Catholicism and Conservative Values

Maine Voters Repeal Law Allowing Gay Marriage - NYTimes.com: "The Catholic Church was a leading supporter of the repeal campaign, even asking parishes to pass a second collection plate at Sunday mass to help the cause."

No doubt, the Catholic Church seems to be one of few religions that will not bend on their values. Bravo!

It's simply amazing to me that Protestant churches are moving toward the practice of turning a blind eye on not just "simple" or "regular" sins we all commit, but for one that Paul mentions in letter to the Corninthians, who had a lot of issues including sexual immorality.

Generally, we're all wicked and unworthy to inherit the Kingdom. But we can have forgiveness through faith. But with faith there is also action. And if you continue to be sexually immoral, that's not just homo acts but can be a lot of things, then were you truly repentant? If your nose, hand, whatever, offends you, then cut it off. That means, cut it out, stop it, don't do it anymore. Exercise self control like a human instead of going off of instinct like an animal. Adultry, stop doing it. Prostitute, stop it. Flee from it, don't do it. Just say no... whatever it takes.

But no, the Anglican church allows, and Methodist contemplated, gay ministers. So, Protestant churches are shaking, the ground is not stable. Where's the rock? Apparently, it stayed with the Catholics and wasn't extended to Protestants.

All churches experience difficulties. But this issue one that should not be. Practicing homosexual ministers... "Are you fucking insane" would be a good reply. Or maybe just laugh at the suggestion since it was obviously a joke, right? If not, then maybe a reply of, "Get the fuck out of here you dumbass." Maybe without the expletives, but with the general meaning none-the-less.

So my dad asked me if I had found or was still looking for a church. I told him yeah, and that I was considering going Catholic. He thought I was joking. Then he wondered why I was considering that after laughing at me. "I'll tell you why, because the Catholic church is the only church right now where I know they're not going to allow gays or any of that other crap that's going on." His counter really wasn't on point, but he mentioned that catholics has problems with gay priests. That's not on point because they weren't open about it, the church didn't condone it, etc., whereas protestant churches seem to be shifting from not only condoning it, but encouraging it.

The Methodists do not allow gay ministers or gay marriage, for now, but they do say that they allow gays in the congregation. Well, I doubt anyone is naive enough to think gays never attended a Methodist church before, but now the church is advertising it... "Come on in, be open with your queerness, we don't care" is the message. That's not right by me, that's an acceptance of sexual immorality, lowering the standard instead of raising it.

So what's a practicing gay person to do to get saved? Same thing as a practicing thief, same thing as a practicing adulterer, same thing as anyone else who is praticing a certain sin all the time. This doesn't bar you from going to church, church is inclusive. But the church should become a den of thieves, a whorehouse, or gay club, it should stand for what is moral and right, and YOU need to be the one to change your ways.

Oh yeah, my dad also said, "You need to find a spirit filled church." I told him the Catholics believe in the spirit, that all Christians believe in the Spirit. But I knew what he was talking about, he was talking about people blabbing in tongues, which I find to be nothing but disrupting if there's no interpretation. There needs to be order in the church, Paul said as much and I agree. And the only thing worse than no interpretation after someone speaks in tongues, is when TWO interpretations come from it, totally different. Yeah, all things are possible, but come on, I can discern. So yeah, it was fake, and I don't like fake.

I forget how exactly the issue came up, but I said, matter-of-factly, that there was a time when you were either Catholic, or you weren't a Christian. My dad disagreed. ?!?!?!?!? Umm... so I had to tell my dad some basic history and he relented. My dad is no dummy, btw, but he's more engineer than anything else, and I went to a Christian college, and took more than the required religious courses since I've always found the subject most interesting.

So, yeah, I'm thinking about Catholic, I'm also thinking Lutheran - Missouri Synod. I'll take action eventually, but I like to think first. Weigh my options. I don't know where I'll end up, but I know it will be with a morally strong place.