consciences, it’s about obedience. The alternative is hell. God created the world and its order. Narcissism is a one-way ticket. Wake up.
I’m pretty sure civil marriage preceded sacramental marriage by a couple of millenia, or at least had a parallel history. Thinking, for example, in China, which was not evangelized at all until maybe 500 years ago, but all along had a concept of civil marriage.
But even if for the sake of argument we agree with you: Would you have government get out of the marriage business altogether? There are many who would agree with you.
and we’re supposed to be “obedient” to you? And you’re the ones losing their freedoms?
Do any of you listen to yourselves?
Some are attracted to the same sex, some to the opposite sex, others to telling others how to do it. The third choice is part of their religion, hence they have the freedom to do so.
The only thin you are obedient to JR is your sexual compulsions
And you Marla have no right to impose perversions on me.
Canisius, I agree! But the “system” doesn’t give us many alternatives. Matrimony is a sacrament in the Catholic Church. Over the years, marriage has become a civil term as well as a religious term; often creating confusion. Priest, Ministers, etc. have taken on the civil part of marriage as well as the sacramental; often creating confusion. In some other countries, you and your lover go to the city hall and sign a civil union contract. If you want, you can them to your church or other religious institution and asked to be married sacramental y. I wonder if that would end some of the confusion in this country’s processes?
Bob One why is it everytime you claim to agree with me there is always some long winded qualification that goes with it.. You are prime example of the modern Catholic, you try to please everyone. I proudly do not
what perversions are being “imposed”?
They mean to say that openly living in their world is offensive to them and that they know best for society, you and your family.
They get to indulge in their fantasies of someone they claim is perverse while complaining about how it’s imposed on them. It’s a pathology.
Forcing the owners of small businesses to remotely participate in your Sodomy marriages through the legal system.
Why don’t you financially support those who like Sodomy Marriages, and leave everyone else alone ?
Rights of sodomites …ie perversions
no more than your fetish for directing my sex life.
Notice how “anonymous” thinks baking a cake means having sex with someone? There’s a complete distortion of reality. And although s/he wants to control others’ sex lives has the gall ask you to “leave others alone”. And while the current claim is not to identify sexuality, s/he comes right out with “Sodomy”.
Maria how is the Church trying to “impose” its religious views on society? Is it holding a gun to people’s heads and saying accept our teaching or else? Please come off it. The Church is exercising a constitutional right that every citizen and organization enjoys. It is the right to make its views known and recommend to society what it considers good for society and warn against what it considers bad. The people then make up their minds to accept of reject. That is not “imposing”. It is doing what any good citizen should do and it is the way our system should work.
asking for legislation, the very idea of this article, should I go on?
Father Trijillo is one of our ‘real deal’ Priests, what he says on ALL Church teaching I would NEVER DOUBT!!!
I always wonder when an article begins: edited. What’s missing and why. Perhaps a brief note might clear up those concerns. Or a link to an unedited version if one exists, would permit one to pursue the whole article if one is interested.
the link is the word article. It is highlighted in blue. It is at the very top, next to the picture.
One Hopes that Someone will pass this along to the ‘Catholic Voice’ for Publication Too.
After all – if the ‘Voice’ is Catholic then it should allow for other Distinguished Catholic Voices to make (the better, more sensible, and Genuinely Catholic) a Response in the same manner in which the original provocative editorial against the Magisterium was published.
Meaning the Oakland Diocese ‘Catholic Voice’ would have to give a Voice to someone not in line with their Political Ideology – and that ‘Fairness’ issue has proven rather problematic in the past at ‘Our ‘Voice’.
Fr. Trigilio is a wonderful priest! Sadly, many people today, have no religious nor moral training! Fr. Trigilio answers many questions well, for people who ask his guidance! What people of the modern world fail to recognize– is that religious and moral training require daily practice, and good discipline! Too many people today, have no understanding of the WORK ETHIC– especially, on ethics and morality! Many sadly think of life as just ignorant, low-class, “hippie slop,” with no meaning, reason, nor direction, except for “me,” “me,” “me,” and “what feels good.” Very ignorant! Christ wishes to awaken our souls to the True Life, in Heaven, for which we were originally created! GLORIOUS!!
Is this supposed to be “nonjudgmental”? When I’m approached with this attitude there’s nothing “GLORIOUS!!” about it.
Who lied to you about “judgment” ?
Jesus said we are to “Judge with Right Judgment” – Jn 7:24.
And to take the log out of our own eye first so that we will see clearly to take the splinter out of our brother’s. Mt 7:5, & Lk 6:42.
