The following comes from a March 27 posting by Monsingor Charles Pope on the Washington D.C. archdiocese website.
There is, among faithful Catholics, a dismay, and even an understandable anger at the events unfolding at the Supreme Court these past days related to gay unions. And even if the court were to uphold traditional marriage (which does not seem likely), or merely return the matter to the States, it seems quite clear where our culture is going regarding this matter, approving things once, not so long ago, considered unthinkable.
What then to do with our dismay and anger? It is too easy to vent anger, which is not only unproductive, but in the current state of “hyper-tolerance” for all things gay, angry denunciations are counter-productive.
Rather our anger should be directed to a wholehearted embrace and living out of the biblical vision of human sexuality and marriage. Our anger should be like an energy that fuels our zeal to live purity, and speak of its glory to a confused and out-of-control culture.
The fact is, traditional marriage has been in a disgraceful state for over 50 years, and heterosexual misbehavior has been off the hook in the same period. And, if we are honest, heterosexual misbehavior and confusion has been largely responsible for bringing forth the even deeper confusion and disorder of homosexual activity, and particularly the widespread approval of it.
We have sown the wind, and now reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7).
Our anger, dismay and sorrow are better directed inward toward our own conversion to greater purity as a individuals, families and parishes, than outward toward people who will only interpret it as “hate” and bigotry” anyway.
A few thoughts to frame our own reflections in how we have gotten to this place of darkness in our culture.
1. The fundamental flaw in modern thinking about human sexuality, the “Ur” (root) problem, is the (sinful) declaration that there is “no necessary connection” between human sexual activity and procreation. Here is the real taproot of modern confusion about human sexuality and all the disorders that flow from it. Such notions began as early as 1930 in the Lambeth Conference where the Church of England was the first Christian Denomination to serious brook this sinful notion. The thinking gained steam through the 1950s, via Margaret Sanger et al. and came to full (and ugly) flower in 1960s with the pill and the sexual revolution.
2. Any 8th grade biology student ought to be able to see the flaw in the “no necessary connection” argument. For if sex has no necessary connection to procreation but can be only for fun or pleasure, then what are the sperm and ova doing there? Did not nature and nature’s God intend some connection. Alas, what even an 8th grader can see, was set aside and/or became unintelligible to a generation obsessed with its passions.
3. Once the necessary connection between sex and procreation was set aside, contraceptives moved from being something related to prostitution to being a downright “noble” thing to use and promote. Sex became a frivolous plaything and promiscuity became widespread, since the most obvious consequences of sinful, frivolous and out of control behavior, now seemed to be to largely preventable. Promiscuity exploded on the scene and was celebrated in popular culture, in the music, on T.V. and so forth. Enter the further explosion of sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy, single motherhood and exploding divorce rates. Because guess what? Contraceptives were not full-proof (or should we say “foolproof”). Its not nice to fool Mother Nature and our “no-necessary connection” insistence cannot thus ushers in all these disorders.
4. But never mind all that, we didn’t learn we just doubled-down. Next we put marriage in the shredder by further declaring that there is no necessary connection between marriage and procreation. More pills and condoms please. Divorces continued to skyrocket, as birthrates plummeted.
5. In a parallel trend single-parent families entered the scene in a big way. For if it is true that marriage does not have any necessary connection to children, then apparently having children has no necessary connection to marriage. As single parent families rise, so do juvenile delinquency rates, and teen suicides. SAT scores and graduation rates, however, went down.
6. But never mind all that. What was needed is more condoms! Never mind that contraceptives and the underlying “no necessary connection” distortion ushered all this pain and distortion in. No! what we need is some more hair of the dog that bit us. More contraceptives! The government should promote and provide them free. In fact, start giving them to children and teens. After all, with decades of sexual misbehavior, who is really able to control themselves? And any one who suggests we ought to try is called puritanical, judgmental, unrealistic and a likely Christian. Let’s add free abortion to the mix and pass laws that permit parents to be kept in the dark when their daughters are taken to abortionists.
OK, you get the point, We heterosexuals have been involved in a down spiraling series of distortions and sexual misbehavior for over fifty years now. And this misbehavior is widespread and even celebrated in our culture.
Add to this terrible picture, the scandalous silence of pulpits, the shrugging over flagrant fornication, cohabitation and high divorce rates by Church leaders, parents, and other community leaders.
Yes, we have sown the wind. And now comes the whirlwind. Enter the “gay” community who have in effect called our bluff and illustrate the absurdity of our “no-necessary connection” philosophy. For, if sex has “no necessary connection” to procreation, and can just be about what pleasures you, or is just your way to show “care” for another, if this is the case, what’s wrong with homosexual behavior? And if marriage is just about two adults being happy and there is “no necessary connection” to procreation, why can’t homosexuals “marry”?
