OK to be gay ... and Catholic??

1way · #1 Jun 25, '09, 9:03 am

Not sure if this is a traditional question or a political/social one.

I know two women who have been openly living in a lesbian relationship for years.
In fact they met while they were both in the convent. They left the sisterhood and have lived together ever since ... 40 years. They were school teachers, retired now, that have been an active part of the community all their lives.
My question: Can they still be considered Catholic? Can they receive Communion?
What is the Church's position toward active gay/lebian people who attend the Catholic Church?

michaeldaniels · #2 Jun 25, '09, 9:15 am

One can not openly or secretly for that matter, live such a life and present themselves for Communion...not only would that be a sacriligeous Communion, that would give scandal to others as well. Now, they could recognize their lives are a scandal and not in accordance with God's teachings...go to Confession and refuse to live that lifestyle anymore and then receive Communion....It is not a sin to be attracted to the same sex, it is a sin to carry out that attraction into a physical relationship. Just as it is a sin for a man and woman to commit marital acts outside of marriage....we must hate the sin, but love the sinner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1way

Not sure if this is a traditional question or a political/social one.

I know two women who have been openly living in a lesbian relationship for years.
In fact they met while they were both in the convent. They left the sisterhood and have lived together ever since ... 40 years. They were school teachers, retired now, that have been an active part of the community all their lives.
My question: Can they still be considered Catholic? Can they receive Communion?
What is the Church's position toward active gay/lebian people who attend the Catholic Church?

**edwest2** · #3 Jun 25, '09, 9:16 am

Please see the part titled Catholics and Communion in this article:

http://www.catholic.com/library/Who_..._Communion.asp

Gay people can go to Church. The Church has no problem with Same Sex Attraction but gay people are taught they should not engage in sexual acts and be chaste.

Hope this helps,
Ed

bnj003 · #4 Jun 25, '09, 9:52 am

It is NOT ok to practice gay sex, and go to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, communion.
And yes gays who are celibate can be practicing Catholics. And anyone can attend a Catholic mass, however only those who are in the "state of grace" can go to communion.
Catholics do not hate gays.Not at all.

credo · #5 Jun 25, '09, 10:18 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnj003

It is NOT ok to practice gay sex, and go to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, communion.
And yes gays who are celibate can be practicing Catholics. And anyone can attend a Catholic mass, however only those who are in the "state of grace" can go to communion.
Catholics do not hate gays.Not at all.

This is exactly the way I explain the Church's stance on homosexuality. The first time I said this to an openly gay co-worker who said the Catholic Church hates gays, he was simply unable to say anything in response. It was like everything he ever thought about Catholics went up in smoke.

Now we can have civil discussions about this topic. He can go to Mass if he is celibate.

credo

cephas161619 · #6 Jun 25, '09, 10:32 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnj003

Catholics do not hate gays.Not at all.

What about the gays who disrupt the Mass?

"Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you."

lil_flower_luv · #7 Jun 25, '09, 10:42 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cephas161619

What about the gays who disrupt the Mass?

"Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you."

It means we should pray for them...not hate them.

John Higgins · #8 Jun 25, '09, 10:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by credo

He can go to Mass if he is celibate.

He can go to Mass whether or not he is celibate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1way

I know two women who have been openly living in a lesbian relationship for years.

You know they are living together, that's ALL you know, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1way

My question: Can they still be considered Catholic?

I am kind of tired of people who when they find Catholic sinners (like we ALL are) ask if the offenders are even Catholic any more. Or even better, they say they are "Catholic" in quotes. (Read that not Catholic the way I think they should be.)

Matthew 7:1

Further, unless they formally defected from the Catholic Church they are still, and always Catholic.

John

cephas161619 · #9 Jun 25, '09, 10:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil_flower_luv

It means we should pray for them...not hate them.

Pray for them. and love them. To love doesn't mean we feel good about them, but that we will their good.

Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.

lil_flower_luv · #10 Jun 25, '09, 10:54 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cephas161619

Pray for them. and love them. To love doesn't mean we feel good about them, but that we will their good.

Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.

Of course!

giuseppeTO · #11 Jun 25, '09, 10:55 am

Both the catechism and Holy Scripture label homosexuality as grave depravity and homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. So, aside from chastity, which we are all called to do according to our ministries and states of life, one should work toward being freed from its bondage through prayer, sacramental grace, and penance, as opposed to being content with the orientation.

The same sort of "gravely disordered" language is used in the catechism for masturbation and we should employ the same methods if bonded by that vice.

giuseppeTO · #12 Jun 25, '09, 11:09 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Higgins

Further, unless they formally defected from the Catholic Church they are still, and always Catholic.

John

I disagree. When I see statistics that say that 40% of Catholics don't go to Mass on Sunday, I say that they are not Catholic, regardless of their Baptism. Non-practicing Catholic is an oxymoron. You either believe in the laws of the church or you don't. If you don't, you are some sort of protestant.

Sarah44 · #13 Jun 25, '09, 11:19 am

Unless I am missing something, isn't there a difference between two women living together without having a sexual relationship and two women living together who do have a sexual relationship. We can't label someone else "lesbian" unless they disclose that info.
Sarah

_Believer_ · #14 Jun 25, '09, 11:29 am

I believe that gays can be catholic as long as they don't practice homosexual acts. Obviously there's nothing a man or woman can do if they are gay, but performing these acts is where it becomes wrong. One of God's plans for us was to procreate, to reproduce, and populate the Earth. Being a homosexual, and knowing that performing these acts will not lead to a child birth is extremely wrong and goes against what God says.

giuseppeTO · #15 Jun 25, '09, 11:33 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah44

Unless I am missing something, isn't there a difference between two women living together without having a sexual relationship and two women living together who do have a sexual relationship. We can't label someone else "lesbian" unless they disclose that info.
Sarah

The catechism says that the "..[homosexual] inclination .. is objectively disordered ..". So, while the celibacy is certainly commendable, I would argue that fostering the inclination by co-habitating with someone that is the object of your homosexual attraction is still a problem. I counters your confessional promise to avoid the near occasion of sin