Ask Pastor Paul: Spiritual Advice for the Real World.
Have a spiritual question, ethical dilemma or religious curiosity? Don't be shy! People of all backgrounds, ages and creeds are encouraged to submit questions to askpastorpaul@huffingtonpost.com.
Dear Readers, I have received many inquiries from LGBT identified people who have asked me about inclusion in their tradition. I have chosen one of them to feature today and hope this answer will bring comfort to others who have written to me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Peace,
Pastor Paul
Dear Pastor Paul,
I am a theology graduate student who also happens to be a lesbian. I have spent the past few years in a loving relationship with a woman who has helped me to grow in my spiritual life, and I believe I have also helped her to grow. It is very difficult to wade through all the messages we hear today about homosexual relationships and Christianity, even after having studied the Bible and other religious texts for many years. Intellectually, I know that we cannot assess biblical references to homosexual behavior in the same light as we look at the committed, loving gay relationships of today's world. Spiritually, I feel that my partner is a gift from God, and that she and I are meant to continue our journey and help each other along the way to heaven. The problem is how all of the negative messages affect my self-concept and feelings of belonging within my faith community. I have been Catholic all my life. I love my church and do not want to leave and find a more socially liberal Christian community, but sometimes other members of my parish make me feel like a social pariah and a second-class member of the Church. It seems there are few places I can turn for comfort at this point. Do you have any suggestions for how I can support my own development without abandoning the rich theological and spiritual tradition that I have always known and loved?
Sincerely,
Catherine
Dear Catherine,
Thank you for writing and sharing your story. Your very life is a testimony to the way that God is moving in the world today and while it may be painful at times, my basic message to you is to stay strong and turn to your faith for comfort and resolve.
I know that some of the messages that you are hearing about homosexual relationships are negative, and some of the most heinous ones are the loudest. But I have some very good news for you. We have won. There will be equality for LGBT people in the church and in all religious traditions. It is only a matter of time. As MLK said, "The arc of the universe is long but bends towards justice."
There is no turning back now from the understanding that God makes people who love the opposite gender, the same gender and both genders. And everything God makes is good. The fact of your life and love for your partner gives witness to this natural law. But it will take some time for all people to learn this truth. And the virulence may grow even as the last gasps of bigotry are vanquished.
I encourage you during this transitional time to practice the commandment of Jesus to love your enemies -- even those who might attempt to make you feel like a second-class citizen and social pariah of the church. Don't give them that power. Know that God loves you fully, and so your task is to love even those who persecute you. Your love for them will eventually transform enemies into friends and allies. Changing the minds of people in the church (and anywhere!) is slow business and it happens one person at a time, but LGBT people have come incredibly far in a very short period of time because of the hard work of people like you.
The Catholic Church is your home, and don't let anyone kick you out. When the going gets tough remember that you have many friends in the pews and in even in the clergy. Recent polls have shown that Catholics are actually more accepting of LGBT people than the average American. If you need extra support you can also turn to Dignity, which is the Catholic LGBT support group that holds meetings and offers resources for advancing full acceptance of LGBT people in the church.
And when the going gets tough, be grateful that God has sent you a partner who supports you in your Christian walk. As you know, to reject that love and to pretend to love a man just because someone told you to would be a sin. Cherish her, and help each other in the way of Jesus. People will see your love and will eventually recognize it as sacred.
Ultimately, you were born for exactly this moment, and your courage will pave the way for young people in the generations that follow you. The difficulty and oppression is part of your cross, and while it is painful at times, picking it up and following Christ as a faithful lesbian is about the most Christian act you can do.
Have a spiritual question, ethical dilemma or religious curiosity? Don't be shy! People of all backgrounds, ages and creeds are encouraged to submit questions to askpastorpaul@huffingtonpost.com.
If you are in spiritual or emotional distress, please contact a clergy person or mental health professional who can help you. If you are in crisis, please contact the crisis hotline.
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Once one truly knows God, it becomes obvious that fear is both ridiculous and counter-productive - leads toward completely missing the point. God isn't going to sentence anyone to eternal punishment - He has no interest whatsoever in petty, human-like egocentric behavior. I think it's very unfortunate that some of the authors in the Bible chose language that lead to conclusions perpetuating religious fears rather than exposing the truth.
You make some wild accusations about me, Junior. Perhaps you should spend more time reading about that.
If you're convinced you were 'born that way,' great. You must be born again.
Prayers.
I love the fact that God and what God thinks about this issue doesn't and won't change, regardless of what hard-line stance we take.
Prayers.
In response to all you good folks who print T-shirts with John 3:16, I'm starting a business printing T-shirts with the above references. I fully expect to have a supply and demand problem.
Moses exploits of War being led of God and then him losing the right to enter the promise land because of His Anger and hitting the Rock (Christ) instead of speaking to it.
Blowing of shofars and the Victory in the shout and the walls come falling down and the strong city of sinners is Given over to Gods Children.
The Lord raising up Judges because the people turned away from God, and had forgotten where it was they came from.
God's Leader, Killing all those that worshiped false God's(Amen) and turned God's people to worship false God's and to follow after lies(Amen).
Etc Etc. Etc, I get Your point and I also Believe it, Western Culture tries to pollute Christianity.
John 3:16 does not mean you can live a alternate lifestyle, what it does mean is you can be saved from the wrath of God if you leave that sinful nature and turn to Jesus Christ.
