The Church - and Labels

I recently came across a blog post about the use of sexual labels and why the Church won’t use them. Simple terminology – and it has stuck with me. Almost haunting me.
Why I am Not a Heterosexual
I wonder how much I have been encouraging the use of such labels, leading to the wrong impressions, then to the wrong beliefs, in both myself and others.
In short, we are each made in the image and likeness of God – THAT is our identity. To identify our core selves as anything else diminishes our value in others’ eyes to the value of mere parts.
Parts that are not just physical.
No, we don’t have to like everything about a person, but we do need to see them as the complete person they are: only in this way, can we overlook those things that we don’t like and truly embrace those things we do connect with.
And it goes all directions:

• A person identifying as gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender – is asking everyone to identify that person for this attraction (it may or may not be a lifestyle for the particular person).
• A person identifying as heterosexual – is asking to be identified by that attraction.
• The person who identifies as LGBT – or heterosexual – or non-sexual — is looking to other people according to that attraction – according to the corresponding “parts” – in this case, usually physical; but their REAL needs are spiritual and emotional, which can only be fulfilled in a “whole” relationship.

Yet just because you are attracted to a particular gender,

does not mean you are attracted to ALL members of that gender.

Or that a deep meaningful (sexually chaste) relationship can’t be had with anyone of any gender.

Why are we defining everything by sex anyway?

Because sex is what brings about new life – it created each one of us – and will continue on the human race until the end of time. But we continue to miss the boat when we don’t see the WHOLE person, without the labels.

Now I understand how a husband and wife can live as brother and sister periodically or for long periods of time; how brothers and sisters can grow up together without these attractions to one another; how I can have such a spiritual connection with men who have (since our friendships started) become priests and not “want” them in “that way” that is natural between a man and a woman – they are truly brothers (and fathers) to me.
Because they love each other as WHOLE PERSONS – BODY AND SOUL – AS AN IMAGE OF GOD.
Not as mere parts.

Additional articles/links on the same topic:

• http://www.patheos.com/blogs/feastofeden/2012/11/catholic-man-with-homosexual-inclination-tells-why-gay-identity-philosophy-is-un-christian/
• http://www.patheos.com/blogs/badcatholic/2013/05/no-longer-anonymous-why-i-decided-to-come-out-as-a-gay-priest.html
• http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/2542/homosexuality_identity_and_the_grace_of_chastity.aspx

The Church - and Labels

I recently came across a blog post about the use of sexual labels and why the Church won't use them. Simple terminology - and it has stuck with me. Almost haunting me.

Why I am Not a Heterosexual

I wonder how much I have been encouraging the use of such labels, leading to the wrong impressions, then to the wrong beliefs, in both myself and others.

In short, we are each made in the image and likeness of God - THAT is our identity. To identify our core selves as anything else diminishes our value in others' eyes to the value of mere parts.

Parts that are not just physical.

No, we don't have to like everything about a person, but we do need to see them as the complete person they are: only in this way, can we overlook those things that we don't like and truly embrace those things we do connect with.

And it goes all directions:

• A person identifying as gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender - is asking everyone to identify that person for this attraction (it may or may not be a lifestyle for the particular person).


• A person identifying as heterosexual - is asking to be identified by that attraction.


• The person who identifies as LGBT - or heterosexual - or non-sexual --- is looking to other people according to that attraction - according to the corresponding "parts" - in this case, usually physical; but their REAL needs are spiritual and emotional, which can only be fulfilled in a "whole" relationship.

Yet just because you are attracted to a particular gender,

does not mean you are attracted to ALL members of that gender.

Or that a deep meaningful (sexually chaste) relationship can't be had with anyone of any gender.

Why are we defining everything by sex anyway?

Because sex is what brings about new life - it created each one of us - and will continue on the human race until the end of time. But we continue to miss the boat when we don't see the WHOLE person, without the labels.

 

Now I understand how a husband and wife can live as brother and sister periodically or for long periods of time; how brothers and sisters can grow up together without these attractions to one another; how I can have such a spiritual connection with men who have (since our friendships started) become priests and not "want" them in "that way" that is natural between a man and a woman - they are truly brothers (and fathers) to me.

Because they love each other as WHOLE PERSONS - BODY AND SOUL - AS AN IMAGE OF GOD.

Not as mere parts.

 

Additional articles/links on the same topic:

• http://www.patheos.com/blogs/feastofeden/2012/11/catholic-man-with-homosexual-inclination-tells-why-gay-identity-philosophy-is-un-christian/


• http://www.patheos.com/blogs/badcatholic/2013/05/no-longer-anonymous-why-i-decided-to-come-out-as-a-gay-priest.html


• http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/2542/homosexuality_identity_and_the_grace_of_chastity.aspx

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Three Branches of the Church

The Church has three branches, all waiting for the moment of Parousia:

• Church Militant (us here on earth)
• Church Suffering (those souls in Purgatory)
• Church Triumphant (those souls who have already attained the Beatific Vision)

Each branch has particular roles and particular responsibilities.

A small group of girls discussed this very topic last month.

And this month (actually on November 1st and 2nd  ), the Church lives it out very consciously.

The funny thing is – we Catholics don’t fear cemeteries at night – we RELISH them!

Not much to see – it was DARK!!!

Candles were placed on the headstones or front of them; and each site was blessed with holy water. This work was done by the members of our parish – the Church Militant – the members of the Faithful here on earth. Following All Saints Mass (in thanksgiving for and honor of those who have attained the Beatific Vision and provided us examples here on earth), the cemetery can be visited in honor of All Souls (November 2nd – all those who have gone before us, including those we don’t know are in heaven yet or in purgatory (and we pray they are not elsewhere)).

Three Branches of Our Church

The Church has three branches, all waiting for the moment of Parousia:

 

• Church Militant (us here on earth)


• Church Suffering (those souls in Purgatory)


• Church Triumphant (those souls who have already attained the Beatific Vision)

Each branch has particular roles and particular responsibilities.

 

A small group of girls discussed this very topic last month.

 

And this month (actually on November 1st and 2nd ;) ), the Church lives it out very consciously.

 

The funny thing is - we Catholics don't fear cemeteries at night - we RELISH them!

 

Not much to see - it was DARK!!!

 

Candles were placed on the headstones or front of them; and each site was blessed with holy water. This work was done by the members of our parish - the Church Militant - the members of the Faithful here on earth. Following All Saints Mass (in thanksgiving for and honor of those who have attained the Beatific Vision and provided us examples here on earth), the cemetery can be visited in honor of All Souls (November 2nd - all those who have gone before us, including those we don't know are in heaven yet or in purgatory (and we pray they are not elsewhere)).