Very true, David, and cause for great rejoicing. A similarly inspiring story, which I missed if you happen to have covered it already, is here.
http://venusmagazine.org/cover_story.html

When I was active in the gay community, I read some testimonies of people who’d left it, according to which, many of those who have renounced homosexual practice used to be leaders in the community. That was one of those Does-Not-Compute claims that burrowed uncomfortably under my skin.

It’s true of David Morrison, who once was involved with a “gay Christian” magazine called Malchus. The altruism required for gay activism is deeply misguided, of course, but in its own way provides more fertile ground for evangelism than does pure hedonism. We activists were, despite our confusion, pretty serious about trying to help people find liberation. In one of the Narnia books I haven’t read, I’ve been told there’s a character who has exhibited great courage in defence of an unworthy master. Aslan has mercy on him.

To Donald, I’ll say I once would have echoed your sentiments, leading as I did a relatively “vanilla” life, but over time, I found my sensitivities towards the more sordid side of gay life became dulled, and I eventually spun out of control. Take it from someone who played with hellfire and got burned: you’re on a very slippery slope. But, dire warnings aside, I also invite you to get it straight from the horse’s mouth what the Church actually teaches. And for that, with all respect to my more polemical colleagues here at C-L-S, you may find some of the links near the bottom of my left sidebar more pastorally … digestible.

Pax,
Alan

God Bless…

Donald, I have no idea of you are trolling here on an orthodox Catholic site or searching for honest answers, but in any case may God guide you to His holy and narrow path that alone leads to Him. Whatever else, the Same Sex Attraction Disorder is, it is highly complusive and enslaving in nature. And no, homosexual manifestations and actions are never “wholesome and good.” That does not mean that the person is evil only theactions if carried out. Feelings are not the guide to truth but can subtly hook people into confusion.

Your note suggests that you are young and caught up in a life that appears attractive, but at root is highly dangerous to your soul, mind, and body and those of others.

No one, Donald, can or should throw stones at you, for we are all sinners of one sort or another. But we must pray for you and hope that the Lord will open your mind to the truth of your delusion and enslavement.

May God bless and keep you.

If you mean this in general terms then I would suggest a re-reading of 1 John 1:8-10 (presuming Christianity from the language you use here). If you mean that you do not think that engaging in same-sex sexual intercourse is not sinful (given your self-identification as “gay”) then your statement would have to be classified as a faulty personal opinion at odds with the whole of the Judeo-Christian tradition and the constant teaching of Christianity.

>> I live in Oakland, California, live a normal life and have a resposable position.

It is not clear to me what you mean by the statement that you have “known” you were “gay” since 7th grade. However, since you have been afflicted with an affective disorder since such an early age it seems likely that your sense of what is “normal” would more likely correspond to the culture associated with the disorder than with the order of nature. Thus, without more detail it is not at all apparent that you do not suffer from the same problems as those which afflict people who live the “gay” lifestyle that the article linked to in this post addresses.

>> Being gay can be wholesome and good if you allow it to be.

I’m not sure what you mean by “good and wholesome.” If you mean living a lifestyle in which you embrace and act out upon an affective disorder then by the definition of disorder this lifestyle cannot be either good or wholesome. However, if you simply mean that one can live a chaste and happy life without being able to resolve the underlying issues that have led to the same sex attraction disorder then I would not disagree, except with the way you have phrased it.

We are all sinners and need to pray for one another and offer the truth to others in love. You are in my prayers.

Donald Weeks
Oakland, California