The Children of Sodom

By

Anthony Gonzales

 

But before they lay down, the men of   the city, the men of Sodom, both the young and the old, all of them to the last man, surrounded Lot's house; and they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them."  Lot went out of the Door to the men of Sodom shutting the door behind him and he said, "I beg you brothers, do not act with such wickedness.  Behold, I have two daughters who are still virgins; let me bring them out to you... But please leave my visitors alone."  But they would not hear of it. "Stand back" they said. "This man came to live with us and now he would play judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them." They came after Lot and were intent on breaking down the door of the house but the two visitors of Lot put forth their hands grabbing Lot and pulling him into the house.  And the angels struck with blindness the men who were at the door of the house, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves groping to find the door.

Then the angels turned to Lot and said, "Have you any one else here or in the city?  Who ever you have bring them out of this place; for we are about to destroy this place because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord and the Lord has sent us to destroy it. ...Lot escaped to the little town of Zoar.  Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire out of heaven and he overthrew those cities and the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities.  (Genesis 19:4-25)

 

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse; for although they knew God they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of men, birds, animals or reptiles.

 

Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions.  Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.  (Romans 1:18-27)

 

Gay Pride

 

As I looked upon the parade with horror, disgust and revulsion I was nonetheless fixed upon the spectacle with a morbid curiosity. How low had these poor people sunk in the mire of their lusts? Were they really proud of their depravity and perversion? Is this what they meant by "gay pride"?  Had their minds been so darkened that they could not see the difference between what is decent and what is twisted and perverse?  Then it became apparent that these poor creatures were truly blind to their affliction. They had, in a sense, gone mad with their own self-hatred and in their irrationality believed their affliction to be a gift.  And all I could do was to feel the overwhelming pain of loneliness that seemed to permeate everything like a thick fog.  So many, so young, so lonely, so addicted.

 

I happen to live about 60 miles south of San Francisco  (New Sodom) so when "Gay Pride Week” is celebrated we, unfortunately are "treated" to every politically correct expression of "diversity" and "tolerance".  In fact, we are no longer expected to just tolerate but to embrace the life-styles of these poor perverted people as another normal expression of "love". The liberal mayor of San Francisco (Willie Brown) personally came to publicly "witness" the "marriage vows" of 300 couples males and females.  The purpose was to gleefully proclaim to the world that everyone must accept the "love” of   these individuals   as just as normal and natural as heterosexual marriage.

 

Our children are being taught in public schools that homosexuals are a minority group that should be looked upon with the same dignity and respect as any other minority.  In other words, the politically correct crowd has infiltrated our public school system to such a degree that our children are expected to treat sexual perversion not only as a "sacred right" but as a legitimate minority, minorities having rights and privileges with the liberals that seemingly the majority does not have.  Could anyone have guessed 30 years ago that sexual perverts would be given minority status by the government of the United States simply because they were perverts?  Or that our children would be taught that sodomy is just another normal, legitimate and respectable expression of sexuality?

 

Liberalism has become so prevalent and has infected so much of society that the Church in the United States has basically become, for all intents and purposes, the mouthpiece of the "politically correct". This phenomenon is called syncretism.  During different periods of Israelite history this was a major problem. An example of this can be found in the actions of King Solomon who not only built the great temple of Jerusalem but who also built temples to the pagan gods of his many wives. Syncretism of Catholics in America occurs when the predominate cultural attitudes and norms are adopted by those in the Church.  They lose their identity as Roman Catholics   and instead reflect the world rather than the counterculture of Christ. I recently read in a "Catholic" parish church bulletin an article written by the pastor, which talked about gay pride and stated that "gayness" was to be considered a “gift from God”. Can you imagine? The Parishioners were invited by the Pastor to not only accept sodomites but to celebrate their perversion as something good.  Sodomites were to be praised not for their heroic resistance to this terrible evil in their lives but rather because they were "created that way by God."  This is the result of the Church embracing the world; the world is like leprosy, the more one exposes himself the more likely it will end up infecting him.

