The Catholic Church is at it once again going out of its way to tick me off. This time my ire can be traced to a diocese here in New England.
Yesterday, the Archdiocese of Hartford announced it would start ministering to people with same-sex attraction through a program called COURAGE, which currently has more than 100 chapters in the US.
People who are struggling with reconciling their faith and sexual identity can expect more of the same harmful teachings the Catholic Church loves to embrace: Love the sinner; Hate the sin.
Strange that the Church loves to only quote the most virulent lines about homosexuality from the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament, even though the book essentially damns everyone in modern civilization to Hell. How convenient to leave out that being gay is equally evil as eating pork or masturbating. I think the thing I find most frustrating about this group called COURAGE is that what it is asking of these people seems less courageous and more cowardly. #Shameful
BosGuy 
In light of your post above, I thought you might appreciate this post titled: “Genesis 19: What the Bible REALLY Says Were the Sins of Sodom” (link below).
-Alex Haiken
http://JewishChristianGay.wordpress.com
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I am very attracted to the priest in the photo. Am I commiting a sin? Maybe we could have coffee…………
The first person I told that I was gay was my pastor. He was loving, accepting, and supports my boyfriend and me. I think he is a brilliant man, but I know that he is in the minority when it comes to priests supporting gay relationships.
Not so with my Irish Catholic family. Other than my ultra-conservative brother (who has recanted his original stance), my family has embraced my partner and our life together. One of my sibs even thinks that I could do better;-)
Like many Roman Catholics I have left the church, and have joined a presbyterian parish, led by a finely educated minister, who is in a loving partnership with his husband. Great church, great outreach.
One comment that concerns me as a christian: Jesus Christ is the good news. We are supposed to focus on the NEW Testament, which added the commandment: Love thy neighbor as thyself.
I am constantly bothered by people who judge me, and really care who I sleep with; that is my business and NO church is going to forbid me from having a loving and supportive relationship.
I have two international foster children, and actively support coporeal works of mercy. It is the church’s loss when so many fine christians-who happen to be gay-have found other loving, supportive communities.
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Patrick,
So glad to read you are happy and in a loving relationship – I am as well. I agree the Catholic Church is not totally comprised of terrible people, but from my perspective counseling those not called to religious life to remain chaste to ensure they have a “fulfilling life” is both damaging and harmful to these people who are struggling to reconcile their faith with who they are. Whether you practice your faith as a Catholic or a Moslem, I don’t really care provided you are happy and it is fulfilling. Personally, I’ve come to a different conclusion with regards to all religions, but faith is a deeply personal thing and everyone is entitled to believe what they will.
You mention meeting for coffee and provided you live in the area – I’d enjoy that for certain. You can leave your contact information in comment form and I’ll grab it from there to reach out to you without publishing it.
BosGuy
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I know that pix, it was on a calendar I received as a gift from Rome. On their website they asked for young priests with or without a spouse to pose. RC priests WITH a spouse??? I thought they could only marry JC, hey that’s a man and they are men too… who’s in denail here?
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BosGuy,
The Catholic Church never, ever officially uses Leviticus to define its stance on the homosexual lifestyle. That is the work of ignorant conservative evangelicals. This program, like many home-grown local groups, especially some here in Boston parishes, are designed to let gay people know God loves them and they have a special place in the church if they so choose to do so. While that means they can’t be married and must be chaste, I think you should stop condemning before you know what the church is actually saying behind the sound bites from those who blindly trash the church. I’m a gay Catholic and have certainly reconciled my religious beliefs with my lifestyle.
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I second your big F.U.
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