"Called to Fulfill God's Will"

Maybe you've read that the Catholic Church hates homosexuals. Pulling it mildly, that's an exaggeration.

As a practicing Catholic, I'm not allowed to hate anybody, including politicians, used car dealers, and homosexuals. We're also told that unjust discrimination is wrong. I've been over this before. (December 9, 2010, March 13, 2009)

I can see how folks could assume that the Church hates homosexuals, though. The Catholic Church says that:

• Homosexual acts
  • Are not good
  • Cannot be condoned
    (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2357)
• People with homosexual tendencies
  • must be accepted with
    • Respect
    • Compassion
    • Sensitivity
  • "Are called to fulfill God's will in their lives"
  (Catechism, 2358-2359)

Actually, everybody's "called to fulfill God's will in their lives." (Catechism, 306-308, 847, 2520, for starters)

Love, Hate, and Letting Friends Drive Drunk

If I accepted the establishment's assumptions, I'd feel that if the Catholic Church 'really loves' homosexuals, the Vatican would say homosexual activity was just fine: and push for legalizing same-sex marriage.

Applying the same principle to alcoholics: If I 'really love' an alcoholic, I'll say that getting drunk is just fine, and let him drive home if he wants to.

I don't accept the establishment's assumptions. I also think that driving while intoxicated is a bad idea.

Oddly, "friends don't let friends drive drunk" hasn't been labeled "hate speech."

Personal Taste, Cultural Norms, and Getting a Grip

A particular brand of Christianity was in vogue in my 'good old days.' I'm told that going to the 'right' church was almost a necessity for the ambitious young businessman.

Rightly or not, Christianity got associated with the sort of work ethic parodied in the phrase, 'I'll lie for the company, I'll cheat for the company, I'll steal for the company - but I'll never give up my principles!'

Then there were folks who seemed to have a hard time sorting out their personal tastes, American culture, and 'Biblical' principles like maintaining a 1940s dress code. And that's another topic.

Dealing With Difference, Then and Now

A few generations back, organizations that weren't in favor with the establishment were often labeled "un-American." There was a sort of cottage industry in Washington, turning investigations of alleged commies and pinkos into votes and influence. My opinion.

I can't say that I'm sorry that the 'good old days are gone, when HUAC backed away from investigating the KKK because it "is an old American institution."

The establishment in America looks different today, and has different quirks, but the old 'my way or the highway' attitude toward disagreement hasn't changed. More about that tomorrow morning.

Fulfill God's Will - by Being WHAT?!

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect."
(Romans 12:2)

---

"⁴ Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding

"to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God,

"strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy

"⁵ giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. "
(Collossians 1:9-12)

---

Okay: so I need to follow God's will: which is "what is good and pleasing and perfect;" and to "live in a manner worthy of the Lord ... fully pleasing...." That looks - impossible.

No wonder some folks seem convinced that Catholics are hypocrites: at best.

Happily, we've got help. (Catechism, 1026) Right now, I'm a sort of 'work in progress. (Catechism, 2012-2016) And that's another topic or two.

Related posts:

• The establishment
  • "Supporting Freedom, and Other Subversive Activity"
    (June 22, 2012)
  • "Coney Island School, 'Offensive' Song, and 'Foreigners' "
    (June 10, 2012)
  • "What's With 'the Establishment' in this Blog?"
    (September 15, 2011)
  • "Huckleberry Finn, [redacted] Jim, and Making Sense"
    (June 24, 2011)
  • "Fear of Right-Wing Extremism: Commie-Hunting in Reverse"
    (April 19, 2009)
• Love, Catholic style
  
  • "Sikhs, Catholics, and Prayer; Evangelization; and Exploring Mars"
    (August 10, 2012)
    Particularly
    • Love and Approval
  • "Loving Neighbors: Even the One Who Stole Our Gospel Book"
    (September 4, 2011)
  • "No Open Season on Transgendered People, Please!"
    (April 26, 2011)
  • " 'I Hate Barack Obama' - Maybe Not the Best Message from a Pulpit"
    (September 1, 2009)
    Particularly
    • Is Asking for a Divine Assassination Really Smart?
    • Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner
    • Hate, Anger, and Good Sense
  • "The Catholic Church and Homosexuals: Harsh and Soft, Judgmental and Understanding"
    (March 13, 2009)
• Faith and works
  • "The Gospel According to Chicken Man"
    (July 1, 2012)
  • " 'Love Thy Neighbor:' Putting Faith Into Practice"
    (February 5, 2012)
  • "Holy Willie Syndrome"
    (January 4, 2012)
  • "Faith, Works, and Spirituality for Dummkopfs"
    (October 5, 2011)
  • "Hope, Joy, and Working for a Better World"
    (September 13, 2011)