To read entire posting, click here.
“Sodomy is the consequence of sin”, and the sins that bring it on can be seen in the data compiled in the Old Testament. The two primary society wide “wink wink” sins that precipitate sodomy are idol worship and adultery.
The decoupling of sex and reproduction took place in the nineteen-fifties. Pope Paul VI addressed this very issue in his encyclical Humanae Vitae. It was his successors who ignored it. Pope Paul was prescient. The western Christian world is in a steep and almost fatal demographic decline and will cease to exist if nothing is done about it. Pat Buchanan rightly called the birth control bill “the suicide pill of the west.” Be honest, dear fellow Catholics, when was the last time you heard this issue taken up by your pastor? If you can cite an example, I will gladly concede.
The pastor at my TLM parish run by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter speaks along these lines all the time, and for years. But maybe that’s playing unfair in response to your comment. After all, it was through extreme disappointment with a long series of mainstream Novus Ordo parishes that God led me and my family to the TLM and the FSSP. I consider myself to belong to a different religion now, one that is actually Catholic, and I will never go back to the childishness.
I wonder, given all the changes (primarily since Vatican II) in the Church, the lack of reverence, knowledge and accommodation to immorality that seem to be daily occurrences by Church leaders and laity, if many more won’t switch. The problem is there are still so few TLM parishes.
Because many Bishops and Priests in the USA do not actively and publically promote the reading of the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” within their Diocese or Parish.
Most Catholics do not know their Faith in entirety, and many of those that do know their Faith can not explain “why”.
The answers are all provided in the CCC.
The lack of education for the majority – is an abomination. And disobedience to the Magisterium on matters of Faith and Morals was and has been an example set by many Bishops, Priests and Nuns in the USA.
“….the Catechism has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC page xiv)
The successors to Paul VI ignored Humane Vitae? John Pauls I and II and Benedict? Do you really mean that?
As for your question, not only can I recall it being brought up several times from the pulpit of the quite Norvus Ordo mass I attend, it is the single papal encyclical non-Catholics know.
Anton,
My Pastor is a Traditional Pastor who indirectly was driven out of his Order, the priest who assist him likewise, perhaps with the exception of the Franciscan who wanted to serve the Traditional Catholics and got his superior’s permission. We hear about these sins and others all of the time.
Go to a Traditional Parish if you want such good teaching!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Where do we find them?
Google FSSP locations. Many traditional parishes are schismatic sects who believe that the Catholic Church is no longer the True Church and that they are preserving the True Faith. FSSP are traditional priests who left the SSPX to rejoin the Catholic Church.
Head stuff. We need to convert the base of support, cohabitators and those who don’t find anything wrong with cohabitation, using the Authentic Marriage equivalent of the Vitae Caring Foundation. Until we stop going by the After the Ball playbook, and start using sophisticated marketing research and consumer psychology to convey the substance of “Every Little Child Wants a Married Mommie & Daddy”, not overtly but using subliminal ads, all the arguments in the world are going to play wonderfully when preaching to the choir, but are going to do nothing to convert the hearts in the culture.
Google “Vitae Caring portfolio” – “Ad Portfolio Vitae Caring Foundation”. 2nd row of thumbnails, third square. “Lifesaver” commercial. “Woman firefighter handing a child she just saved to the Mom. ‘Being alive today has special meaning–for both of us. There have been times when I almost didn’t make it. But the one time I had the most to lose, was before I was even born. My Mom was young, single, no money. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for her to give me a chance. But today, I know she’d be very proud, that her decision saved more than one life. ‘ “
Good thought provoking article.
Sin begets more sin. Relativism teaches that there is no right and no wrong. This is the destruction of our society.
No matter what governments do at the Federal, State and Local levels we must work harder at teaching our own Children and Grandchildren.
We must work harder at evangelizing the truth to everyone – including using the media with our posts.
We must always vote for elected officials who work against sin, and know the difference between right and wrong.
In Charity we must correct errors professed by a Bishop, Priest, Nun or Diocese employee, and others including correcting Scandal.
We are required to do these things even if we have a weak Bishop or weak Parish Priest.
To insure against errors and to evangelize accurately – every Catholic home MUST have a Catholic “Bible” and the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” (in the USA the CCC has a green cover).
Divorce with remarriage, contraception, pornography, adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, abortion, euthanasia, cloning, embryonic stem cell research – are all Mortal Sins.
