It's OK to Be Gay: Straight Talk About Homosexuality for Gay People and Those Who Love Them

Product Information

Francis’ long history of making similar comments in support of LGBTQ people’s dignity, despite the church’s rejection of homosexuality, has provoked plenty of criticism from some Catholics. But I am a public theologian, and part of what interests me about this debate is that Francis’ inclusiveness is not actually radical. His remarks generally correspond to what the church teaches and calls on Catholics to do. ‘Who am I to judge?’

Phew, it's all clear to me now. It is obvious that never the twain shall meet on this one. They should split their church now & stop clogging up valuable news time, time which should be spent on relevant subjects to modern life. So, a section of a dwindling church does not agree with homosexuality? - Fair enough, but society at large has accepted it has a normal human condition. Let's move on & leave them to it. To the contrary, the message of the gospel brings forgiveness, freedom, hope, and deliverance, as countless thousands of ex-gays can attest, by which I mean followers of Jesus who no longer practice homosexuality. Some of them have even become heterosexual, but even those who have not found a change in their sexual desires have found wholeness and satisfaction in the Lord. Later in the same conversation, after Jesus has spoken about divorce, the disciples say to him it is better not to marry at all. Jesus says: "That is something which not everyone can accept, but only those for whom God has appointed it. For while some are incapable of marriage because they were born so, or made so by men, there are others who have themselves renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven. Let those accept it who can." There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. No. Some people feel pressured to change their sexuality. This is not possible. Trying to be someone you are not can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. It can be harmful to your mental, physical, and emotional health. I think I might be gay. How do I know if I really am?

News and Advocacy

The process of telling people about one’s sexual orientation is often referred to as coming out. This process can be easy or hard. The phrase “in the closet” may be used to refer to someone who is gay, lesbian, or bisexual, but hasn’t told friends and family members yet. When and how do I come out?

Being homosexual isn’t a crime,” the pope said in an interview with The Associated Press on Jan. 24, 2023, adding, “let’s distinguish between a sin and a crime.” He later issued a note clarifying that his remarks on “sin” referred to sexual activity outside of marriage. During the interview, Francis also called for the relaxation of laws around the world that target LGBTQ people. A pro-gay position might be that this is a clear indication that King David had a gay relationship, and to pretend otherwise is naive. More importantly, Hebrews 4:13 states that “no creature is hidden from [God’s] sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” And it is this God who inspired the writers of the Scriptures. Are gay theologians willing to say that the Lord Himself did not understand modern-day, still-evolving concepts like “sexual orientation?”

Jesus' words have been distorted through time. Through translations and interpretations no true copy of the Bible exists today.

If you come from a culture where alcohol consumption is forbidden, it will be difficult for you to become an alcoholic, no matter how your body metabolizes alcohol. Sometimes, it’s best to start by telling someone who you’re sure will be accepting, such as an open-minded family member or friend. If you’d like, you could ask them to be there with you when you tell others. The “ law of love embraces the entire human family and knows no limits,” the Vatican office concerned with social issues said in a 2005 compilation of the church’s social thought.Gay theologians often make reference to the so-called “clobber passages” in the Scriptures, by which they mean the main verses the Church has used to clobber them over the head with the Bible. The story begins in Genesis 18 when three visitors (God and two angels, appearing as “men”) came before Abraham, a Hebrew patriarch. What did Abraham and his wife Sarah do? They offered hospitality. When confronted by the inclusive gospel of Jesus and a careful reading of the story of Sodom as one about hospitality, those who disavow Pope Francis’s approach will likely jump to other Scriptures. Why? Because they have a patriarchal agenda and are looking for any Scripture that might support their position. Cannon C. Primary care of gay men and men who have sex with men. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 9, 2022.

In the words of Sam Allberry, a British pastor who is still same-sex attracted but is living a celibate, holy life, “Every Christian is called to costly sacrifice. Denying yourself does not mean tweaking your behaviour here and there. It is saying ‘No’ to your deepest sense of who you are, for the sake of Christ. To take up a cross is to declare your life (as you have known it) forfeit. It is laying down your life for the very reason that your life, it turns out, is not yours at all. It belongs to Jesus. He made it. And through his death he has bought it.” Sexual preference. This refers to specific qualities in people you are sexually attracted to. For example, tall, blonde, or muscular. There are no wrong preferences. Arrests in the Arab countries often involve groups of men at parties (sometimes described as gay “weddings”) and occasionally at hammams (bathhouses). Individuals or couples accused of having unlawful sex may be arrested for a variety of reasons, including some which initially are unrelated to homosexuality. There are also reported cases where people suspected of being gay have been arrested by police seeking to elicit bribes or turn the suspects into informers. For those caught, the effect on their lives is catastrophic but the law is not much of a deterrent and for those who are discreet about their sexuality the risk of arrest is small. Limit alcohol, and don't use drugs. If you're drunk or high, you're more likely to take sexual risks. If you choose to use injectable drugs, don't share needles.Gay and bisexual men's health: Stigma and discrimination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/stigma-and-discrimination.htm. Accessed Dec. 12, 2022. Homosexual behavior should be allowed to take place. Isn’t it fantastic that, by an amazing coincidence, there is no way to stop it?” It is a sexual orientation, as opposed to a gender identity such as male, female, and non-binary. People who are homosexual could refer to themselves as gay, lesbian, LGBTQ, queer, or a number of other terms. Muslim condemnations of homosexuality, like those in Christianity, are based mainly on the story about God’s punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah which is recounted in the Qur’an as well as the Old Testament. In essence, the biblical and Qur’anic versions are very similar.