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Growing in strength on the winds\u00a0in our society is the canonization of homosexuality …\u00a0In this regard, I would like to propose some\u00a0reflections – and I ask you, my dear friend,\u00a0look good considering what I’m saying. no\u00a0I would like here to raise flags or promote\u00a0cross …\u00a0Read what I write calmly, looking<\/strong>\n understand and contextualize my words\u00a0<\/strong>in all of what I mean.<\/strong>
\nI want to make clear I speak to Christians, to\u00a0<\/em>those wishing to guide their life and\u00a0<\/em>think according to the Gospel as <\/em>we received it from the Apostolic Tradition and is\u00a0<\/em>taught by the Holy Church of Christ. My\u00a0<\/em>goal here is only to help \u00a0Catholics\u00a0<\/em>think this complex issue of\u00a0<\/em>homosexuality in the light of Jesus Christ. only\u00a0<\/em>this!<\/em><\/p>\n
Here are the topics I\u00a0would like to present:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. It is necessary that homosexual people\u00a0be\u00a0respected and are not stigmatized by\u00a0their sexual tendencies. Violence against\u00a0homosexuals\u00a0– whether they be physical or moral – is\u00a0a crime, and before God, a sin. <\/p>\n 2. It is also correct to desire that\u00a0each person\u00a0has the right to live their life according to\u00a0their values \u200b\u200band conscience, by\u00a0respecting the common good and the standards \u00a0of good\u00a0social coexistence.<\/p>\n However, it is unacceptable for \u00a0minorities\u00a0of organized homosexuals who want to impose on all\u00a0society their values \u200b\u200band their way of thinking,\u00a0destroying the genuine \u00a0sense of what is family and\u00a0of what is marriage …<\/p>\n For example: If two people of the same sex\u00a0desire to live together “maritally”, it is a right\u00a0of their choice. It is also a right that the\u00a0law provides to them for the rights and duties arising from\u00a0this coexistence. But it is not a right to want\u00a0<\/strong>impose on all of society to call this situation\u00a0<\/strong>“Marriage” because this changes the concept of<\/strong> It is one thing is to respect the right of a minority,\u00a0quite another, for the minority impose on all\u00a0the majority a core change of values\u00a0like family and marriage as a stable \u00a0relationship and open to life between a man and a\u00a0women. The right of one should not undermine the\u00a0right of\u00a0others!<\/p>\n 3. The sincere respect which we must have for the\u00a0homosexuals should not and can not mean that\u00a0all are required to make a positive assessment\u00a0of homosexuality \u00a0and, even more, the\u00a0homosexual practice.<\/p>\n Respect the person, their tendencies, their options,\u00a0Yes.\u00a0As for the evaluation of their actions and way of\u00a0life, it depends on the criteria that someone take\u00a0as meaning of human existence …\u00a0So for an atheist, the criterion is himself and his\u00a0way of thinking; he is its measure and\u00a0even he\u00a0must be respected!<\/p>\n For a believer, the criterion of right and wrong is\u00a0God himself: to what God calls wrong, the believer\u00a0can only call wrong too! So\u00a0and, for a Christian, the criterion of all also\u00a0of aspects relating to sexuality is to\u00a0Christ to\u00a0which what is believed and proclaimed by the Church within the\u00a0Apostolic Tradition.<\/p>\n The Christian is not rooted in\u00a0fads, not\u00a0based his\u00a0criteria on\u00a0the voice of the majority,\u00a0but in Christ Jesus, as Ultimate Truth\u00a0for humanity.<\/p>\n The Christian must respect the opinion of others, but\u00a0your opinion is founded\u00a0in Christ Jesus!<\/p>\n 4. Let us now think of the homosexual\u00a0Christian.<\/strong><\/p>\n For a pagan world like ours, to\u00a0people who do not have as criteria the Gospel,\u00a0being homosexual\u00a0and living homosexuality are not\u00a0are problems, nor is infidelity\u00a0marriage, nor premarital relations\u00a0and other realities<\/p>\n And why is this? Why not believing in Christ,\u00a0It is not the criterion! And what is the criterion? Generally\u00a0and I say with all due respect! the criterion of\u00a0non-believers is themselves, their way of\u00a0thinking, feeling and living …<\/p>\n It is their right: to think and to live as\u00a0wish!