If you are guilty of any of these, read the CCC regarding such sins and then go to Confession having the firm purpose of amendment to commit them no more.
Stay away from the occasions of sin at all times.
Get yourself right with God.
Eternity is more important than temporal (temporary) pursuits.
God bless us all.
Mike,
Great counsel; however if more would adhere to such counsel, we would have enough volunteers to get our literature in the hands of almost everyone attending the annual dissent fest, the Archdiocese of Lost Angels (Los Angeles) Religious “Education” Congress. As it is, we always have a great deal left over and eventually have to trash most of it. If anyone would like some of that literature, call me at: 714-491-2284/714-260-3821 (Cell), and I will be more than happy to make it available to you for just the cost of shipping and handling.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Well stated, the far right-wing folks (heterosexuals) of this site should understand that they are to blame for the sins of those people, the homosexuals!!! See what your self righteous MEAN SPIRIT has begotten!!
Thomas, you need to wake up before it’s too late. The sodomy movement has always blamed people who follow God’s laws regarding sexual matters. You need to be man enough to understand this.
Thomas,
It’s sounds like someone, probably a Catholic, has deeply hurt you in the past. You might want to see a priest to apologize on behalf of the Church for any Catholics who have wronged you.
There is a full spectrum of Catholics out there who range from the spiritually mature to the spiritually immature. But regardless of their spiritual maturity, hopefully they’re all trying to move in the right direction: Closer to God and authentic love. If Catholics don’t always behave as they should, its because they, too, live in the human condition. But the Church is always trying to point us in the correct direction.
Steve it’s not that…..
Thomas Miles – People are responsible for their own actions – their own sins, as well as their own good works. – And will be judged accordingly.
Except – – – – CCC: ” 1868 Sin is a personal act.
Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:
– by participating directly and voluntarily in them;
– by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
– by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
– by protecting evil-doers.”
Those posters who pretend that homosexual or heterosexual mortal sins are not that bad, or try to blame others by not taking responsibility for their own actions, or support their sins through legislation, etc – are also guilty.
MIKE God bless you…you said it right!
TEM,
Do you really think that excuse will get you anywhere when you face He Who Is!
Kenneth M. Fisher
Great post, Mike. Thomas Edward Miles, someone else’s sins do not excuse my own or your own. Old Testament, Ezekiel 18: 20- 21. “Only the one who sins shall die. The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. The virtuous man’s virtue shall be his own, as the wicked man’s wickedness shall be his. But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”
Long live the “mean spirited right wing”
A priest who is not afraid to tell it like it is! Can he be cloned?
Why can we not hear this trurth from every pulpit around the world? Just think how churches would empty, confessional lines then would lengthen, the Church would truly be renewed, and, with more babies, the economy would be restored. All of these matters are factored together.
We can’t hear it from all the pulpits because of the enablers,the Bishops, of the Homoheresy mafia in many dioceses. The bishops control and threaten orthodox priests from presching the truth. Many of the priests that don’t speak the Truth are in some aspect part of the homoheresy mafia either by commiting acts of sodomy or engaging in heterosexual acts themselves. Unless these men repent and change their lives or until the filth is removed either by the pope or an Act of God, we won’t hear the Truth from all of the pulpits.
Can Monsignor Pope be cloned? Certainly not without violating Humanae Vitae.
This is truly a great essay and I’m going to print it out. I especially cherish Monsignor Pope’s summation that by living our Catholic faith and speaking out the truth are the solutions. How often do we hear there are really solutions? Also, his remarks on just anger (but not sinning) is most helpful:
I do not deny my anger at the current situation that many of my interlocutors accuse me of (as if they were not also angry). My point is to suggest that we who are believers be angry without sin. Msgr Pope writes: ‘To use the energy that anger supplies to do whatever personal repenting is necessary, to become ever clearer on the central issues and the “why” of biblical and Church teaching, and to courageously witness to the beauty and truth of a proper understanding of human sexuality.’
