Dear Editor, I am surprised to read in The Irish Catholic an article by Ben Conroy, ‘Youth Space’ that seems to make the case for homosexuality.
The writer informs us that a percentage of practising Catholics support same sex marriage. He goes on to enlighten us that the Catholic Church and presumably, those of us who disagree with the same-sex agenda, must amend our ways to be more inclusive.
We are once more informed that the Church is out of sync with the modern world in not extending the boundaries to include all and any into our ranks. He mentions in the article Cardinal Newman, who was buried with his male friend. Do we infer from this that Cardinal Newman was either homosexual or a homophile?
The Catholic Church closes its doors to none. However, for those seeking acceptance into the mystical body of Christ must be prepared to follow Christ, and to do so will not be easy, as our Lord informed us.
We must leave behind our sinful ways and follow the teachings of the Church. Anything less – inclusiveness without reform – would be the stripping away of the teachings of Christ through His Church.
Same-sex love/attraction was not the kind of love/attraction our Blessed Lord intended for us.
What we all must keep in mind is the following. When we accept alternative lifestyles, that are not new, we must extend alternatives to include bisexual marriage of men and women in one union.
Multiple partners must also be included in what will pass for marriage.
Our Blessed Lord told us; “I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me”. The Catholic Church must stand alone against the pagan agenda, and practising Catholics must stand with it.
The Irish media is awash with pro-homosexual propaganda. I would really prefer not to read more of the same in The Irish Catholic.
Yours etc.,
Gemma Grant,
Shankhill,
Co. Dublin.
Ben Conroy replies:I understand Ms Grant’s concern, but think she might benefit from giving my article a second look: she might then notice that neither I nor the gay thinkers I mention advocate changing the Church’s teaching on marriage or sex.
I do think that we Catholics should do more to welcome gay people into the life of the Church. I also argue that the experience of being gay is complex, shapes a person profoundly, and can be part of a call to vocations such as deep, spiritual friendship. It should not be dismissed entirely as an ‘intrinsic disorder’.
As for ‘pro-homosexual propaganda’ – like Ms Grant, I just believe that gay people, like all people, are loved by God. I am not pro-homosexual so much as pro-human.
