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Question 29.

Father l have a question , where does the church stand with homosexuality . The reason l ask is l am in Sydney & I asked a father of one of our church's here to please light a candle for a friend of mine that had pass , he was orthodox and I couldn't go to church at the time due to my health to light it myself . The father's responds was no he wouldn't light the candle or say a prayer because my friend was gay , that shock me . I thought that was very wrong as what l understand Christ accepted every one , I would like to hear what your thought is , thank you.      

 

Answer to Question 29.

 

That shocks me as well. I cannot understand the attitude of some priests who preach the Gospel and yet fail to understand the only commandment that our Lord insisted on was that we love all people and not to judge anyone. The New Testament message is very clear in so many places in the Gospels and Epistles of the Apostles. Maybe someone should tell this priest to read his Bible, because it is obvious that he has never read it with a mind to understand it, especially the verses “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-3) And “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1John 3: 15)

The church doesn't hate or discriminate against homosexuals or anyone else. There might be narrow-minded individuals, including some priest, who react very negatively to others who are different from them, but that is only their personal reaction and opinion and it does not mean that the whole church shares in their misplaced sentiments.  Everyone is God's creation and as such everyone is special to God who is love. If the church preaches against homosexuality she is condemning the sexual act and not the individual. It is the church's responsibility to teach her members what is right from wrong. The church doesn't single out the act of homosexuality but condemns all acts of sexuality outside of marriage. We are all sinners and each of us do things that are not pleasing to God. As the church teaches against all sins does that mean that she hates and discriminates against all people? This is a wrong way of understanding what the church does. Her mission is to make people aware of their sins and give them the help and support so that they can correct themselves. The church is a hospital for sick souls: Christ is the Head Physician and the Priests are his many doctors specialized in many fields of spiritual ailments. But just as there are good knowledgeable and experienced doctor and others not so experienced, so too are there good experienced priests and others inexperienced.

Christ is love and his Church preaches love. If a priest shows prejudice to certain people it is because he himself has not understood his role as a priest. Priests are not judges of the people, but doctors who must show love, compassion and concern for their patients. If there is judging to be done we leave that to God and God alone.