Speak the Truth in Love
What Can I “Do” About Homosexuality?
by CAPP-USA
To speak the truth in love about homosexuality is not easy. However, the task is made easier by Church teaching which is clear on homosexual behavior. Read more here
Still, can I make a difference? Does what I do matter? Well, as it turns out – yes. What the faithful do matters a lot.
Speak the truth in love. That is the call to action for Catholics.
Be Holy
First realize and internalize “the supreme importance of spiritual and moral values” (Mater et Magistra, 210). Then “[b]ring also your professional activity into conformity with the Church’s social teaching.” (Mater et Magistra, 241)
This is critical as a “Christian’s outlook cannot be limited to the horizon of life in this world. He knows that during the present life another one is being prepared, one of such importance that it is in its light that judgments must be made.” (Declaration on Procured Abortion, 25)
Man demands “a moral and religious order; and it is this order…which has the greatest validity in the solution of problems relating to his life as an individual and as a member of society”. (Mater et Magistra, 208)
So, our “great task is…recapturing the ultimate meaning of life and its fundamental values. Only an awareness of the primacy of these values enables man…to bring about the true advancement of the human person in his or her whole truth…freedom and dignity.” (Familiaris Consortio, 8)
We must always recall that “the Church raises men up, gives them a home and a hope, a home that is hope – the path to eternal life”. (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), “Introduction to Christianity”, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2004, p. 344.)
“In the clarity of this truth, you exemplified the real charity of Christ; you did not betray those people who, because of homosexuality, are confronted with difficult moral problems, as would have happened if, in the name of understanding and compassion, or for any other reason, you had held out false hope to any brother or sister.” (Pope St. John Paul, 6)
Speak Out
First, “Do nothing to compromise religion and morality” (Mater et Magistra, 239) and “recover an awareness of the primacy of moral values”. (Familiaris Consortio, 8)
“It is one thing to be understanding of human weakness and the complexities of life, and another to accept ideologies that attempt to sunder what are inseparable aspects of reality.” (Pope Francis, 56)
“The Church [and we] cannot be silent about the truth, because she would fail in her fidelity to God the Creator and would not help to distinguish good from evil.” (Pope St. John Paul, 3)
“[W]e are called to protect our humanity, and this means, in the first place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created.” (Pope Francis, 56)
And we must be aware that “[a]s we proclaim the truth in love, it is not possible for us to avoid all criticism; nor is it possible to please everyone.” (Pope St. John Paul, 7)
We must realize “[r]ights are at times reduced to self-centered demands [such as] the approval of same sex unions in the name of homosexual rights.” (Pope St. John Paul, 5)
“[A]t times there are even attempts to give marriage a new definition in order to legalize homosexual unions, attributing to them the right to adopt children.” (Pope Benedict XVI)
“In the face of such erroneous yet pervasive thinking you must do everything possible to ‘evangelize culture … and promote Christian values in society and public life’.” (Pope St. John Paul, 5)
Show Compassion
To truly speak the truth in love, it “is up to us…to give voice to God and to show the face of his mercy…always have the blanket of mercy at hand.” (Pope Francis)
“Catholics…should show themselves animated by a spirit of understanding and unselfishness, ready to cooperate loyally”. (Mater et Magistra, 239)
“Although she constantly holds up the call to perfection and asks for a fuller response to God, ‘the Church must accompany with attention and care the weakest of her children, who show signs of a wounded and troubled love, by restoring in them hope and confidence’”. (Pope Francis, 291)
“Holiness in the Church begins with forbearance” (or patience) “not judgment, but redeeming love.” Indeed, “the aspect of Christ’s holiness that upset his contemporaries was the complete absence of [a] condemnatory note”.
“This does not mean that everything must be left undisturbed and endured as it is.”
Indeed, the Church lives “from the struggle of the unholy to attain holiness…But this effort only becomes fruitful and constructive if it is inspired by the spirit of forbearance, by real love.”
(Previous three quotes are from: Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), “Introduction to Christianity”, (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2004), pp. 342, 343, 344.)
For we know the “very need for religion reveals a man for what he is: a being created by God and tending always toward God.” (Mater et Magistra, 214)
Read more:
Dr. Amy E. Hamilton: What the LGBTQ+ Community Needs from the Church
