Our most recent Mancipia, which was mailed last week, featured an article I wrote called “Where Have the Real Men Gone.” The piece was originally posted on this web site. A gentleman who read the newsletter, and who calls himself a “Gay Christian” wrote me objecting to what I said therein.
I will not give the gentleman’s name or reproduce his email in its entirety because he did not write me for publication. The following passage from his email presents the major argument that I answer:
I must say that I was surprised at your article “Where Have the Real Men Gone?” I am familiar with the Catholic position on homosexuality, a view I do not share, but I have never heard this rejection so personally derisive. I am a firm believer in Christian education, where one doesn’t need to follow the secular curriculum. I commend the Catholic community for their wisdom. But when Jesus calls us to honor all persons, I find it upsetting to see you put down others with such derogatory remarks. Surely when Jesus met the woman at the well, He didn’t criticize her garb or hair style. He was trying to win her “where she was” as a person. (“Just As I Am”) There may be an ocean between you and the demonstrators on that day, but I see our call as Christians is to love unconditionally.
Here is my reply:
Christ Jesus be praised! I’m curious where it was that Jesus calls us to “honor all persons.” I have read his Apostle say that we have to give honor where honor is due, but I do not recall anything in Scripture which tells us to honor everyone indiscriminately, or to honor the sinner in his sin. Forbearance, forgiveness, mercy, kindness, compassion — I see all that; but I don’t see “honor the sinner” in the Bible. One honors what is good, what is honorable. I might honor a bad person for doing something good, but I do not honor what is bad.
Should we honor Joseph Stalin? General Mao? Pol Pot? Or crazy men that shoot up children at elementary schools?
Homosexual acts are clearly condemned in the Scriptures and clearly condemned by God’s Church, the Catholic Church. As one who has known homosexuals, I know the duty to show mercy, compassion, and kindness to them. I have been instrumental in converting at least one personally. I have helped and encouraged at least one other to live a Catholic life after his conversion, which he does. Others I have spoken to in very brief conversations. It is my duty to witness the truth to them clearly and, yes, compassionately. I have sympathy for the man or woman who unwillingly suffers from same-sex attraction.
My piece was against the acceptance of homosexuality and the erosion of masculinity in our culture. These are real problems. I have no regrets for having addressed these issues in very strong terms. In many ways, our civilization — barely worthy of the name — is now roughly where the Roman Empire was on the eve of its fall, when homosexuality was rampant.
Homosexuality is a moral disease that is going to lead to our society’s ruin. For believing that and saying it, I have no regrets.
You encourage me to come closer to Jesus’ way of doing things. Good. Yet in so saying, you assume that the pro-homosexual zeitgeist of the day represents the poor, the humble, and the downtrodden to whom Jesus showed so much compassion. But what I see is that those who are engaged in promoting this wicked agenda of unnatural sex are more like the proud Pharisees, the unbelieving Sadducees, the morally decadent and politically scheming Herodians, and the power-hungry and manipulative priests that Jesus confronted, and, in some instances, denounced very strongly — much more strongly than the verbiage I employed in my piece to which you object.
Showing mercy to homosexuals is not difficult for me. It is the Christian thing to do. Approving of a vicious agenda that is ruining the family, corrupting children, turning men into beasts, and mocking Christ’s teaching on mercy — that I cannot do.
Catholic saints have spoken with at least as much righteous indignation as I did on this issue. To quote an old expression: I stand on the shoulders of giants.