This was such a timely and helpful piece of writing! It gives a focus that there is something to be done… something we can actually do, rather than seethe in anger and frustration. And he doesn’t point the finger of blame like so many of limited understanding tend to do, but makes it clear we’re ALL to blame, either by sinful behavior, or blameless behavior but not speaking the truth to those who are sinning. We all know the Burke quotation,’The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing’ In another post I had mentioned the Sen.Portman, who I was so frustrated with because he ran as a Christian against same-sex marriage and then changed his position because of the homosexuality of his son. To me, this is a quintessential example of how we must NOT act when faced with a similar dilemma in our own families. Jesus said Matthew 5:29″ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” I’ve seen it in my own family where one sibling, who was totally pro-marriage, has changed completely because of the homosexuality of a child, and now is at odds with his other children. I’ve seen it in churches where thinking condemnation of homosexuality was mean-spirited by some has led to the complete disintegration of the whole church. We have the teachings of the Church and the Bible, the WORD OF GOD to lead us. These truths are non-negotiable. We are all called to holiness and it is not just about homosexuality, but about ‘living together outside of marriage’, divorce, etc. Perhaps if more heterosexuals were made aware of their own failings, struggling same-sex attraction people wouldn’t feel so persecuted?
Divine Mercy Sunday is the Sunday after Easter. A special grace is given to those who confess and receive communion on this day. One will receive forgiveness of all sins and the punishments due to them. In addition one can receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions with the addition of a devout prayer such as Merciful Jesus I trust in you along with the usual prayers for the Holy Father.
Unfortunately too many well-meaning people make comprehension of the “gay” issue more difficult simply by their acceptance and use of phrases that are grossly misleading, and which the “gay” agenda is happy to propagate: Sexual orientation, and traditional marriage, “gay marriage, and same-sex marriage.
Re sexual orientation, there is no such thing. We are created heterosexual, according to the plan of God. Those who do not accept this are unfortunately disoriented. Simple as that. Using the term “homosexual orientation” misleads everyone into believing that it is a parallel to heterosexuality. They are not parallel. Those who accept homosexuality are disordered. Their orientation is to evil.
Re marriage, this is established by God as a permanent union between one man and one woman. Don’t demean it by calling it traditional. That again implies a parallel of non-traditional marriage. There is no such thing the way they mean it for same sex. That union is an abomination, no matter how permanent or tenuous it is. Don’t use the term traditional; it is marriage or it is just plain carnal, immoral sex.
The Church is pretty clear that a not insubstantial number of people are gay. They say so in black and white, so while you may be entitled to an opinion that sexual orientation doesn’t exist, you’d be departing from what the Church teaches about the matter.
YFC, once again the question is posed to you: Why do you believe all the statistics claims, even those of the Church? With a Church hierarchy and bureaucracy loaded with “filth”, wouldn’t you suppose the stats these orgs produce to be loaded with fable and vanity?
I believe it, Skai, because there is a mountain of data from secular sources as well as some religious sources to tell us that this is true. And among the religious sources is our own Roman Catholic Church. I know you find that a stumbling-stone, but I hope you will understand that these people are real people, that many endeavor to live lives of faith and charity, and that a few of us are your fellow catholics.
My Fellow Catholic, I wish you would help us understand how you came to accept the Church when so many others are calling us a hate group.
Anonymous, you’d have to answer the others who call us a hate group. As for myself, the power of the love of God is too strong to resist once it’s been experienced.
The power of love in Christ is to leave all fleshly desires and embrace the natural law….to work out your salvation in fear and trembling. Carry your cross and walk with Christ. Love first begins with humility and to fear the Lord.
When we fear the Lord, we seek not to mislead others away from God and His ways.
Four points.
1. When one tries to become more holy, I imagine the demons work overtime on him. I cannot conceive of the temptations priests must encounter.
2. One cannot invite satan to dine at your table and then complain because he stinks.
3. There seems to be a movement to do all things forbidden, just as Adam and Eve did in the garden.
4. Pray everyday.
YFC, Why do you care what the Church says one bit when you clearly don’t believe all of what she teaches? I’m very serious about this.
When I asked you FOUR times whether you agree with what the Church clearly teaches that “under no circumstances can (homosexual actions) be approved,” you responded that “I agree that that is what the CCC says.” In other words, you disagree with it but lack the courage and honesty to say so clearly.
Besides this childish attempt at fooling people, which as I pointed out only makes people mad, you now want to use the very Catechism that you reject to bludgeon other people. How can you explain this?
Please, MarkF, I’ve bludgeoned no one. Please stop with the inciteful rhetoric.
YFC Mark F is asked a direct questions and he has nailed you to the floor boards with your answers…
OK. I retract the word “bludgeon.”
Now can you tell me why you hide behind words like “I know that this is what the CCC teaches?” I’ve told you before that this sort of dodge not only fools no one but makes people mad.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is what I conclude from your answer:
– that you reject that what the CCC says when it says that homosexual acts can never be approved of.
– that you perhaps even deny that this is in fact official Church teaching. The way you phrased what you said, it could be concluded that you think that the CCC says this but that the Church’s magisterium teaches that homosexual acts are fine.