<\/p>\n But for someone who believes in Christ and desires\u00a0to live according to the Christian faith, to be \u00a0a homosexual being bears\u00a0difficulties, conflicts and pain. This is because the\u00a0discretion of the life of a Christian is not fashion, it is not\u00a0the dominant mentality, is not even the\u00a0self, the criterion is the norm of the Gospel, So this calls for everyone who believes\u00a0always deny \u200b\u200byourself to embrace\u00a0life and with life itself, the standard of life\u00a0of Another – One who said, “Whosoever\u00a0shall be My disciple, deny yourself and\u00a0follow me “- is not and will never be a an easy task!<\/p>\n To believe is to leave yourself seeking for an Other, it is deny yourself to encounter\u00a0the Other, to take the Other as\u00a0the criteria, the standards and the way of life! And this in\u00a0all aspects of life, also in\u00a0issue of sexuality and homosexuality!<\/p>\n So, one thing is a homosexual or atheist\u00a0their non-Christian standard is their own thinking\u00a0and measure; another thing is a homosexual Christian\u00a0his\u00a0standard is the precept of Christ!<\/p>\n 5. A homosexual Christian should rather seek\u00a0courageously accepting his homosexual reality,\u00a0not to live his way but the way of\u00a0Christ!<\/p>\n Therefore, for a Christian, accepting one’s\u00a0Homosexuality does not mean\u00a0living it in any way,\u00a0but to put it under the lordship of Christ!<\/p>\n And what is Christ’s way? Which is His standard\u00a0<\/strong>to human sexuality?<\/strong><\/p>\n Certainly this standard is that of sexual \u00a0life\u00a0as an expression of love and self-giving to\u00a0another person in such a communion, sealed by\u00a0sacrament of marriage, even until death and\u00a0open to a fruitful way to the children that God gives.<\/p>\n To God, as it has been revealed in the perennial\u00a0Apostolic tradition – let us be clear – the norm is\u00a0heterosexuality and not homosexuality!<\/p>\n For a Christian homosexual certainly this\u00a0causes a serious crisis!<\/p>\n (We all have our crises … also in\u00a0affective and sexual field … It is true, however,\u00a0that the crisis in relation to sexuality is much more\u00a0serious and structural!)<\/p>\n And it must be said: for a Christian with the\u00a0homo-aftective tendency, homosexuality has\u00a0the mark of the Cross – it is a cross! But, our\u00a0Savior Jesus said, “Take up your cross and\u00a0follow Me ”<\/p>\n In other words: “follow me with your\u00a0homosexual struggles! Follow Me with crises and\u00a0difficulties in which live gives to you! ”<\/p>\n Homosexuals who want to seriously live their\u00a0Christian faith should know that they are loved by the Lord,<\/p>\n They are not rejected by the Church, but that they should – as also heterosexuals – put their\u00a0sexuality under the lordship of Christ. \u00a0They should\u00a0strive to be chaste, to \u00a0be\u00a0correct, to\u00a0flee\u00a0all indiscretion and immorality; they should clearly\u00a0recognize that homosexual acts in the eyes\u00a0the Lord God, are not morally correct\u00a0as is heterosexual intercourse in marriage …<\/p>\n It is therefore very important that a homosexual\u00a0Christian seek the help of a priest or a\u00a0mature Christian, thoughtful, faithful to Christ and the Church\u00a0can help him on his way. Who does not\u00a0need the help of others in the way of Christ?\u00a0Is not this the Church? Is not that what faith tells us\u00a0Christian: have a spiritual orientation with\u00a0someone\u00a0who can heal their own wounds and those of the\u00a0others?<\/p>\n Note that this applies not only to the thinking of a young homosexual … who wishes\u00a0take chastity seriously, a spouse who\u00a0really wants to try to be faithful, a politician who\u00a0sincerely wants to be honest …<\/p>\n Crisis and struggle to leave your own standards and to\u00a0embrace those of\u00a0of the Lord is an inheritance of every Christian\u00a0and Jesus will not prevent you from it.<\/p>\n And if there are falls on the way for this brother\u00a0<\/strong>homosexual? And if friendships disintergrate\u00a0into<\/strong>\u00a0homosexual acts?<\/strong><\/p>\n He is not discouraged: as any Christian, he tries\u00a0to look at Christ, ask for forgiveness in the sacrament\u00a0of penance and resume the path, looking to\u00a0overcome sin!<\/p>\n What if a homosexual Christian, even\u00a0<\/strong>recognizing that homosexual acts are not\u00a0<\/strong>morally acceptable to God, is not\u00a0<\/strong>able to be chaste, and tries to live with another\u00a0<\/strong>person of the same sex, including being a\u00a0<\/strong>sexually active?