How should a catholic act towards Gays?

Question

okay, so i am catholic. i go to a catholic school and go to mass every sunday. i know alot about my faith and pray reguarly. but there is one issue about my faith that im in a bit of a pickle about. its about Gay people. I am not gay. but i dont have anything particularlly agianst them either. and i most certainly dont think they will all go to hell. our preist though say homosexuality is totally and completely wrong and that it is work of the devil. kids in my class make fun of gays. i dont think this is right. the bible says jesus ate with sinners and if he ate with the liar, and the con-artist, and the prostitute and the murderer, dont you think he ate with the gay people too? now i dont think being gay is right either. Gods plan as for men and women to had romantic relations and it is wrong to medel with Gods plans. but i dont think its right to mock them either!! God made people different for a reason and we are suposed to love one another, right??

Oh yeah... and im pretty young so dont be too harsh to me with these answers... but i just want to know if my view on this is wrong. its real confusing to me but i just know jesus wouldnt want us being cruel to these people. that doesnt seem right

Answer 1

The Catholic Church specifically says that homosexuals "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."

Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.

The Catholic Church believes there is nothing sinful about being homosexual. But homosexuals like all unmarried people are called to celibacy.

Here is the text of the document, On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (1986): http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_df86ho.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

You're right, it is not good to discriminate, and a Christian's duty first and foremost is to treat people with the respect and dignity due to a child of God.

But saying that Jesus ate with sinners implies that it is a sin to be gay, and it most certainly is not. One of the requirements for sin is choice in the matter, and being gay is not a choice. Besides that, it is not a sin for one person to love another, despite the genders of the people involved.

How do you know God's plan? I am not being critical of you or your religion, I'm just saying... how does any of us know what God wants? Why would God even care what the gender of the people you like is as long as you love someone?

Now, I went to Catholic school for 13 years, and grew up Catholic, so I know where you're coming from. But I can also see the matter from the view of an LGBTQ atheist... I know that one of the teachings of the RCC is that sex is only ok if it is consentual, in the context of marriage, and is open to the possibility of conception. Consent is not an issue here; for the purposes of this answer I'm assuming the people involved are in a consentual relationship. They may or may not be married depending on the country, but they are certainly not married in the RCC. But they are essentially married, save the laws of the country and Church.

That leaves the possibility of conception... and gay couples cannot conceive via gay sex. But they can adopt, or use artifical insemination. And furthermore, why is it that gay couples cannot marry in the RCC because of that impossibility, but straight couples that choose not to have kids or know that they're infertile can get married?

So I commend you for knowing that it is wrong to judge people, but challenge you to hold back on judging. Maybe you could visit a local GSA meeting or something to that effect, so that you could see that it's not wrong to be gay. Also, remember that you don't have to accept everything the Church says. It is crucial that you think for yourself and educate yourself if you hope to deepen your relationship with God.

Good luck.

Answer 3

First of all, if your going to base your religion on the Bible, you should re-read it and base your beliefs on what it tells you, not what OTHER PEOPLE interpret it to be. You will see that the Bible states that salvation comes from within. Meaning that your relationship with God happens within your heart. You will also see that you are correct in your point of view that Jesus ate with the sinners, the same type of people that your priest condemns. You will also see that no man has the authority to condemn, although your priest feels that he has the authority to make that call in a roundabout way. Did you know that no man can be closer to God than another? Give your life to Christ and your no farther from God than the Pope is.
You are correct in following your heart in seeing nothing wrong in the sexual orientation of others. People of the world may be unclean, wicked, and deceitful, full of lust and perversions, and your priest may look down at these types of people.
But how does God feel about these same people? He sacrificed his own son out of His love for them. As it says in the Bible: "Christ died for the wicked"

Keep following your heart, because it is there that you know your feelings are good, despite what other "believers" tell you.

Answer 4

Well, you're right, you shouldn't be cruel to anyone and you should love and accept everyone for who they are. However, being gay is not a sin. It's natural. There are other ways to read and interpret the bible and i suggest you look into them. I think you have the right idea about this issue but are being somewhat held back by your church. I think it's really great that you are able to question this while your other classmates aren't. I think you should check out this website. Remember you should always chose what feels right for you and you don't always have to blindly believe what other people spoon feed you. Keep questioning things. Thats the only way to learn and grow. So, heres the site.

http://www.cathedralofhope.com/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=225&srcid=305

Good luck.

Answer 5

We should treat them the same way we treat men and women. We're not in the position to judge them. We are not perfect and i think no one is perfect. Only God has the right to judge them. And i think being gay is not a sin but the actions that they do. Like sleeping with the same sex. But God forgives everyone or any one who asks for forgiveness. So it doesn't mean that if you are a catholic and your straight that means you'll go heaven. It still god's decision and it is based on what you've done here on earth...

Answer 6

well let me tell you what one thing, I am catholic, I don't go to mass, but I have devotion in Jesus, Mary and some saints, well as catholic, the catholic church is more open minded than other churches, well in the past some gays could choose to be gay and live celibates.. now the problem is the catholic church dont want to see more behind them, the Bible never mention gay sexuality, neither love to a man or something like that, there are some verses but those verses are againts gay idolatries no gay love.. gay love it's different.. if God exists we have to be different, at the end our goal it's to reach God

Answer 7

I don't think that homosexuality needs to clash with your religious beliefs. And I know that people will read my the 2-3 scriptures over and over again, but I don't buy it. And I'm a Christian. Try using logic as to why God would outlaw homosexuality and make it a sin. It doesn't work. That's what I think, but you sound like a smart kid, do what you think is right. The only thing I would suggest is most people don't like being referred to as sinners, regardless of their beliefs.

Answer 8

Just be normal towards them. You don't have to dislike Gays,but it doesn't compromise your faith in any way by being in their company.Your priest is entitled to his opinion. After all he has got to abide by what the Pope thinks. That is probably what is wrong with many religions. There isn't the tolerance for an individual to make their own minds up about provocative issues. Remember God should be the only judge.Just keep your thoughts to yourself.

Answer 9

You're right, girl. We don't deserve to be treated any differently than anyone else. We're people too.
I think that God had an individual plan for everyone, so I think he made me gay for a reason. That's why I find it so disheartening that everyone tells me that who I am is going against God's plan.
If I may ask this of you... would you mind praying for me and the others who are in this position? I would REALLY appreciate it.
God bless!

Answer 10

Honey you're doing a good job, just because other people say it's sinful does not mean you get to treat them badly and mock them.
Stick by your morals and beliefs, you sound like a good person and good christian.
Only God really knows his plans, I personally can't imagine how homosexuality could be against his wishes but it will be his right to judge not anyone elses.