 

Sex and the Natural Law

 

I believe it is very important to make a distinction between the various expressions of homosexuality within the human condition.  We must remember that homosexuality, as any other disorder, is a result of the original sin, the fall of Adam and Eve. The natural law, which God has "woven" within our very nature, indicates to us what God intended for authentic human sexuality.  To get down to the nitty-gritty of it the egg is there in the female and the sperm is present in the male in order to propagate the species. Unlike animals that are ruled solely by instinct and compulsion man is ruled by reason.  Therefore, every action we do has some reason behind it.  We have the ability to make free choice. We can freely choose to do something or refuse to do something simply by an act of the will. Sexuality in human beings therefore is not simply an instinctual compulsion to propagate the species but rather is intimately connected to and influenced by our rational nature.  For example a dog does not have a choice; he is compelled to act solely by instinct and the pleasure drive.  So there is no difference for the dog between an outstretched human leg, a Doberman pinscher or a Labrador retriever; the male dog is compelled to pump whatever his instincts compels him to pump. We are obviously different. We are "attracted" to another person by a complex of factors, rational, irrational, conditional and circumstantial.  Our natural inclination, as God originally made us, is to be attracted to the opposite sex. However, we are not attracted only instinctively like a dog or a cat.  We always make a choice.  A man looks for certain qualities in the woman even if his sole motivation is the gratification of his sexual appetite.  In other words, she has to be his "type" or he's not interested.

 

The fact that man chooses between partners indicates that the sexuality in him is not just a physical act but it is intimately connected to his whole personality. The abuse and misuse of this faculty can lead to dire consequences physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Sexuality involves all aspects of our humanity. If a person follows its intended order and design he will find it both fulfilling and rewarding in all aspects of his life.  If, on the other hand, he uses his sexuality outside of its created order and design he will find a thousand different ways in which his disordered action will affect every area of his life.

 

The Differences between Heterosexuals and Homosexuals

 

There are a plethora of reasons why we as individuals are sexually attracted to certain other individuals.  It is not simply   genetic. And even when genetics plays a role there are also various psychological, circumstantial, cultural and experiential factors that move each of us in one direction or another, to one individual instead of another. Heterosexuality is the natural function and intended expression of authentic human sexuality.  The procreation of children and the subsequent raising of children in a psychologically healthy atmosphere along with the symbolic expression of lifelong commitment and unity are the intended goal of human sexuality as created by God. Yet due to the sin of Adam and Eve it has been shown by many different, legitimate studies that most individuals   are not, during their lifetime, always purely heterosexual or homosexual.  At one point or another in our lives there can be some sexual ambivalence. This is one of the effects of original sin and the consequent disorder it brought into our passions and emotions.  We call this disorder concupiscence and no one is immune from its influence.  This is what the writers of Scripture call the battle between the flesh and the spirit.

 

                            heterosexuals w/                                      homosexuals w/

                        homosexual experiences                        heterosexual experiences

 

Pure heterosexuals                                        True bisexuals                                                Militant gays

                 

                  heterosexuals w/occasional                                            homosexuals w/

                       ambivalent feelings                                              no heterosexual desires

 

Heterosexuals

 

The above figure shows the sexual orientation and experiences of the human race.  It must be noted that there are individuals on both sides of the spectrum who have retained their celibacy no matter what their particular orientation and experiences may have been.  Reading from left to right the first category is, for want of a better term, pure heterosexuals; these are individuals who have never experienced sexual ambivalence.  Their orientation is simply heterosexual and they have never entertained any feelings or thoughts contrary to their orientation. These individuals make up approximately 25% of the general population.  Next are individuals who are completely heterosexual in their orientation but, on occasion, have had sexual feelings or have entertained sexual thoughts (however briefly) for the same sex. These individuals never act upon those feelings and in fact many times fear and detest those feelings in themselves; they constitute the majority of the general population making up approximately 50% of the total. The next category is heterosexuals who have had same sex experiences.  In most cases this happens at a young age when the person has been exposed to sexual experimentation usually by an individual of the same sex who may be the same age or a little older.  It can also happen that an adult of the same sex has molested the individuals in this category.   Finally, it must be noted about these individuals that they remain heterosexually oriented and often feel a tremendous   amount of guilt and shame due to their feelings and the experimentations in which they either voluntarily or involuntarily participated.  Many can carry this guilt and pain into adulthood, which may affect their relationships with the opposite sex.  Often they remain confused about how they feel at times because even though they are predominantly heterosexual they can have residual feelings from past experiences.  Most fight these feelings and want relief from the temptations they may experience. This group comprises approximately 10% of the general population. 

 

Bisexuality

 

The next category on our chart is the true bisexual.  These are individuals who, because of a variety of factors, are attracted sexually to both sexes.  Some of these individuals, due to societal pressure may never act on their desires for the same sex but the attraction remains and given certain circumstances and weaknesses they may fall into acting on these feelings. Most bisexuals have had experiences similar to the last category described but do not fight the feelings they have for both sexes.  This obviously is a perversion of the sexual appetite.  It is, however, easier to repair the bisexual's psyche and assist their healing.  Bisexuals are the most successfully repaired individuals.  It does not mean that they will no longer have temptations but they can successfully become heterosexually oriented without further homosexual experiences. This group of individuals comprises about 5% of the general population.

