tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093104336548549908.post6773518422347580303..comments2010-03-19T23:39:59.310-04:00Comments on VERITATEM IN CARITATE: BISHOP MARTINO (Scranton) SETS THEM STRAIGHT!!!Deacon Tom Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056149939136199202noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093104336548549908.post-63226254973750571662009-04-22T11:48:00.000-04:002009-04-22T11:48:00.000-04:00"Anonymous" apparently didn't read the actual post..."Anonymous" apparently didn't read the actual post. It has nothing to do with whether homosexuality is an acquired trait or not! It deals primarily with the truth that life begins at conception. Perhaps "Anonymous" simply meant to post his/her comments elsewhere. I'll have to give him/her the benefit of the doubt in that regard.<br /><br />I would however direct "Anonymous" to the ACTUAL Church teaching on homosexuality so that they are not misinformed. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we learn:<br /><br />Chastity and homosexuality <br /><br />2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved. <br /><br />2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. <br /><br />2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection. <br /><br />Remember "Anonymous," "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." [Matt. 16:18] The Church has faced many obstacles throughout history and has overcome them all.<br /><br />The world certainly changes due to relativism and human secularism, but Christ does not change. Truth does not change. What was disordered and contrary to natural law at the time of Christ remain disordered and contrary to natural law today. <br /><br />What also hasn't changed is that we are to love God and our neighbor. And so "Anonymous" I tell you that I do love you as a part of God's wonderfully beautiful Creation! What Christ didn't say is a part of the "Greatest Commandment" is that we must love all conduct and behavior. That's the point you so tragically miss.Deacon Tom Langhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13056149939136199202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093104336548549908.post-34226186641234528322009-04-22T10:55:00.000-04:002009-04-22T10:55:00.000-04:00As a gay catholic (this is the way God made me) al...As a gay catholic (this is the way God made me) all I can say is that I pray you'll one day God will reveal the big picture to you. If I wasn't born this way, I may have your same viewpoint. And you'll see how your slavish following of Martino, a very close minded man, is not at all Christ-like. The world changes...the church needs to move with the times. People like you and these ridiculous world views are precisely why the church will continue to decline. no wonder Ratzinger stopped short of a witchhunt to rid out all gay preists. Would probably wipe out half of the clergy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093104336548549908.post-37501249051169990892008-10-22T10:05:00.000-04:002008-10-22T10:05:00.000-04:00I've had the pleasure of talking with Bishop Marti...I've had the pleasure of talking with Bishop Martino at various meetings and on trips to and from the train station. He is a GOOD man. May God bless him!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com