<\/strong><\/p>\n You must not think that he is no longer Christian! You should\u00a0clearly recognize that your situation is not the\u00a0ideal before God! However, should you live a\u00a0life worthy as possible before the Lord and\u00a0of men. You should not leave prayer nor\u00a0frequency of Mass and must say always – we should all always say\u00a0fromthe heart,\u00a0affection, the soul and with tears, “Lord\u00a0Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,\u00a0sinner! ”<\/p>\n Certainly one who decides on a\u00a0<\/em>life of practice of homosexual acts should not\u00a0<\/em>confess sacramentally<\/em> or receive the\u00a0<\/em>Eucharistic communion<\/em>, but can rather seek\u00a0always advice and the help of a priest or\u00a0a Christian a helper in the way of your\u00a0following of Christ.<\/p>\n It is very important to understand that there is no\u00a0misery and human drama that can not be\u00a0affected\u00a0by the cross of the Lord.\u00a0One does not call right\u00a0what is wrong or It is sad that one sees a brother or sister carrying a heavy\u00a0burden and also to increase the weight with contempt\u00a0and rejection!<\/p>\n Sin must always be called sin, but\u00a0the sinner must always be welcomed with\u00a0mercy and respect and treated like a brother.\u00a0Who among us is not a sinner? Who is not\u00a0<\/strong>is injured? Who of us has does not have their spiritual diseases\u00a0<\/strong>spiritual?<\/strong><\/p>\n 6. We do not know why some people are born\u00a0homosexuals. We know that they did not choose\u00a0the tendency to\u00a0this; we also know that\u00a0are not morally sick – there are so many\u00a0homosexuals are worthy and generous!<\/p>\n But we know that they can follow the Lord and\u00a0They should do their best to be saints,\u00a0To be real Christians!\u00a0The rest, we put in the hands of the Lord, with\u00a0focus on Christ, who died for everyone\u00a0in a way so atrocious, precisely because great is\u00a0depth of our miseries and contradictions.<\/p>\n Before such mysteries as well, before the enigmas of\u00a0existence in the face of pain and the cross of the brothers and sisters,\u00a0we must look to Heaven and pronounce both moved\u00a0and humble, that wise Jewish blessing that fits\u00a0well on the lips of a Christian: “Blessed are\u00a0<\/em>Thou, Lord our God, who guards\u00a0<\/em>secrets! “<\/em><\/p>\n That’s right: He knows the mysteries! He knows the\u00a0reason: he knows why. We know\u00a0nothing!<\/p>\n 7. This is the difference between thinking in the world in general and the Christian\u00a0perspective, and even post Christian\u00a0anti-Christian: for this world, life is without God Himself\u00a0each has his own truth, criteria\u00a0and\u00a0his own understanding of existence! A Christian\u00a0respects this\u00a0way of seeing and living, but can not agree with For the Christian life is a gift, is a mystery to be lived\u00a0before an Other who loves us and to whom\u00a0we give an account.<\/p>\n In a world ever more pagan and less Christian,\u00a0It is getting hard to understand these things …<\/p>\n Christian parents who have homosexual children,\u00a0I say welcome them with love and respect,\u00a0We help them to set the values \u200b\u200bof this life according to\u00a0the criteria of Christ, never abandon them or\u00a0treat them with contempt,\u00a0show them\u00a0Jesus always as ideal and path to happiness\u00a0and achievement and, above all all, pray much for 8. As for young people “happy and fulfilled” with\u00a0their “option” sexual,as the world wants and\u00a0propagates: Have patience: Such is the way of thinking and living\u00a0of those who no longer know God and His Christ\u00a0Jesus!<\/p>\n Our Lord also to those\u00a0as all of us show the blessed light of His Face to you to see the true meaning of life and\u00a0find true peace and fulfillment!<\/p>\n We can not impose upon the non-believers our\u00a0values; For them we can pray, and love them and announce to them\u00a0Jesus Christ fully without\u00a0masks, that He is the Way,\u00a0Truth and life of mankind and each person!<\/p>\n Bishop\u00a0Henrique Soares da Costa
\nEach person must be respected with their\u00a0features and their history, their choices and\u00a0way of life, as long as this does not harm the\u00a0rest.<\/p>\n
\n marriage in the entire society!<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nexpressing the Church’s faith.<\/p>\n
\nto assess as virtue what the weakness\u00a0eyes of the Lord; treat it, yes, have mercy,\u00a0welcome, having\u00a0compassion on the other!<\/p>\n
\nit …<\/p>\n
\nthem and respect them in the direction they give to life,\u00a0decent and responsible, without\u00a0carelessness \u00a0or\u00a0disrespect to the sacred precincts of the home!<\/p>\n
\nDiocesan Bishop of Palmares\u00a0Pernambuco<\/p>\n