 

The Difference between Homosexuals & Gays

 

The next group of individuals is those who are predominately oriented toward the same sex. These   individuals have what has been termed "inverted sexuality", that is, their sexuality is inside out and upside down.  There are obviously many factors, which play a role in this sexual perversion with the individual. (A discussion of genetic disposition can be found further in this article.)  Individuals who are predominately homosexual do not necessarily have any more control over their orientation than does the heterosexual.  The Church, nonetheless, in its wisdom, experience and guidance by the Holy Spirit in the interpretation of Sacred Scripture and the Natural Law has stated that even though this orientation is not chosen nor necessarily controllable (therefore not sinful in itself) it must be understood to be a grave disorder according to the Natural Law and God's original intention for sexuality and the sexual appetite in man.  This, like all other disorders in our world comes from the sin of Adam and Eve and the ultimate disharmony it brought into all creation.  The first category of individuals in this group is the homosexual who has had heterosexual experiences.  These are individuals who, even though they had sexual feelings for the same sex denied it and attempted to live a normal heterosexual existence but the power of their temptations were too strong and they finally gave in to them.  Once tasting this forbidden fruit they give up the natural for the unnatural.  These poor individuals are trapped by feelings they detest and all they desire is to rid themselves of their apparent orientation but without intensive "Reparative Therapy" it becomes almost impossible.  Some of these individuals can overcome their condition not by denying it but by accepting the fact that they have this orientation and then choosing to live an entirely chaste existence refusing to act out their desires. However, the vast majority of these individuals who give in time after time to their passions suffer great guilt and remorse over their actions.  These individuals do not want to have these feelings and go through a tremendous amount of self-hatred because of them.  These individuals comprise approximately 5% of the general population.

 

The next category of individuals is those people who are exclusively homosexual in their orientation.  They have no desire for and in most cases never have had sexual relations with the opposite sex. These individuals are usually very discrete.  They do not parade their aberration before the public and usually have difficulty in completely accepting their orientation.  In most cases their orientation remains hidden or they will surround themselves with other homosexuals so that they do not have to deal with the societal issues their orientation generates.  The perverted sexuality within these individuals is such that in most    cases, barring a miracle of grace, their perversion cannot be repaired.  They can however, sacrifice their orientation by choosing to live a life of chastity in conformity with the will of   God. These homosexuals are not politically active in furthering any homosexual agenda.  They see their condition as being abnormal and aberrant.  This is not what they have chosen and they would rather not be homosexual but for whatever reasons they seemingly, and   in most cases, have no other choice but to feel the way they do.  It   is seen as curse rather than a blessing and they feel this every day of their lives. They make up 3 % of the population.

 

Finally, the last and most aberrant of all the homosexuals’ categories is the militant gays.  These are the true sodomites.  Individuals filled with a blind animalistic passion for their own sex. Having seared their consciences they have rejected the One True God for the false god of Self. Adoring the creature rather than the Creator they have been filled with hatred not only for themselves but for all that is truly good and wholesome. Vice is virtue and virtue is detested. Living corpses, they are not happy with their own depravity but strive with demonic effort to convert the world to their perversion. Both men and women who have embraced this evil are so demonically oppressed that they cannot be happy until they drag as many others as possible to the hell they have already created for themselves and the eternal place of perdition toward which they are running headlong day by day.  The homosexual still has a healthy sense of shame for his failure to do well.  The "gays", on the other hand, wallow in their depravity. They militantly demand from others not only to tolerate them but also to accept their perversion as normal.  They are so twisted in their reasoning that they actually think that the natural repulsion of those who are not afflicted with this spiritual and psychological disease can somehow be extinguished by the force and coercion of government.

 

God detests this sin so profoundly that He wiped out an entire civilization raining down upon those towns that were filled with this vice fire and brimstone. Sodomy is one of the 4 sins that cry to heaven for vengeance.  If they, who are so demonically oppressed by this evil, cannot renounce it the wrath of God will be revealed against them.

 

"This, therefore, I say and testify in the Lord, that henceforth you are not to walk as the Gentiles walk in the futility of their minds, having their understanding clouded in darkness, estranged from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.  For they have given themselves up in despair to sensuality, greedily practicing every kind of uncleanness.  But you have not so learned Christ for surely you have heard of Him and have been taught in Him that as regards your former manner of living you are to put off the old man, that is being corrupted through its deceptive lusts. But be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man, who has been created according to God in justice and holiness of truth."  "For know this and understand that no fornicator, or unclean person (Sodomite), or covetous one (for this is idolatry) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one lead you astray with empty words; for the wrath of God comes down upon the children of disobedience." (Ephesians 4:17-24 & 5:5-6)

 

Genetics or Psychological Aberration?

