“We are to Show Love and Compassion Towards Homosexuals by Leading them to the Truth,
and Helping Them to Reject Sinful Homosexual Activity.”
by Father Michael Rodriguez; This is a 4 part series that was published in the El Paso Times as a paid advertisement.
As our Savior hung from the Cross, His Precious Blood streamed forth to pay for all the crimes of a lost world. Who, after this, would continue in sin, and so renew the cruel crucifixion of the Son of God? After His death, Jesus Christ’s sacred side was pierced by a lance, “and immediately there came out blood and water.” (Jn 19:34) The Son of God, showing the depth and breadth of His love, shed His Precious Blood down to the last drop in order to redeem man from sin. What inexpressible love! The Most Precious Blood of our Savior is a testament to the immensity of God’s love. It is simultaneously a testament to the reality and horror of man’s sin.
Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice on Calvary and the shedding of His Most Precious Blood are made present daily on the altars of His Church! Holding the Precious Blood in her chalices, the Roman Catholic Church continues to teach the truth about God’s love. She shall do so until the end of time. She likewise continues to teach the truth about the gruesomeness of sin.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church presents the truth about homosexuality in three paragraph numbers, #2357-#2359. We can summarize this truth in five points:
(1) Homosexual acts are acts of grave depravity; they are mortal sins which cry to heaven for vengeance. Under no circumstances can they be approved;
(2) Homosexuality is an objective disorder;
(3) The Church gives no definitive teaching as to the origin or cause of homosexuality;
(4) Homo-sexual persons are to be treated with respect, compassion, and sensitivity;
(5) Homosexual persons are called to chastity and growth in virtue. Aided by sacramental grace and prayer, they are to strive for Christian perfection.
The shedding of our Savior’s Precious Blood witnesses to the unending love of God. Every baptized soul is a child of God. Without question, God loves all of His children, regardless of sexual “orientation.” We Catholics must show charity,respect , and understanding towards our homosexual brothers and sisters. As baptized Catholics, they too form part of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Above all, we are to show love and compassion towards homosexuals by leading them to the truth, and helping them to reject sinful homosexual activity. Remember, it’s about saving souls! We must be firm, yet humble, patient, and caring. Love and compassion means assisting the homosexual person to live chastely, form wholesome friendships, and grow in the virtues: peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, and modesty. (Gal 5:22) Happiness and self-fulfillment can never be gained through sinful relationships and disordered sexual activity. True and lasting happiness is found by following Christ, denying oneself, carrying one’s cross, and being faithful to God’s holy law. Jesus Christpromises, “For he that will save his life, shall lose it; and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall findit.” (Mt 16:25)
We practice charity towards homosexual persons by helping them strive for Christian perfection. We should be ready to kneel with them before the healing Cross of Christ, which is the source of supernatural grace: frequent attendance at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Confession, fervent Holy Communions, praying the Holy Rosary daily, abundant acts of penance and mortification, and a tender devotion to the most pure Mother of God. Never forget that it is she, conceived without sin, who is crushing the infernal serpent’s head.
Although the Church gives no definitive answer as to the cause of homosexuality, she does teach that it is objectively disordered. It follows logically, then, that someone’s sin (even society’s sins) plays a primary role in giving rise to the homosexual disorder, e.g. dysfunctional parent-childrelationships, divorce, absent fathers, and sexual abuse. It’s probable that many homosexuals don’t consciously “choose” their sexual “orientation.” However, it’s a certainty that many have been profoundly wounded by the sins of others, even since the earliest years of their lives.
Fr. Michael Rodríguez is the parish priest at San Juan Bautista Catholic Church.
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Thank you for clarity and courage. We must always pray for the grace of wisdom, fortitude. In our day and age, we will need grace to run the race until the end. God bless you.
What a beautiful example of speaking the truth in love..We must strengthen ourselves daily through prayer to be able to respond to our brothers and sisters in grace without compromise. Blessings +
Father Rodriguez, thank you for your courage to speak the Truth.
Dear Father Rodriguez, I thank God for priests like you! I pray for you and will continue to do so. Hopefully, your courageous acts of love for Christ will inspire others. God bless you.
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Thank you for speaking the faith so clearly and with compassion and TRUTH. The truth will set us free.
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I pray for the strength to stand up for the truth. I thank you for your loving words. Yes, they are sinners as are we and they are not lost if they choose to be.
Love the sinner, hate the sin….unfortunately, we live in a time when sin is being called normal and okay. We need clergy to stand up for the truth and call sin what it is, to help us as we journey through a foreign land, on our way home.
We will be held accountable for NOT speaking out to help those who are putting their eternal soul at risk.
Father God bless and protect you…and may those who are confused about their sexual roles be loved and helped to live chaste and holy lives…we are all sinners and we all need God’s mercy!
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How does one bring a young man back from the life of such grave sin when the root cause of his homosexuality is from the sexual abuse of a priest? How does one convince such a young man to go to a priest for confession and return to the Church for Her sacraments? I would sincerely want to know so I can help this young man myself. Please, serious commentary only. Prayer alone doesn’t seem to be enough.
Thank you for the truth, in these difficult days where you can be shut down and labelled for this truth, thank God for your courage!
Thank you Father Rodriquez for having the courage to speak the truth in this day of political correctness. I will pray for you and I wish you the best in your new parrish. God bless you.