God gave everyone a free will. You can choose HELL (based upon your own actions) if you wish.
Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:9-10; Jude 1:7.
SACRED SCRIPTURE: Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9-10;
1 Tim 1:10; Jude 1:7.
Good for Fr. Trigilio and the truth!! I hope to hear this in a homilly on EWTN.
2002 Holy Thursday Letter to Priests, St. JPII
Likewise, a failure to speak the truth because of a misconceived sense of compassion should not be taken for love. We do not have a right to minimize matters of our own accord, even with the best of intentions. Our task is to be God’s witnesses, to be spokesmen of a mercy that saves even when it shows itself as judgment on man’s sin. “Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Mt 7:21).
so tell me what you think “compassion” is.
Compassion is NOT approving of the Mortally Sinful lifestyles of others.
If you do not believe in Mortal Sin – 1 Jn 5:16-17 – then don’t post on a Catholic web site.
Catholics will NEVER agree with you, and you are wasting your time and theirs.
I don’t believe in, or have faith in, or have a relationship with Mortal Sin.
I do, however, have all of those things in Jesus Christ.
This is the difference between us.
SO YFC you do not believe that there is a thing called Mortal Sin,, ie you deny a tenant of the Faith ie you are not Catholic…
JR Yungk, if you want to know what the Catholic Church teaches, and what faithful Catholics believe – for accuracy read both –
1) a Catholic Bible,
2) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” of 1997; dark green cover in the USA. (aka CCC).
https://store.usccb.org/catechism-of-the-catholic-church-p/5-110.htm
Thanks for inquiring.
I asked what you think “compassion” is. You didn’t answer that. From what I see in the catechism it’s telling us who to be. I don’t see any of the criteria that would meet any definition of compassion, or does your catechism redefine these terms?
JR Yungk, you were given the answer.
If you want to know what the Catholic Church teaches and what faithful Catholics believe, you will just have to read a Bible and also the CCC.
If you read, you will be able to answer ALL of your own questions about the Catholic Faith.
Don’t be lazy. Either you have questions or not.
What’s wrong with the term homosexual? As if the term “gay” is somehow more acceptable? What is “gay” about perverted immoral and medically unhealthy and dangerous sodomite acts, and the sodomite indoctrinaton of young school children?
And why are you blaming the Church? It is Almighty God Himself who condemns these unnatural and destable acts, and it is modern medical science that is sounding the warnings about the medical dangers of these perversions.
Frankly, I miss the unimpeded use of the word, “gay.” I like waking up feeling gay and don’t like it when people make supposedly sly little jokes about people feeling gay on a spring morning. Where is a more specific word when one is feeling gay? When you’re feeling gay, you are not necessarily feeling joy, nor are your laughing or gleeful. Gaity is something we need to feel free to enjoy some days of our lives, and darn it, I want my word back. Homosexuals are usually angry, resentful, and anxious, not gay, and why they stole our word, I don’t know. Let’s take it back and let them find a word of their own.
Maryanne – How Delightfully Lighthearted and Gay your response, although your failure to take the ‘Politics of Adversarial Terminology’ seriously shows you may be a target for the ‘Happy’ Thought Police acting out their gaily joyous retaliation for politically Un-Good Thought Crime.
Usurpation of common terms to provide sanitized misleading euphemisms to avoid actually naming the gritty facts underlying the gloss – is the order of the of the day, and You Will Follow Orders – or face Consequences.
Fortunately, the Rainbow needs no ‘protection’ from Copyright infringement, as the Original Owner is God – whose Court truly is Supreme.
The mockery that attends posts such as these demonstrates the character of the commentator. Maybe he is just bitter that he got passed over for George Carlin in a past life? Can the use of a 3 letter word like “gay” really justify such an outburst, complete with inappropriate uses of Capital Letters among well Adjusted People? Can we just say he has the CLAP?
Good article. Thanks CCD
An excellent answer, Fr. Trigilio. God bless you and keep up the good work. There are an awful lot of false prophets out there leading young people to their destruction. We need more priests and true prophets like you.
Why Words Matter When It Comes to Homosexuality
https://www.crisismagazine.com/2015/why-words-matter-when-it-comes-to-homosexuality
We can all agree that gaining understanding is at a premium when it comes to the topic of homosexuality. So what are we to make of (the words) “homosexual” and “gay”?
Are these two words alike? Are they synonymous in meaning? Perhaps they are. Then again, there are such differences in people’s minds when they hear, and speak, and write these words that we do well to examine what we mean when we use each.