Could you clean this up? I really mean this – dissent is one thing but please, stop trying to play word games. They just make people mad.
You are correct, Your Fellow Catholic, the Church does teach that many people have a homosexual orientation or inclination. That is what the catechism says but some people were taught otherwise when they were young as they were not raised Catholic and it seems that they don’t believe what the CCC says in this regard.
Mark from PA and YFC, please re-read what Laurette said. She’s clearly talking about the use of terms, not the prevalence of people with same-sex attraction.
I quote:
“..well-meaning people make comprehension of the “gay” issue more difficult simply by their acceptance and use of PHRASES (my emphasis) that are grossly misleading. She also said, “Using the TERM (my emphasis again) “homosexual orientation” misleads everyone…”
Hers was a post about terminology, as anyone with eyes can see. She’s clearly talking about words and labels as I quoted above.
Now my question to the two of you is this. Given that I have asked YFC the same question four times and he’s still not given me a straight answer, and seeing how the two of you have twisted a fairly obvious post into something that it is not, how am I not to conclude that both of you are writing on here in bad faith and are merely playing word games and other sleights of hand?
Or am I supposed to conclude that both of you have some sort of psychological condition that clouds the mind, given your confusion over what clearly Laurette wrote? Which is it?
MarkF, perhaps you missed this in Laurette’s post: “Re sexual orientation, there is no such thing. We are created heterosexual, according to the plan of God.” ?
Laurette does not, according to her own testimony, accept the teaching of the church in matters of homosexuality.
Of course I saw it. Just as you saw what she said next:
“Those who do not accept this are unfortunately disoriented. Simple as that. Using the TERM (emphasis mine) “homosexual orientation” misleads everyone…”
Did you see, or did you not see where Laurette wrote (and I cited for you conveniently in BOLD letters) the following (for the third time, counting her original post):
“Unfortunately too many well-meaning people make comprehension of the “gay” issue more difficult simply by their acceptance and use of PHRASES that are grossly misleading…Using the TERM “homosexual orientation” misleads everyone.”
PHRASES….TERMS. This is what Laurette was talking about.
Laurette said that God CREATED us heterosexual not that all of ARE CURRENTLY heterosexual. To claim that Laurette said that there are no people with SSA is a specious argument that really doesn’t even merit a response. I can’t for the life of me figure out your motivation for all of this.
I started out engaging you with honestly and kindness. I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I defended you when others were frustrated with you. That was because I had not seen your earlier posts that others were upset about. I even agreed with you that we all sin and that God loves us despite our sins. No one has to be perfect. Men all sin, especially in matters of sex. Men who are heterosexual commit sexual sins with women. Men with SSA sin with other men. I am far from blameless in this matter and I get mad at others who scream the loudest against sins that they are not tempted by. I have tried to be reasonable with and yet I all I get a series of disingenuous word games.
Laurette talked about “well-meaning people.” I have to say that I find it increasingly hard to count you as such a person for the very reason that you are arguing in bad faith, and I have to say that I’m just about done with you.
I have now been forced to ask the following question FIVE times now. Since you are so hell bent about the Church’s teaching, can you answer the question which I have now asked FIVE times to you? I repeat it here.
“When I asked you FOUR times whether you agree with what the Church clearly teaches that “under no circumstances can (homosexual actions) be approved,” you responded that ‘I agree that that is what the CCC says.’ In other words, you disagree with it but lack the courage and honesty to say so clearly.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is what I conclude from your answer:”
“- that you reject that what the CCC says when it says that homosexual acts can never be approved of.”
“- or that you perhaps even deny that this is in fact official Church teaching. The way you phrased what you said, it could be concluded that you think that the CCC says this but that the Church’s magisterium teaches that homosexual acts are fine.”
“Could you clean this up? I really mean this – dissent is one thing but please, stop trying to play word games. They just make people mad.”
Can you just write clearly what you believe? If you support what the Church teaches on human sexuality, as I cited above, then just say so. If you believe that the Church does not in fact teach that homosexual acts can never be approved, then just say so.
It is wrong, both by Roman Catholic teaching, as well as the natural sciences to claim that everyone is created heterosexual. Simply wrong. There is no basis in canon law, the CCC, or the Bible for such a belief, as well as none in the natural sciences.
WOW now I heard everything and understand why YFC is completely in error! Lord Have MERCY on us who have to read his error….it’s like a knife butchering at the truth.
Control over the meaning or words is one of the aspects of this demonic battle. That is what political correctness and hate crimes are all about.
And Mark from PA, since you are very strong in your admiration for the CCC, let me ask you a question that does involve grave matter. I first have to tell you the background.