 

It is claimed by the sodomites that they were "made this way" and that they have no control over what nature has given them.  In fact, they claim that they are actually another "gender” and that they have every "right” to express the sexual preferences that nature has given them just as the Heterosexuals do.  This genetic "evidence" gives them fuel to argue for same sex marriage, for adopting and raising children and to demand that society and even the Church accept them as completely normal and natural. They are "just another expression of nature" and should have all the rights and privileges any other "minority" has within a free democratic society.  They are even so twisted as to believe that they are the superior expression of genetic evolution.

 

The Creator and His Church are quite clear on this whole issue. The truth runs something like this. If there are cases of genetic homosexuality it is due to the disorder caused by sin in the world.  Just as a person is born with Downs Syndrome, or born blind or has a genetic propensity for cancer or diabetes the genetic homosexual is a mutant of nature. God created sexuality for the purpose of procreation and a lifelong expression of unity.  Any rational mind can discover this by empirical evidence without a specific revelation by the Creator. The genetic homosexual is, therefore, called by his Creator to carry the cross of sexual abstinence and chastity.  Just as the person born blind must carry their cross every day so must the genetic homosexual.  It is not God's fault that they were born with this terrible affliction. The reason comes from the disorder of sin brought about first by Adam and Eve and then by the sins of every rational individual from that time to this. We all live with the effects of sin every day.  It is our duty to honor the Creator by accepting our individual cross daily and doing the will of God as expressed in the natural law and in His revelation.

 

The Church believes that in most cases the homosexual condition comes from psychological, environmental, circumstantial and experiential conditions. It may be that the person has no choice because of these conditions in his life but he too is call to offer his sexuality in sacrifice to God, first to honor His supreme sovereignty over His creation by obedience to the Natural Law and secondly for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.  No one is saying this is easy. If it were it would not be a cross.  Nonetheless, it is necessary not only for the salvation of the individual's soul but for the salvation of others who will be assisted in their struggle because of the vicarious suffering of the individual homosexual.  The heroic virtue it takes to resist this temptation can actually bring the homosexually oriented person to great holiness when they unite their sacrifice to Christ's.     

 

Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin

 

The above dictum written by St. Augustine in the 4th century expresses perfectly what our attitude should be as Roman Catholics toward anyone who suffers from this affliction.  We should have the same compassion for them as we would for any one who suffers from pain, sorrow, disease and anguish.   This does not mean that we should tolerate or condone what they have done but we must love them as Christ loves them.  This is a thin line to walk.  It does not mean that we should avoid "offending" someone by confronting this issue head on and to be afraid of advising them to move in the direction of chastity rather than impurity. 

 

Let's face it mortal sin is mortal sin. It doesn't matter if it’s fornication, adultery, sodomy, deliberate intoxication, masturbation, abortion, murder, malicious gossip, defrauding the laborer of his just wage, socialism, heresy or any of the other ways we can cut ourselves off from God; the result is always the same, spiritual death.  It is our duty as Roman Catholics to seek out the lost and bring them back to Christ. To be silent in the face of sin is to participate in that sin to one degree or another.  By our silence we give consent. Do not be afraid, therefore, to confront someone you love with the truth.  This does not mean rejecting them.  It means loving them enough to want to be the instrument of their healing.  The most powerful cure for this affliction is the frequent reception of the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion.

 

Sexual Addiction

 

It must be noted that homosexuality as with other illicit sexual activity is almost always, except for very rare instances, a sexual addiction. It must be treated as such and approached first at that level.  As with any addiction it is important to realize that it may take a concerted effort for the rest of that person's life to recover from this particular disease.  The most important thing to remember is that the person should not get discouraged or despair in their attempt to overcome this addiction. It can, with grace, be overcome in an instant   but for most of these individuals the process can be long and arduous. We must support them in their efforts. This means to not only be a sounding board but also having a kind, open and non-condemning attitude allowing them to use us as someone to whom they can be accountable.  "Let the man who stands beware lest he fall." Meaning that everyone of us, but for the grace of God is vulnerable to this and every other sin by which men offend God.  Never think yourself superior but rather humbly thank God for the graces He has given you and be willing to share those graces with those He leads into your life. Be just and merciful always keeping in mind that the heart of the Law is mercy. You will be judged not on how well you know the truth but on how well you live the truth through love.  =