Are you interested in a short study of "The Historic Origins of Church Condemnation of Homosexuality?"

Question

Here is an excerpt:
versione italiana
On May 14, 390, an imperial decree was posted at the Roman hall
of Minerva, a gathering place for actors, writers and artists, which
criminalize for the first time the sexual practice of those whom we
call "homosexual" men -- this had never happened before in the
history of law. The prescribed penalty was death by burning. This law was promulgated by an emperor who at the time was under a penance set by St. Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, and the law was issued in the context of a persecution of heresies. Homosexual men at the imperial court had been powerful opponents of Catholic doctrine during the fourth-century conflicts over the nature of Jesus Christ, known as the Arian controversies.

Prior to 390, both religious and secular laws had targeted only
one particular form of homosexuality: when a man or youth who
otherwise exhibited a virile attraction toward women nonetheless
agreed to or was forced to play a female role.

If you want to have the whole study use Y answers to e-mail me with an e-mail address to which it can be attached.

As usual, Christians won't even look at anything that might upset their Bible Cart.

Read Matthew 19:12
Look up Abomination in a dictionary.
Try not to kneejerk any more of your Rote Rot.

Very short synopsis
The crux of much of the homosexuality laws were because of the power of eunuchs in the Church. As usual the Christians have screamed before knowing what they are screaming about.

They do truly believe that "Ignorance is Bliss."

Answer 1

I'm curious, Terry, and I went searching and I think I found the article you were quoting here.

"From early Babylon down to the late Roman empire, eunuchs had played two major roles in ancient society -- as priests in pagan temples, and as domestic servants in wealthy households and royal palaces. Thus eunuchs had a tradition of spirituality, and of being close to power. In the fourth century, this combination made them a great help to bishops whom they supported, and a potent threat to those whom they opposed."

Answer 2

Hi Terry,
This is interesting but I believe that all of these supercede 390 AD:
# 1 Passages from the Hebrew Bible

* 1.1 Genesis 1 and 2: Creation
* 1.2 Genesis 19: Sodom and Gomorrah
* 1.3 Leviticus 18 and 20
o 1.3.1 Analysis of the Hebrew text
* 1.4 The Book of Ruth
* 1.5 Books of Samuel: David and Jonathan
* 1.6 Books of Kings

# 2 Passages from the New Testament

* 2.1 Matthew 5:22: "raca"
* 2.2 Matthew 15; Mark 7: What defiles
* 2.3 Matthew 8; Luke 7: "pais"
* 2.4 The disciple whom Jesus loved
* 2.5 Romans 1
* 2.6 1 Corinthians 6; 1 Timothy 1: Wrongdoers

Have a wonderful week.
Thanks,
Eds, Christian

Answer 3

However, God targeted all of homosexuality. He made no distinction, whether speaking through the Gospel writers or whether Jesus was speaking. He stated several times, in both the Old & New Testaments, that homosexuality is a sin, an abomination.

Answer 4

Okay, I found and read the article. It appears that they are trying to say that prior to the Church law, homosexuals were considered normal and male.

But basically...so what? Are you trying to point out that it is the Church that stands in opposition? If so, you are correct..it does..by the authority of God. Jesus Christ started the Catholic Church and gave it the divine authority that it exercises in this area.

The Catholic Church maintains that homosexuals are loved by God. They are forgiven and can remain in full communion with God and Church if they refrain from homosexual activity.

Answer 5

The old testament clearly denounces homosexuality in many passages., which clearly predates 390 A.D. This is not to start an argument, but as a matter of clarification.

Answer 6

Here it is.The Old Testament condemns it and the New Testament condemns it.It condems the same sex "sleeping" together,dressing like a woman or acting like one.That's scripture.

Answer 7

It sounds good, but I believe if you read in the Word of God, the Holy Bible, it began way before that. Read about Sodom and Gomorrah, God condemned, God destroyed. Not man.

Answer 8

There is no reason to condemn homosexuals.
They condemn themselves.
We should fee sorry for those that by their own nature, will be de-selected in the evolution process.

Sad. Two thumbs down for the truth already.

Answer 9

Who cares about hommos,they were told no and thats all there is to it,nothing complex.
.

Answer 10

Homosexuality

What is the teaching of the Holy Roman Catholic Church?

I The Catholic teaching of this matter is given to us by God Himself in Sacred Scripture:

Genesis XIII, 13: "And the men of Sodom were very wicked, sinners before the face of the Lord, beyond measure"; these Sodomites were in fact homosexuals, as it is proven by Genesis XIX 1-11.

