Archbishop Naumann takes a teaching opportunity

News stories regarding steps that our Bishops and Priests take as our Pastors are more and more reported in secular media. This, however, gives the Magisterium a teaching opportunity. The culture's movement towards acceptance of an active homosexual lifestyle, is seen as the way to be "compassionate" toward the gay individual who supposedly can't control his or her carnal desires and should not have to because "they were born that way."

As a single hetrosexual woman with desires, too, I take issue with this line of thought. If I accept that line of thought, I could also expect the Church to be "compassionate" towards me and allow for me to live out my desires. But after coming out of the darkness and into the light of Christ and into His merciful loving arms, my eyes were opened and now I understand the Church's expectations for me are Christ's expectations. This is the true way to happiness on earth and to ultimately receive our reward of resting in Christ's arms in Heaven.

There is a dignity that singles want in today's culture. It comes under the guise of recognition for being allowed to be who they think they are without any consideration for the rest of society. This comes under the guise of "freedom", which actually means freedom from the needs of the world at large or Revelation. Singles that truly love the Lord, "with all their heart, mind and soul" (Lk. 10:27) know that true freedom can only be found in living the gospel and the Paschal Mysteries. 

The expectations and teachings for a chaste and celibate lifestyle will direct us to a higher dignity of human life. Living up to our human dignity will enable singles to share in the divine life that Christ gives us the ability to do when we partake in the Sacraments. We lose out on the graces offered in the Sacraments when we personally compromise our own dignity through sexual relations outside of a covenantal marriage. In the Kansas City Star newspaper, you can read of a single gay Catholic man who's Priest was showing what true compassion is by explaining to the gay man that his lifestyle must be celibate. http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/14691359.htm 

Archbishop Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas explained the Church's teaching in this area and what "compassion" means for all Christians in regard to the homesexuality issue in our society in The Leaven. His remarks are definitive, and should be able to be understood by even those living in darkness. By God's grace will they come into the light, and begin to trust that the Holy Spirit is leading the Church, and change their lifestyle, whether the person is hetrosexual or homesexual. As stated by the 48th International Eucharistic Congress, "...God is seeking and waiting for us." http://www.theleaven.com/columnistsnaumann052606.htm