Confession?

Question

In the Catholic Religion (it could be in others. not too sure), Why is it that if you commit a crime, such as murder, robbery, etc, can you goto church and ask for forgiveness from the priest in Confession, BUT YET it is not OK to have a lifestyle of being gay?

Answer 1

As it pertains to the scriptures, homosexuality is considered an abomination before GOD and a complete bastardization of the perfect union HE intended to be shared between a man and a woman. That being said, you have to answer to GOD for your sins....not the priest or the Pope. Jesus is the only mediator you need. That's biblical too. Don't get religion and doctrine confused. All that said, the real thing is no one should worry about whether or not someone else is gay or not...I've got too many splinters in my own thumbs to worry about the ones in yours. All would be better served to worry about their own sins than throwing stones at someone else for theirs. Not only that but what happens in your bedroom should stay there and not become public knowledge for everyone else. I don't go out and about having a parade for Conventional marriage rights although I support it. And what I do with my husband is for he and me to worry about...not to parade in front of homosexuals and ask for their acceptance of my conventionality.

Answer 2

A few responses:

First, homosexual conduct is also forgivable. It can also be confessed to a priest, who can then absolve the person of that particular sin and assign a penance, just as with any other sin.

Second, I seriously doubt that too many murders (apart from abortion, perhaps) are ever confessed to a priest.

Think about it -- if a person is willing to commit the very serious sin of murdering someone, I seriously doubt that he/she is the kind of person who would feel remorse about it and confess it to a priest.

But it probably does happen -- it's rare, I'm sure, but it does happen. In that case, the priest is well within his authority to assign as a penance that the person turn him/herself in to the police.

You seem to imply that a murderer can confess a murder to a priest, and then be "let off the hook" by saying a couple Hail Marys or Our Fathers. But it's not that simple.

You seem to be implying that the Catholic Church sees homosexuality as a worse sin than murder. This is just plain not true.

You also seem to be implying that homosexuality can be excused on the grounds that there are more serious sins out there -- such as murder and robbery.

True, murder is definitely a worse sin than homosexual conduct -- and robbery probably is too.

But in no way does that excuse homosexual conduct.

Answer 3

Don't be double standard.

If you commit sins, don't go to the church and ask forgiveness to a priest. They cannot help you and besides they do not know what you have been doing around. My advice is to go directly to God throne of grace that we may find mercy. Confess your sins and accept the consequences of your sins.

GAY lifestyle? No you cannot. Take the advice of Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 "Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may proved what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Answer 4

Technically, you can ask for forgiveness for anything...murder, taking the Lord's name in vain, being gay, having an abortion.

Just because you ask for forgiveness doesn't make it right. So it's not ok to be a murderer or rapist, but the act of confession simply makes it a soul cleansing experience.

Catholic Doctrine was written so very long ago...it is unlikely they'll be flexible in the gay thing. Sorry :(

Answer 5

When you go to Confession, you are searching your soul (with the help of the Holy Spirit) and admitting your sins, asking for forgiveness and absolution BUT the entire purpose is to amend your life and resolve not to sin again. If you intend to keep on sinning and doing the things that you know you have no resolve to change, then this is not a sorrowful and sincere repentance and resolve to live in God's grace.

Answer 6

Well, it isn't o.k. to have a gay lifestyle OR commit robbery, murder or any other crime, so the question is without a logical conclusion - you assume that commiting a crime is o.k. as long as you go to confession.

All the confession does is rid the sin from your soul, it doesn't pardon your actions with the legal system - you will still have to pay for your crime.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
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. (CCC #2359)
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. (CCC #2358)
Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices. (CCC #2396)
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. (CCC #2357)

As you can see, being homosexual isn't the sin, but the act of having a homosexual lifestyle (sex) is.

Answer 7

I'm not catholic, but I think I can answer your question. When we ask God for forgiveness, the point is that we are to do as Jesus said, "go and sin no more". So we confess, repent, and not commit that sin again. What you are suggesting is asking for forgiveness, but to keep on committing the same sin. That's not true repentance.

Answer 8

I dont understand why anyone would ask a priest for forgiveness.. I do believe in repenting from sin.. but I wouldnt go to a middleman for that.
A lifestyle means your way of life. Why ask for forgiveness for something you plan on continuing. Means you arent really repenting from it.

Answer 9

Asking for forgiveness is a form of repenting of it. It mean that we need to turn away from the sin and not keep doing. Now it does not excuse us from what ever the concussion of those sins are.

Answer 10

Speaking for Christianity, not Catholicism, you can be forgiven of any sin (murder, robber, homosexuality) which you will repent of doing. If you continue to murder, rob, or commit homosexual acts, which you have no intention of turning from, you will not be forgiven.

Luke 13:3 I tell you Nay, but except ye repent, ye will all likewise perish.