There is a Catholic doctor who believes that that a woman can get an abortion without it being a grave matter, provided that she’s thought about it sincerely, goes to Mass a lot and is overall a good person. This is what this doctor believes. He does not perform abortions right now nor does he give material support to abortion. But he says that he might perform an abortion under certain circumstances, provided that the decision to get an abortion was not taken promiscuously. Again he says that he’s not actually performed an abortion but I really do not know that. He just writes quite a bit about his views on abortion.
My belief is that even though he’s not done an abortion, his views alone put him at odds with the Church. I looked at the CCC and it said:
Paragraph 2088:
“There are various ways of sinning against faith: “
“Voluntary doubt about the faith disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and the Church proposes for belief. Involuntary doubt refers to hesitation in believing, difficulty in overcoming objections connected with the faith, or also anxiety aroused by its obscurity. If deliberately cultivated doubt can lead to spiritual blindness. “
Paragraph 2089:
“Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same”
Now this man knows what the Church teaches but he chooses to ignore it. He seems to be a good Christian but since this issue is a grave matter and he is writing in support of it, I am concerned.
Here’s my question. What should this man do about his views on a grave matter seeing that his ideas are at odds with what the Church teaches? What is such a man obliged to do? For example, should he talk to a priest about his views and how he writes about them? Or should he remain silent in public out of respect for the faith, even while harboring an inner doubt? Should he seek out other people and groups who share these same beliefs? Or should he avoid such people and groups who oppose Church teaching?
Of course this is all against a background of knowing the difference between a grave matter and a trivial matter such as a choice of terms.
Mark F, I believe abortion is a grave matter. I don’t agree with the doctor’s views here. From what you are writing here I probably agree with you about abortion. Actually, I think I am more pro-life than some priests and bishops. So making it simple I will say that I am in agreement with you in regard to abortion. Concerning Your Fellow Catholic, I agree with him in regard to what Laurette said. No we are not all born heterosexual. Choice of terms is not always a trivial matter. Sometimes words can be used to lead people to violence. Words can be used to reinforce hatreds and prejudices. For example some people link abortion and homosexuality. To me this is like comparing apples to drunk driving. Taking the life of an innocent human being (abortion) isn’t really comparable to having a homosexual orientation. But I must say that use of words has influenced how I think about certain things. I realize that some people just don’t like gay people and they will use whatever words they want to let this be known and there is nothing I can do about it. It is a learning experience however.
In regard to sexual orientation, I have discussed this with several priests. Human sexuality is on a continuum. The priests that I have talked to agree to this as they have degrees in psychology, theology and social work. The one priest explained it quite well and was very knowledgeable in this area. So I have learned things about homosexuality from priests also. This is more in recent years. When I was a young person I never heard anything, positive or negative about homosexuality from priests and nuns.
My experience with some bad will priests is that they don’t always really know….you don’t need psychology, theology and social work to understand certain things especially when it comes to homosexuality.
Of course homosexual orientation (temptation) exists for some people. While others may be tempted to adultery, or fornication.
ACTING on these temptations are MORTAL (grave) sins.
As are pornography and masturbation.
MORTAL SINS may NEVER be approved.
Same sex marriage is the approval of sodomy, homosexual acts.
Laurette, actually, the catechism, see #2357-2359, says it is a sexual disorientation and refers to it as homosexual tendencies. Perhaps we should call it homosexual disorientation and homosexual tendencies. Those are the terms I am going to use from now on.
Homosexual TEMPTATION like all temptation in itself is not sinful in itself.
Only the ACTS are gravely sinful.
CCC: “2847 The Holy Spirit makes us discern between trials, which are necessary for the growth of the inner man, and temptation, which leads to sin and death. We must also discern between being tempted and consenting to temptation. Finally, discernment unmasks the lie of temptation, whose object appears to be good, a “delight to the eyes” and desirable, when in reality its fruit is death.
God does not want to impose the good, but wants free beings. . . . There is a certain usefulness to temptation. No one but God knows what our soul has received from him, not even we ourselves. But temptation reveals it in order to teach us to know ourselves, and in this way we discover our evil inclinations and are obliged to give thanks for the goods that temptation has revealed to us. ”
All those who wish to be Catholic must adhere to the teachings in the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ in entirety. We may not pick and choose or avoid only those things that suit us.
“This catechism is conceived as an organic presentation of the Catholic faith in its entirety. It should be seen therefore as a unified whole.” (CCC page 11)
Monsignor Pope’s analysis is excellent. With that said, it’s a lack of true love and honesty that blinds people to this basic truth regarding procreation and sex.
