#hardtopic

6:01pm @ Starbucks, Mint Majesty

HEAR ME OUT!!

“There was a time where I didn’t mean this in a good way... but thankfully now I do... God is a god of inconvenient truths. If you pray and walk with Him long enough, the more inevitable it is to re-encounter and re-deal with the muck and shackles and traumas of your life. Except that this time, God is there to walk you through it. Even if the pain is all you can think about, Jesus, God, and godly people are there to remind you...”

I hate that because I have recently found my faith and that I am catholic, my "friends" have decided to challenge me. Asking me stupid questions such as, "Why do Catholics hate gay people?", "Why do you believe is stupid stuff?". So to get my frustration out, I am ranting on tumblr, where I am sure my real-life friends will soon hear about but this, or not I don't care, because I have gay followers and they probably see my 'catholicyyy' posts. So I want to clear some things up. 

Before

Before finding my faith, I had no idea where the church stood  on gay marriage, I was always like, "The more wedding cake the better, I will only object when there is wedding pie." I was ALWAYS tolerant. One of my best friends for crying out loud is gay, I still love him to death!

Now what I know

Learning from the Catechism, (which pretty much explains what Catholics believe, why we believe it and all that good stuff). So the Catechism says, 

"The number of men and women who have deep seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, continues most of them on 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. 

Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self- mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship,  by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection." (CCC 2358-2359)

Explanation

So the Catechism say that all homosexuals, Christian or not, should be treated with respect, compassion, and dignity. NO MATTER WHAT THEY BELIEVE. If they are Christian, they are called to chastity, which is something I admire SO much. Just because people are gay doesn't mean we as catholics are going to go out of our way to be rude and mean. We should welcome them with open arms. If they're Christian, even better! If not, thats cool too! We as catholics are not to put down, try to convert homosexuals anymore than we do heterosexual, for the sake of their afterlife. 

Here's what I believe and preach

If you come up to me and tell me you're gay and that if I have a problem with it then I need to leave, I'm probably gonna say, "That's cool, wanna see a movie or something  later?". It doesn't change anything about a person to me. 

When my best friend came out to me, I told him he could be purple, I would still be friends and love him as much as I already did, and then I asked him if we could go and lunch because he told me right before lunch time. I don't see him as any less of a person or negatively. He has the most AMAZING boyfriend and could not be happier for the two of them, because they compliment each other so well. They aren't Christian and I don't try to preach anything on them. 

Like what Eminem said, "If you treat me with respect, I'll treat you with respect." or something like that, I don't know word for word. If you are kind to me, I'll be kind to you. Treat me with respect and I'll have all the time in the world for you. But, as soon as you tell me what I believe is stupid, or that I am a 'Jesus freak', or  that I don't deserve to be on the same planet as you because I believe in some things differently is when I have a problem.

To my followers

If you're gay. Cool! If not, cool! Purple,skinny, freckles, blonde hair, only one arm, whatever you are, if you're nice to me, let's be friends. I hope you all find happiness and joy in everything that you do. Lets show each other kindness and respect. 

This is what I believe, what I think everyone should know from a 19 year old's point of view. If you stuck with me this long, I applaud you because this was lengthy and controversial, two things I do not do. I love you all, and hope you have a great day.

Love,