Becoming a Judge when we ourselves expose ourselves to Scrutiny

Lately there have been a lot of preaching from different ministers regarding the Book of Romans. What has been the formatt is found in Chapter 1 with emphasis on the sin of sexual desires that hinge on depravity. We must never try to make a judgment on anyones’ failure to be holy when no one has yet reached that position. There are a few ministers who will lower the hatchet on homosexually oriented men or women who have not turned away from their weakness to same-sex attraction

The Catholic Church does not condemn homosexual people, only the activity which is sinful. Let’s be certain, that sex outside of marriage is considered sinful; including heterosexual partners: be it with fornication and any manner of finding sexual pleasure outside of marriage. Where we must use care when waiting to make a judgment on one or more persons for any reason places us in a position of God and that in itself can become deadly, spiritually.

James says; “There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save or destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?” (Jas 4: 12).

Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshipped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and then males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. (Rom 1: 24 - 27).

On this one premise, many ministers and other people have used this as a judgment by themselves to put down homosexual people. Again, the condition of sexual activity outside of marriage has become the basis for a vast judging towards many people who are in fact homosexual by nature.

Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction towards persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of great depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstance can they be approved. (CCC 2357).

The number of men and women who have deep seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. (CCC 2358).

A reminder that certain people are not kept out of heaven because of who they are; It is when through anyones’ rejection of God’s Mercy and belief he cannot or will not forgive sin is what keeps one from finding that mercy. It isn’t God who blocks their entrance; they do that themselves.

Ralph B. Hathaway