Leviticus 18:22,24-30: "Thou shall not lie with mankind as with womankind, because it is an abomination. (...) Defile not yourselves with any of these things with which all the nations have been defiled, which I will cast out before you. And with which the land is defiled: the abominations of which I will visit, that it may vomit out its inhabitants. Keep ye my ordinances and my judgments, and do not any of these abominations: neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you. For all these detestable things the inhabitants of the land have done, that were before you, and have defiled it. Beware then, lest in like manner, it vomit you also out, if you do the like things, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. Every soul that shall commit any of these abominations, shall perish from the midst of his people. Keep my commandments. Do not the things which they have done, that have been before you, and be not defiled therein. I am the Lord your God".

Leviticus 20:13: "If any one lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination, let them be put to death: their blood be upon them".

Deuteronomy 23:18: "Thou shall not offer the hire of a strumpet, nor the price of a dog, in the house of the Lord thy God, whatsoever be that thou hast vowed: because both these are an abomination to the Lord thy God".

1 Kings 14:24, "And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel."

1 Kings 15:11-12, "And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made."

Romans 1: 26-27, 31-32: "For this cause God delivered them up to shameful afflictions. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. And in like manner the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have turned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error. (...) Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy. Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they, who do such things, are worthy of death: and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them.

Jude 1:7 -“As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the neighboring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after strange flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.”

I Corinthians VI, 9-10: "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 liars with mankind, (...) shall possess the kingdom of God". See Genesis 19:12-29. Consequently, St. Augustine says (1) "that of all these - namely the sins belonging to lust - that which is against nature is the worst," is ”in itself a mortal sin," (2) a sin specifically distinct (3) from all other sins.

II Why is homosexuality an "abomination", excluding from the heavenly kingdom?

A. Because homosexuality is against nature: In the natural order planned by God, the purpose of the carnal union is generation. Now, generation is the natural fruit of the carnal union of man and woman. Therefore the carnal union of two persons of the same sex goes against the natural order planned by God.

B. Because homosexuality is against reason: Reason presupposes things as determined by nature, before disposing of other things according as it is fitting. Now, in matters of action, it is most grave and shameful to act against things as determined by nature. Therefore, since the homosexual transgresses that which has been determined by nature with regards to the use of sexual actions, it follows that he acts against reason.

III Thoughts of some Doctors of the Church about homosexuality:

A. St. Augustine: "Those foul offences that are against nature should be everywhere and at all times detested and punished, such as were those of the people of Sodom, which should all nations commit, they should all stand guilty of the same crime, by the law of God, which hath not so made men that they should so abuse one another. For even that very intercourse which should be between God and us is violated, when that same nature, of which He is the Author, is polluted by the perversity of lust". (Confessions; III.8)

B St. John Chrysostomus: "The worst of it is that such an abomination is committed boldly and that the monstrosity becomes the law. Nobody nowadays fears, nobody blushes. They boast and they laugh at these actions. The people who abstain appear stupid and they who condemn are regarded as fools. If they appear to be the weaker ones they are crushed with blows. If they are stronger, people laugh, people mock them and make many jokes about them. They have no redress in tribunals or in law." (...) "I have heard also many men who are surprised that up to the present a new shower of fire has not fallen on us and that the chastisement of Sodom has not fallen again on our town which is even more deserving of punishment since it did not learn from the evils of the Sodomites. Although after two thousand years this place accursed and overwhelmed which was Sodom cries to the whole world by its appearance more eloquently than any one voice could, not to dare to commit such heinous offences, our fellow citizens have committed these offences not with less effrontery but quite on the contrary they show themselves more daring and unashamed as if they were determined to do battle with God and that they wish to prove that they wish to add to their crimes, in proportion as the threats become more terrible. How is it that according as the crimes of Sodom renew themselves the chastisement of Sodom is not also renewed? Ah, the reason is that a more terrible fire waits them and that a chastisement is reserved for them which will have no end." (Against the opponents of Monastic Life, III.8)

(1) De adult. conjug.; cap. Adulterii; cause 32; q 7; quoted by St. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica; II II q 154, a 12.

(2) St. Thomas Aquinas: De Malo; q xv, a 2, ad 6.

(3) Pope Alexander VII: Decree from the Holy Office, Sept. 24, 1665 prop. No. 24. (Dzs. 2044).