Each and every Catholic (hell, even each and every Christian) have struggles with sin and inordinate desire. A Church that welcomes a person does not necessarily mean the Church has to accept and validate the sinful acts a person commits.
Sexual desire for a person of the same sex does not define a person. The dignity of the person is inherent in his/her humanity and not on who he/she wants to have sex with.
A person seeking Jesus and holiness with Him does will suffer many pullings and tuggings of different deires, not just sexual ones. During persistent failings, it is in contunuing to run back to the Father, through Jesus, that matters because God is a merciful and loving God.
Authentic Christianity is supposed involve confomity of one's life, (the best he/she can), to the life and teachings of Christ. Finding and joining a group of people that will bend and twist Christian teachings and tradition to conform to validate sinful acts may prove unhelpful in the long run.
There are two problems. The text itself contains no such caveat. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:15-23&version=NIV
Second, "homosexuality is sin" is not based on reading the Scripture in its entirety and context. For each of the passages used to fabricate 'homosexuality is sin' - they are ripped out of context, and applied in ways that contradict the key principles taught in the Bible.
The ironic thing is that the excusing making that was offered to refute my post, actually describes 'homosexuality is sin' extremely well - and has the effect of affirming what I presented.
The test Christ gives is simple - false teaching is revealed by its consequences. All of the consequences of 'homosexuality is sin' are evil - murder and genocide, systemic oppression, lies and slander, physical and verbal abuse - every evil humans are capable of, has been committed by someone as they express 'homosexuality is sin'.
If you believe Christ, really, then you have to reject 'homosexuality is sin' as a false teaching - even if it only harmed one person. But it harms millions and millions and millions of people, and has been for centuries.
You are, as you put it, "a social pariah and a second-class member of the Church." That you also imagine that you have any grounds to "support my own development without abandoning the rich theological and spiritual tradition that I have always known and loved" is clear evidence that you have not learned the basics of Catholic theology, they hate you, the lie to you, they play the bait-and-switch game with you and you, poor soul, are wrapped in a net of the "Stockholm Syndrome," imagining that your torturers love you. They do not!
Flee! Flee for your life, for your love, for your soul! Flee now!
-A concerned reader.
'It must be hard to be a Catholic and gay.'
'It's easier than being a Jehovah's Witness and a vampire.'
1. Yes, the sign doesn't say "no Catholics" because all those in the cafeteria aren't Catholic anyway.
2. Catholicism is not Judaism. Catholicism decided early on that it did not have to adhere to the 613 commandments. However, to suddenly refuse to obey what has been common procedure in Catholicism for roughly 2000 years just because it's cool, hip, and it's awwwwwwright to have delicious gay sex in our contemporary culture, well that, my friend, is picking and choosing.
Have fun.
Mat 8:6 "Sir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in terrible pain."
Mat 8:7 Jesus told him, "I will come and heal him."
Mat 8:8 The centurion replied, "Sir, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed,
Mat 8:9 because I, too, am a man under authority and I have soldiers under me. I say to one of them 'Go' and he goes, to another 'Come' and he comes, and to my servant 'Do this' and he does it."
Where does this say anywhere that The Guy was in a sexual relationship with anyone are you ppl really that Illiterate.
I grew up believing God wouldn't give anyone more than He believed we could handle. Choice came in accepting who I am and realizing only in doing that could I share to the best of my ability the other gifts God gave me.
Grateful for my character development through religion. Taught all are made in God's image and likeness and should strive to become the best we can with the talents He gave us.
At a Catholic Church, I was told I should attend the Church and support it. Said I would be a hypocrite to do that since the Church would use a percentage of my donation to lobby against people like me and my partner. When the Church preaches this hate and prejudice they are not doing God's work but blaming Him for their actions.
No one can kick you out of Church, God did give you the free will to decide. Pastor Paul's survey of Catholics is not reflected in the teachings from Rome and are a smoke screen to keep people supporting them. Each alone are responsible for their words and actions so the call is yours alone. One day if you face hate, do not fear it, but know it could come from the sermons in Church and you too will have a hand in it if anyone else faces it.
Are financing the bishops who hate you and need to put you down
I SUGGEST
-- IF YOU FEEL WELCOME, PUT A NOTE INTO THE PLATE not cash
--IF THERE IS A HOMILY ABOUT HOLDING DOWN GAYS, STAND UP, SPEAK LOUDLY, AND LEAVE FOR THE NEAREST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
It worked for me.
Mass is similar to R. Catholic mass.....women priests....it goes on.
& a 'fan'
Please stop using the Bible as a comic book.
Either you believe what Christ said about his Church or you do not. The asker's idea that what was spoken about homosexual acts only applies to the past is biblically flawed. God demands many sacrifices from us, including several things in life which may be highly desirable or comfortable to us. He demanded Abraham's willingness to give up his son, whom he loved. He took everything from Job, who still kept faith in him. In life it is what we are willing to sacrifice that defines us more so than our inclinations. I think this applies to the asker's desire to remain in a homosexual relationship.
So - give up your belief that your heterosexuality makes you superior to homosexuals. Sacrifice your pride and hubris, and accept the fact that God loves homosexuals just as much as He loves you, and He does not play favorites and does not ask any sacrifice of us that he does not ask of you.
It would seem from scripture, however, that he does ask different sacrifices of different people and places everybody in different situations with distinct challenges.