The trick is to get people to be honest with themselves so that they realize that it’s their own selfishness which blinds them to the truth that procreation is intrinsic to sex and marriage.
Yes Steve, and I thought the picture of M.Monroe was a really good choice as it actually identifies the actual beginning of the whole acceptance of illicit sex, obsession with sex and infantile understanding of sex from none other than the perp who began it all with his seemingly ‘smart, sophisticated and tolerant, slick, acceptable’ projection of unlimited and illicit sex with no consequences…Hugh Heffner…the guy who got porn and sleeze to be acceptable in most households…the ‘guy who has it all and the envy of most hetero men’. He’s still like an 18 yr. old with a babe on each arm and a jaded, sly grin on his face like a misanthropic satyr. He still holds the torch for such decadence with his support of the ACLU and who knows what else in his lifelong war with God and goodness. Why we don’t hear more about his part in the whole dismantlement of our belief system and moral values, I don’t know, because he was one of the first and still is one of the biggest causes of our destruction. How he can so demean women and yet get away with it for decades…how he undermines ALL Church teaching and values…how he can still be referred to as ‘Hef’ in such an affectionate and respectful way…is to me truly mind boggling. His depravity, inner ugliness and hideous lifestyle is utterly without precedent since Nero. I pity those poor deluded women who get sucked down into his dark den of dirty doings.
Dana, I hate to pop your bubble, but many of those women are not so naive, just gold diggers. All vying for his attention (money) to see who gets the biggest pot of gold and which one of them gets crossed off his list first. You can bet most of them are glad when one of the others gets knocked off their pedestal. Yes, he is a jaded, bored-looking Satyr, but not a stupid one, other than in the end Satan will get his pound of flesh from him forever for serving him so long.
Yes, He’s very astute in knowing just how to mix porn w/fluffy pseudo-intellectual ideas. And I know women line up to become his playmates, but he’s so skilled at demeaning them (again the double think game) and making them think they’re special while using them like tissues. He’s probably especially bright…most sociopaths are. I read somewhere that about 40% of prisoners have IQ’s of 140 or more, but that was in a fluff piece of journalism, and not a serious study. Does anyone know? (or care? haha) I just find it frustrating that pornographers like Hefner are making billions of dollars and destroying marriages, families and lives.
I suppose, Dana, all of us should pray for that Old Satyr, but most probably he is too far gone for it to do any good, but then, “While there is life there is hope”.
Hugh Hefner came from a very devout Christian family…I’m sure they are praying for him too. I don’t remember if his dad was a pastor or not….but still I’m sure it breaks his family’s heart very much.
Dana,
I know one women who got sucked into being a Playboy Bunny at one time, she is now a Third Order Carmelite, and she told me of the Demonic activities at that PlayBoy so called Mansion. By the way, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez Brixey (Loretta Sanchez), an ardent advocate of Hugh Hefner, received Communion at the Papal Mass. Such scandals cry out to God for vengeance.
I fear for those idiots who die with a Playboy sticker on their cars or anywhere else. In my mind, it is the same as the Anti-Christ symbol.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Ms.Sanchez is one very confused woman! After so many years of doing the same things and saying the same things you’d think these pleasure seekers would grow so jaded and bored they’d find something more challenging. . Do people still put those stickers on their cars? How juvenile! (and like soooooo 50 years ag0)
With approx. 1 MILLION people at the Papal Installation Mass, and over 500 Priests of all nationalities giving out Communion who have no clue what is in the hearts and minds of individuals, it should not surprise us that some have committed Sacrilege and Scandal.
Knowledge must be present for a Bishop or Priest to aid and abet in the mortal sins of Sacrilege and Scandal.
However, there usually is no excuse for those Bishops (and their Priests) who do not enforce Canon 915 and Canon 1399 for those who live within their own Diocese. (1 Cor 5:11-13).
If all Bishops and Priests were obedient to the Magisterium and enforced Code of Canon Law, politicians would be less likely to receive Holy Communion in other Diocese.
Kenneth, thank God the lady you know got out of his harem. The women Hefner most demeaned were wives. No matter how beautiful, well-proportioned, well-kept and how good a cook, mother and marital partner they were, the wife was always the culprit to him. She was the ugly one. She was the nag. She was always too fat or too skinny. The only women he ever praised were the mistresses or prostitutes.
“and so is heterosexual activity disordered.’
Natural Family Planning is natural in that it monitors natural fertility cycles and uses continence during selected fertile periods to regulate and space (1) conceptions for ideal family size.
