PURPOSE

The issue of homosexuality is tearing apart the fiber of our society, as well as that of our Social and Religious Institutions. It is an emotionally charged subject and most people take sides without an understanding of the real issues and their ramifications.

In this document, we will attempt to shed some light on them in the hopes that it may assist all in placing this issue in its proper perspective.


BACKGROUND and INTRODUCTION

Frame of Reference Used

We live in a primarily Judeo-Christian society with heavy Muslim influence, thus we will approach this work using Monotheism (1) as the frame of reference needed to establish internal coherence.

Once the case is established with internal coherence, an attempt will be made to establish its external coherence. The individual reader should then be the final judge of its harmony using his or her own illuminated perspective.

We encourage the agnostic (2) to read this document with an open mind. The primary objective of this document is neither to justify nor condemn homosexuality; we are only attempting to bring peace and consolation to many restless hearts through a comprehensive understanding of homosexuality.


Definitions

Primary

Normally 'Definition of Terms' is placed in the Appendix of most works. In this case, to pave the way for the understanding and coherence which we are striving to achieve, the definitions precede the work itself. The reader is encouraged to carefully read them and meditate on them.



Secondary



INITIAL CONCLUSIONS

Not attempting to practice the teachings of Jesus Christ (4) or violating the Ten Commandments clearly spelled out by God (5) is a more serious transgression than homosexual behavior, as defined above.

The evaluation of homosexual acts on religious grounds is of no consequence nor has any merit unless it is within the overall context of Divine Law and Tradition.

Within such valid context, any discussion of this issue must be made against the backdrop of what Jesus Christ taught us by means of the sinful woman who was to be stoned to death: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." [John 8:7] and .... Jesus said: "Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now go and sin no more." [John 8:11] (6)

In such an integrated context, the real problems appear to be: (a) The persecution of homosexuals, on the one hand; and (b) Actively seeking the proliferation of homosexual lifestyles, on the other hand.


DETAILS

The Details are developed within the established Frame of Reference.

* God said to the created man and woman: "..., Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,..." [Genesis 1:28]


* God, in the Person of Jesus, also said: "And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." [Matthew 11:23-24]



CONCLUDING STATEMENTS

Using the God-centered Frame of Reference, it becomes quite obvious that there are more commonplace offenses, such as stiff-necked impenitence and lack of charity, which are far worse than those associated with homosexual behavior.

"To believe" is "to try to obey". If one "believes" that there is a high-speed train coming over the railroad crossing, one will "try to obey" and stay clear from the path of the train. If one does not "try to obey" the "belief" that a high-speed train is coming, then there is no "belief". One is only pretending outwardly to "believe", or as it is commonly known: "only paying lip service".

* Jesus further said, in no uncertain terms, that: "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another." [John 13:33-35]


For those whose Faith teaches them that Jesus Christ is not God, let us use an alternate approach.

In Exodus 20:1-18 God gave man the Ten Commandments (9). No explicit nor implicit mention is made of homosexual behavior. Therefore, the Commandments obviously classify many commonplace sins in a much worse category than homosexual acts.


Redefining The Problem

The true problems lie in:


With the reasons being:

Without ignoring the reasons and/or traumas (10) which have caused the homosexual behavior in a human being, which may be compounded by the homophobic attitude, let us look at why it is not practical to promote a homosexual lifestyle where it does not already exist.

The plan of Creation, or if you are an agnostic - the plan of perpetuating the species, is being short circuited with its associated psychosomatic consequences; primarily guilt.

By actively promoting homosexuality, the human Creation is being pushed to function outside its "Normal Operating Range and Instructions" ; that is, outside "The Normal Sexual Preference Distribution Amongst the World Population and the Sacred Texts". For the agnostic view: Outside the established Laws of Nature.

If we operate a device, electronic or mechanical, outside its range of operability it may malfunction and may prematurely fail. If we promote the improper operation of industrial devices in a worldwide scale, eventually industry would fail.

In the case of a human being, the situation is far more complex for it involves the physical, emotional and spiritual components which constitute the integrated make up of a human being.

In any case, there is no need to despair (11). God loves profoundly each one of His children and will help each one of us individually in our journey through Time (12).

All He wants from us is that we allow Him to help us along. To receive that help, all we have to do is to ask Him. No one is excluded; no one!


EPILOGUE  (Added on May 1, 2002 and Confirmed on October 21, 2014)

As the sexual abuse scandal rages within the Roman Catholic Church, it seems appropriate that we reissue this document wherein homosexuality is placed in its proper Biblical perspective. This perspective will, in turn, highlight the gravity of the sin committed, and still being committed, by the members of the Hierarchy.

Committed: By having covered up the spread of a spiritually deadly disease (10); and

Still Being Committed: By not acknowledging that they were fully aware of what they were doing - Placing their personal and the Church interests above the interests of the victims. This particular behavior is tantamount of sinning against the Holy Spirit of God.



NOTES                      

(1) There is a Creator: God

(2) Atheist are not mentioned because they are a nonexistent entity. The moment "something" is denied or one claims to "be without it" the reality being denied is actually being acknowledged.

(3) Sin may be tempered by the Mercy of God

(4) For Christians.

(5) For the Hebrew and Muslim brethren.

(6) The Holy Bible. Authorized King James Version. The World Publishing Company unless otherwise noted.

(7) Which gave its name to a style of copulation not originally intended as clearly reflected by the anatomical and physiological designs of the human being.

(8) For the purposes of this document: homosexuals, male and female.

(9) (a) Having other gods [idolatry of the material and not of God]; (b) Not honoring thy father and thy mother; (c) Killing; (d) Committing adultery; (e) Stealing; (f) Bearing false witness against thy neighbor; and (g) Coveting thy neighbors' property or well being.

(10) The reasons and/or traumas which may have caused the homosexual behavior in a human being

(11) There is no need to despair

(12) Our journey through Time



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En Español:  Homosexualidad - Cómo omprender el fenómeno sin justificarlo ni condenarlo

Originally issued only for Worldwide Ecclesiastical Distribution on Spring 1996
Reformatted and Clarified on October 2014