I am Catholic. Despite misconceptions, my church is in a constant state of change. I personally believe that homosexuality is not a sin – it is something you are born with. As you stated above, texts from the Bible I read can be interpreted to agree and disagree with this point. I pray daily for the Catholic Church as well as all Christianity to re-evaluate their positions – I am not alone in both praying for this to happen and having this conversation with fellow Christians. As far as I’m concerned, the “apology” we’re talking about is wonderful because it brings attention to the issue and can provoke change.

On behalf of all Christians, I would like to apologize to You personally. I am Sorry that we have been a major player in preventing you from having all that you deserve. I am Sorry that we are judgmental, and not yet open to accepting and loving ALL Gods children, however they were created. I realize my apology will not make up for the fact that change has not yet occurred in our world. However, maybe it can give you a glimmer of hope…

I pray for you!

God Bless,
Rebecca

Sin is defined by a religious moral code. To sin, there must be a free and conscious choice to violate that code. If there is no choice to violate the religious moral code, there is no sin.

Adultery is a chosen action. The desire for love or sex with someone other than your spouse is an emotional state of mind. You can and may chose to act on it-and violate your moral code-or not. You can chose to quit adultery, or to even never be an adulterer. Therefore, it is a sin, according to most religious moral codes.

Homosexuality is not a state of mind that can be chosen or rejected.

Alcoholism is an addiction. Alcoholism is a physiological disease. It is a biological reaction to mood-altering chemicals, whatever the source or form, which results in the biological necessity to have that chemical to function. There are as many treatments for addictions as there are addictions. However, as it is not chosen behavior, an intentional violation of a moral code, it should not be regarded as a sin. Because many addictive behaviors violate social norms and religious moral codes, addictions and alcoholism in particular are regarded as sins and sinful.

Homosexuality is not a biological response to a mood-altering chemical. Homosexuality is not a disease. While it may violate some social norms and some religious moral codes of some societies in certain times, it has never been universally regarded as a social or moral violation.

My life, my love, my existence, being neither a chosen violation of a moral code, nor a physiological disease, is not a sin.

Until you can accept that my life is not a sin, and that I am not diseased and in need of a cure, then your apology, while it may give both of us warm fuzzies, is not complete. If you wish to mistranslate and misinterpret your scriptures to believe it is a sin, then no longer beating or killing us is not enough. Being remorseful that your community has done so, and continues to do so is not enough.

When you can look at your scriptures, accurately interpret accurate translations, and read them for the time they were written, or realize that homosexuality doesn’t meet your definition of sin, as explained above, and you apologize because you have changed your faith, then it will be genuine remorse and a complete apology.

However, I will say that I’m glad that you’re sad your community has done it’s best to extinguish my life. I will say that I am glad you no longer chose to do so.

Thanks for not beating me, burning me, or killing me.

Now, could you abide by our nation’s Constitution, and allow me, as a natural-born citizen of our country, all the civil liberties and rights guaranteed by our constitution? My partner and I could really use the 1000 or so federal and state benefits that come with being legally married. Personally, I’d like to have the same kind of citizenship that all you all take for granted.

When you do that, I will say “apology accepted.”

At best these Bible-centered navel-gazers are simply out for cheap warm fuzzies. It’s the latest feel-good “mission” fad among young evangelical Christians. I’ve seen college students trotting around with t-shirts proclaiming apologies on behalf of Christianity for the Crusades, too. You know, t-shirts saying, “I apologize. Ask me why.” This is just a loyalty test for young Christians: “What are _you_ willing to do for Christ? Are you willing to spend your money to buy and wear a stupid looking t-shirt in public? Are you willing to put your self on the line and ‘come out’ as a Christian? Even if you get made fun of?” Well, it’s the most comfortable cilice ever, folks. These people are just playing a game to feed their own egos — they are not truly starting an honest and authentic faith dialogue as Marin claims. Marin’s just making money hand-over-fist selling books and t-shirts to a bunch of shallow, self-absorbed emotion-junkies. Worse, he’s promoting a mockery of true Christian reconciliation. But like I said, that’s all the rage right now. He’s not the only one.

And finally, @Marisa: People like you make me laugh. You’re fighting for the equality of all sinfulness? Really? Who the heck cares if your pastor now includes liars, adulterers, thieves, witches, murderers, violators of the Sabbath, worshippers of other gods, and covetous people along with gays in his list of people who are going down? Quit kidding yourself. You’re quibbling over theological semantics, not leading a fight for civil rights.

I guess you just do not get it Rick, homosexuality is not a ‘sin.’

Tell me Rick, are you saying my seventeen year long relationship with my partner is based on ‘sin,’ and acquaiting it with you being jealous, stealing, being a hypocrit.

It is insulting to say my relationship is a sin just like adultary is a sin etc!

To me you may as well say “Being Black is just a sin like any other sin.” Your speaking white noise and utter bigoted nonsense.

Homosexuality is not something I do, it is something I am. It defines my relationships, especially with the significant other in my life.

Either stop calling homosexuality a ‘sin’ or stop asking the gay community to be grateful that your bigotry is not as hate-filled as others.

Bigotry may have different degrees of ignorance, fear and hatred.

You congratulate yourself that your ignorance, fear and hatred is not as great as those ‘pharisee’ christians you know, big deal – don’t expect me to be thankful for that.

True Christians would recognize the log in their own eyes (The “issues” they have that they tend to ignore) before worrying so much about things that others are doing. Then realize that the Bible says it doesn’t MATTER WHAT THE SUPPOSED “sin” is. It isn’t about supposed “specific” lists of sins!!!!! Jesus never pointed out ANY SPECIFIC sin to people and rebuked them for it. (except the religious leaders!) He NEVER said, “Hey all my followers! make sure you “go after” all the people not paying their taxes” and “make sure they don’t come to your gatherings”. True Christianity says we ALL need Christ just as we are PERIOD…irregardless of what supposed behaviors we do or don’t do.

When we start with the “lists” no matter what it is we get away from the TRUTH!