The past two days I was blessed to write about two controversial topics that challenge our world and our Church at this present moment. They are marriage and homosexuality. I did my best to communicate and catechize through Sacred Scripture and the Catechism on what our wonderful Catholic faith teaches us in regards to these two hot topics, and I think it all boils down to five simple words: “SPEAK THE TRUTH WITH LOVE!”
Today’s article may inspire five ways we can use the Church’s teaching on these topics that can enable us to speak the truth about our faith with love in a practical way. You may already have some of your own ideas and perhaps have put them into action and are getting great results. If so, let’s hear about them. E-mail me so that I can share the good news with the rest of our parish. Here are five ways I came up with that are in no particular order:
1.Pray – Why not take some time to pray a rosary for a newly engaged couple or a couple who is on the verge of being married in our parish? How about praying a holy hour of adoration for either troubled marriages or for those who have same-sex attraction either on Tuesday morning in the chapel at St. Stephen between 9am – noon, at another time or even in the convenience of your own home.
2. Communicate – One opportunity for families would be for moms and dads to dedicate time to have sit-down discussions about marriage and homosexuality at appropriate times with age-appropriate kids. Maybe you will find that they will want to talk about either issue or perhaps another another important issue that’s on their minds. Just make sure the cell phones and texting are off! 🙂 You may also want to ask if other families are talking about this with their kids and family members, and if so, how? It’s always good to seek the Holy Spirit in prayer for guidance and wisdom as well as consult Sacred Scripture and the Catechism.
3. Minister Through Marriage Follow-up – Fr. Brian, Dcn. Dennis, Dcn. John, a few other couples in the parish and I are blessed and excited to assist couples in their marriage preparation as well as lead their wedding celebrations. Also, Joan Spencer and Judy Elliott do a wonderful job to help couples plan their wedding ceremony including the readings as well as help with rehearsals. What if our parish did a follow-up ministry to assist the couples after they return from their honeymoons so as to reflect on their joyful and grace-filled experience in the Church on their wedding day? Couples could be challenged to continue to live out their faith and the grace of the sacrament they received. You and your spouse may be the couple that would want to visit the newly married at their house either a few weeks or months into their marriage and listen to their thoughts about how the ceremony and reception went. You may want to bring over a Church bulletin to their house and ask them to become part of our living, active community, or invite them back to Church or to a church event like the Parish Picnic, Chicken Dinner, etc…
4. Read or Watch a Testimony – Robin Teresa Beck, who was neglected by her mom and had an abusive dad as child, was a lesbian for 35 years and went through 12 lesbian relationships until a conversion happened after receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday about six years ago. Currently, Robin attends the parish I grew up in, St. Robert Bellarmine in Redford, and would make an excellent candidate for our “Distinguished Speaker Series.” See the links below to read about or watch her inspiring testimony. She went on an incredible journey and even wrote a book called, I Just Came for Ashes, which is also listed in one of the links below.
a. Video: “The Power of Grace” – Robin Teresa Beck’s conversion story from the lesbian lifestyle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsYKoD9iXno (36 mins.)
b. Video: “Robin Teresa Beck: From Lesbian to Chaste Catholic”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHVxKs0A7UE (26 mins)
c. ’It is impossible to have a healthy gay relationship’: Robin Beck on 35 years of ‘hell’ in the gay lifestyle
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/it-is-impossible-to-have-a-healthy-gay-relationship-robin-beck-on-35-years
d. Article – “Interview: Robin Beck on her 35 years in the gay lifestyle”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/interview-robin-beck-on-her-35-years-in-the-gay-lifestyle
Statistic: This statistic in the above article and website speaks volumes. “A recent Pew research poll showed that fully 85% of self-identified U.S. Catholics ages 18-29 said that homosexuality should be accepted by society, compared with just 13% who said it should be discouraged. Even among Catholics ages 65 and older, 57% say that homosexuality should be accepted.”
e. Article: “Former Lesbian on Why Its Cruel for Church Leaders to Go Soft on Same Sex Relationships”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/former-lesbian-on-why-its-cruel-for-church-leaders-to-go-soft-on-same-sex-r
f. Book: http://www.amazon.com/I-Just-Came-For-Ashes/dp/0578102501
g. Her website: http://www.robinteresa.com
* One could also read and do further research not only through our good friend, “Google,” or watch a video on Youtube, but there are many other good Catholic books and websites on marriage and homosexuality. Check them out!
5. Donate – There are some organizations, that for those who can afford it, could use your financial assistance. Courage, a ministry to help those who have Same-Sex Attraction (SSA) and Encourage, a ministry to assist parents, friends and family members of those who have SSA, are both ministries under one umbrella that would be grateful for your generosity. Both ministries can be found at http://www.couragerc.org. There is a Courage chapter that meets monthly at St. Joan of Arc in St. Clair Shores. There are also two marriage programs that are good to be aware of in our archdiocese. Perhaps you could use this information or pass it on to someone you know who could use it. One is Marriage Encounter, (http://wwme-detroit.org), a marriage enrichment program used to help couples with communication in order to deepen and strengthen their relationship with one another. The other is Retrouvaille (a French word that means rediscovery), which is a program for married couples who are separated or thinking about separation and divorce, and are looking for healing and renewal. The website is http://www.retrouvaille.info . Both organizations would be worthy and thankful of a donation. Maybe you would be interested in becoming involved.
In Speaking The Truth with Love,
Fr. Jeff Allan
e-mail: frjeffallan@gmail.com
“There is no fear in love…Perfect love drives out fear.” – 1 Jn. 4:18
"Speak The Truth with Love," A Catholic Blog by Fr. Jeff Allan 