Can you be Catholic and have gay, Muslim, and Jewish friends?

Question

Of course, the answer is yes. This is my silly way of asking a basic question: is my deep respect and admiration for the beliefs and practices of my Jewish and Muslim friends a good reason for me not to convert?

Is my strong belief that my gay brother and gay and lesbian friends/co-workers need to be treated with respect yet another reason to not begin the process?

I mean no disrespect toward anyone's beliefs. My commitment to God, and to serving others, is sincere. I've always been strongly drawn to the Catholic faith. These issues are the main reasons for me not taking the plung.

Thanks for you answer. Peace be with you.

Answer 1

Yes.

The Catholic Church respects all human beings. She teaches:

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.

+ Jews +

The Catholic Church teaches:

When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People, "the first to hear the Word of God.

The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant.

To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ"; "for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 597 and 839:
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt2art4p2.htm#597
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#839

+ Muslims +

The Catholic Church teaches:

"The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

"It is my ardent hope that Muslim and Christian religious leaders and teachers will present our two great religious communities as communities in respectful dialogue, never more as communities in conflict."
-- Pope John Paul II, Meeting with Muslim Leaders in Omayyad Great Mosque, Damascus, May 6, 2001. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20010506_omayyadi_en.html

Christians and Muslims, following their respective religions, point to the truth of the sacred character and dignity of the person. This is the basis of our mutual respect and esteem, this is the basis for cooperation in the service of peace between nations and peoples, the dearest wish of all believers and all people of good will.

As an illustration of the fraternal respect with which Christians and Muslims can work together, I would like to quote some words addressed by Pope Gregory VII in 1076 to a Muslim prince in North Africa who had acted with great benevolence towards the Christians under his jurisdiction. Pope Gregory spoke of the particular charity that Christians and Muslims owe to one another “because we believe in one God, albeit in a different manner, and because we praise him and worship him every day as the Creator and Ruler of the world.”
-- Pope Benedict XVI, Meeting with the President of the Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate in Ankara, Turkey, November 28, 2006. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20061128_pres-religious-affairs_en.html

Dialogue are already taking place all over the world. Just in the United States there is the
- Midwest Dialogue of Catholics and Muslims
- Mid-Atlantic Dialogue of Catholics and Muslims
- West Coast Dialogue of Catholics and Muslims

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 841: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#841 and http://www.usccb.org/seia/islam_index.shtml

+ Homosexuality +

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

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

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

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 2357-2359: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art6.htm#2357

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Nothing against the Catholic faith...but maybe you should try a non-denominational church...I do not think that most Catholics believe in being rude or disrespectful to the gay/lesbian people...You will get the inside or outside of a religion..there are non-religious bigots too.. I am a Christian and I love the Gay community and I know Jesus loves them too while I may not personally agree with their lifestyle...I just don't bring it up, and there are gay Christians that are wonderful people... I have Jewish friends as well, I personally don't have any Muslim friends, but I know a few Muslim people and I think it is ok to be Friends with people who believe differently...but you have to make sure it doesn't hinder your personal faith, because for some people it does...others it doesn't...You being Catholic wouldn't stop them from practicing Judaism or Islam so don't let their personal beliefs stop you from practicing yours.

Answer 3

Absolutely, yes. I used to be a Roman Catholic, now I am a non-denom Christian and I have at least 4 gay friends, 2 muslim friends, and only 1 jewis friend. We are all very close. I take them to mass and church with me, and I go with them to their temples. My views on homosexuality differ from most Christians. Yes, I do believe it is very wrong, and I am not gay or anything. But I believe that we can love and support gays for the people they are like the Bible says to. We can still support them without being gay. I don't see why people can't accept that. I too have a gay brother, and he is an atheist of course, but I still love him, I am not going to disown him like my parents did. I think those so called christians who mock gays and torture and ridicule them will be sitting very close to Satan when this world ends.

I left the Catholic church for different reasons, I won't get into those. but I found a non-denom church called the Church of Christ, which is SOOO close to Catholicism except no confession, no praying to saints and no reciting a bunch of prayers. We take communion every Sunday and occasionally we will recite the Lord's Prayer.

So my advice is to try both. The Roman Catholic Church is great and so is the Church of Christ....so just try one or both!

Answer 4

Absolutely not! A good Catholic SHOULD have deep respect for the Jewish and Muslim faiths. Likewise, they should treat all people with respect regardless of their sexual orientation. I am glad you have these qualities. It means that if you choose to become Catholic, you will be a credit to the faith. Welcome!

Answer 5

Dude - I hope your parents can get a refund for that private school. Obviously they aren't teaching you very well. You want to play with the adults - type like one or your arguments and questions are easily dismissed. answer: No, I don't think you're committing a sin by acting gay. If you're comfortable enough in your sexuality to be affectionate - go for it. David expressed his affection for Jonathan like that in the Bible.

Answer 6

I am a Born Again Christian and have gay friends. Here is my secret. I talk to them and get along very well with them but I never and never will associate with them.. They know my beliefs. We respect each other but that is as far as it will go.