Without continence regulation is impossible (2) and without regulation (3) conceptions may increase excessively (4).
Conceptions increasing “excessively” implies that conception is natural; an act of nature alone – Deism.
Some couples though believe that God is the conception soul Supplier and faithfully entrust their family size to His plan for peopling Heaven.
“As long as there is no sincere determination to let the Creator carry on His work as He chooses, then human selfishness will always find new sophistries and excuses to still the voice of conscience.” Pope Pius XII 1958 Address To Large Families.
1. Pope Paul VI 1968 no. 16 On The Regulation of Birth.
2. Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) p.243 Love and Responsibility.
3. Ibid., p. 284.
4. Ibid., p. 238.
“Anonymous” that’s me. I failed put my nane in before posting.
One can’t help but wonder if Vatican II hadn’t been held when it was, that perhaps the Church would have stood more as a bulwark against the changes that occurred in the ’60s and ’70s? Would the family structure have remained at least somewhat stronger, would knowledge of the Faith be better than today, would their be more Catholics attending Mass?
Bob, Vatican II was kidnapped by the Birth Control Pill. With that poison on the market, I do not think much of anything could have been done. Women, even young ones, are dying or being mutilated by cancer, some even have their bosoms removed while young, because they are afraid they might get it. Our water is polluted from the estrogen in it, which is deforming and destroying our fish (food supply) and still the pushers are pushing it. I got cancer when I was older and survived it three times because I never took any kind of estrogen, including the Pill on a regular basis. Some women are even getting cancer in their teens and early twenties, and that type of cancer was unheard of for younger women in my generation growing up. The Pill also helps destroy the bones if it is given at a young age before the teens bones are fully developed. I wonder exactly what it is doing to their DNA, and if it affects our children. Why the sudden rise in mild to sever autism among the more educated classes? Most of whom more likely are on the Pill.
Monsignor Charles Pope has hit the nail right smack dab on the head. I saw all this unfolding in the early sixties when the Birth Control Pill came into existence. People took the Pill in spite of Church teaching, thought they were safe and were not; then walla! abortion to cover up all the adulterous affairs going on — and their children saw and suffered through all this. Nothing is ever hidden in the long run. Pope Paul predicted all this would happen and it did, and it started as soon as the Birth Control Pill went onto the market. There was divorce after divorce. Some caught on fast enough to save their marriages and not get caught in the behavior, but it certainly was not easy with all those taking the Pill ready and willing to steal husbands and wives away. It has been a total mess ever since til AIDS and the STD’s finally put somewhat of a damper on it, and so-called homosexual marriage in NOT the answer. As I have said before, “God will not be mocked — ever.”
I have always been mesmerized by the beauty of bronze skinned latinas, with big brown eyes and long black hair!…I don’t view them as “objectified objects” of desire, but rather my sister’s…a man has to have custody of his eyes and custody of his thoughts, if he wants to really speak of “true” chastity…which means to be pure in thought and “deed”…
Gemologist, good for you. Even women have to practice custody of the eyes or should.
The gemologist right on! I agree, it needs to be taught more from the pulpit.
Pope BXVI, back in 2006 made it mandatory that all “gays” would no longer be accepted into the Catholic seminary, in order to study for the ministerial priesthood…why?… because many of these former seminarians, that are now priest’s, are also openly “gay”, and have brought grave scandal to the Church, by indulging in the perversion of sodomy!…Yes!…read about the horror stories coming out of Miami in recent years, with “gay” priest’s co-habiting with other “gay’ priests’…one cleric was even having an open affair with one of his “gay” parishioners…if this wasn’t revolting enough…some of this filth was caught pilfering money from the Church as well…some were/are living in condo’s in the Keys and one flamboyant “gay” priest even has a yacht, which he uses when entertaining his gay constituents. Add to that the most horrific kind of homosexual pederasty, which has almost bankrupted some diocese’s financially, what with attorney fees and out of court settlements, with the knowledge that many people’s lives have been ruined and their faith destroyed by this sacrilege and victimization…it’s know wonder the holy father in Rome, had to put the “clamps” on gay seminarians…this revolting, scandalous, shocking outgrowth of modernism has to stop!…Slowly, inexorably, the Church has been getting a better handle on dealing with this atrocity, and the seminaries are turning around…even St. John’s in Camarillo, which for years was a cesspool of openly gay, and flamboyant homosexuality, has turned…all due to the efforts of one Archbishop Gomez, who is following the directives of our former Pope, and is cleaning up the “filth”, that has contaminated our parishes, seminaries and Church’s for far too long. Praise be Jesus Christ..