Vatican approves blessings for same-sex couples in landmark ruling

[Stargazer]

1 minute ago, JAHS said:

Speaking on same sex attraction, Elder Bruce C. Hafen, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, said:

"If you are faithful, on resurrection morning -- and maybe even before then -- you will rise with normal attractions for the opposite sex."

I don't think Elder Hafen (or anyone else here in mortality) knows much about sexual attraction in resurrected beings. I'd say his statement is something more along the line of saying something to reassure those with an issue.

1 minute ago, JAHS said:

I don't know if this is considered official doctrine, but this could mean during the Millennium they will be able to be sealed to someone of the opposite sex and eventually obtain exaltation in the highest kingdom of heaven.

It seems reasonable to suppose that this may be the case. How many people died after the age of accountability but before they could ever partake of marriage in this life? It's bound to number in the many hundreds of millions. There must be some kind of accommodation for them. And would an accommodation be available for those who suffered from SSA in life? Seems reasonable to suppose so, in my opinion.

I'd guess we will find out more about this in the Millennium.

[rodheadlee]

24 minutes ago, Stargazer said:

I don't think Elder Hafen (or anyone else here in mortality) knows much about sexual attraction in resurrected beings. 

I have some distinct promises made to me by the Holy Spirit regarding sexual attractions in the next life. I don't really care to repeat them here though. There may be many of us that have had these promises or visions. It's just something you keep to yourself.

Edited December 25, 2023 by rodheadlee

[3DOP]

On 12/22/2023 at 2:32 AM, The Nehor said:

So if you confuse everyone and satisfy no one does that mean you are doing it really well or really badly? I honestly don’t know at this point.

The only Catholics who would be dissatisfied or confused would be those who jump to conclusions based on suspicion and distrust without reading the document about blessings. I found it informative and edifying.

Everyone is confused and dissatisfied? Maybe everyone who won't take fifteen minutes to read the document that explains this Catholic gesture towards gay people, should disqualify themselves from having an opinion on what the Catholic Church teaches about the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony as well as the Catholic teaching about blessings. Dogs, cars, and human sinners of all sorts can receive blessings from priests that are believed to benefit the sinners just as much or more than the dogs and cars and their owners.  

If on Judgment Day, it is revealed that one soul is saved because of the grace of a blessing given by a priest to a sinner seeking help from God, according to the guidelines clearly outlined in Fiducia Supplicans, no one will complain that everyone was once confused and dissatisfied in December of the year of our Lord 2023.

May you have a blessed and Merry Christmas, The Nehor

(May I say that without endorsing everything that you say or do? Of course. Catholic Tradition has always taught that the faithful should want everyone without exception to be blessed.)   

Rory

[The Nehor]

10 hours ago, JAHS said:

"If you are faithful, on resurrection morning -- and maybe even before then -- you will rise with normal attractions for the opposite sex."

That sounds horrifying. Ripping away half of my sexuality? Leaving me disgusted by some of my memories? YUCK!

If God had acted to ‘fix’ me back when I was desperately pleading for it decades ago maybe it would have been taken as a blessing. But now? No thanks. Too late.

I also would have thought it would be fixed at death the Spirit World. If it is a defect in the body why would the spirit still have it?

[Calm]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

Leaving me disgusted by some of my memories?

Being attracted to one sex does not automatically mean one is disgusted by thinking about other behaviour.  I think disgust comes from ignorance and fear and I don’t see that as existing in the next life, at least not eventually.  It doesn’t even always exist in this lifetime.  Disgust is, imo, more culture driven.

And it seems less like it would be ripping some personal attribute and more like restoring what was always there by uncovering it, removing what were mortal distractions that turned our sexuality to focus on something besides what we originally did.

This life is meant to imo explore and experiment within limits as part of the exploration.

My guess is sexual attraction actually becomes a choice as we further develop in understanding of ourselves, seeing ourselves as God sees us.  I believe we will be able to make rational, fully informed (as to our needs and desires as well as consequences of our choices) and fully in control choices for all behaviours rather than acting out of instinct or learned behaviours.  Perhaps it is projecting, but it seems to me God went to a lot of work so his children can develop, why would he stop short of the ultimate development of self awareness?

Edited December 25, 2023 by Calm

[Stargazer]

22 hours ago, rodheadlee said:

I have some distinct promises made to me by the Holy Spirit regarding sexual attractions in the next life. I don't really care to repeat them here though. There may be many of us that have had these promises or visions. It's just something you keep to yourself.

In the resurrection I suspect that we will not be ruled by hormones. The nature of an exalted resurrected body, which will be of the same nature as Heavenly Father's, and capable of an infinitude of capability, will doubtless surprise us all. And at all levels.

[The Nehor]

On 12/25/2023 at 7:04 AM, Calm said:

Being attracted to one sex does not automatically mean one is disgusted by thinking about other behaviour.  I think disgust comes from ignorance and fear and I don’t see that as existing in the next life, at least not eventually.  It doesn’t even always exist in this lifetime.  Disgust is, imo, more culture driven.

I have been told differently by some. I know that not everyone is repulsed by sexual activity they do not find attractive but many are.

Then again my experience with having a ‘gender that I am not attracted to’ is non-existent so i am willing to defer to the expertise of others.

[Calm]

16 hours ago, The Nehor said:

know that not everyone is repulsed by sexual activity they do not find attractive but many are.

I know people who got disgusted thinking about sexual activity with people they do find attractive.  Some people have hang ups.

Growing up as a teen in the 70s a certain sexual activity was pictured as gross/unhygienic and therefore disgusting among my peers, but it was hardly limited to just same sex.

And there was quite a strong sense of male-male romantic behaviour as disgusting, though female-female was edgy and cool and a turn on for males…or at least this was how it was portrayed. There is a lot of cultural baggage attached to male-male sex that isn’t to female-female for some reason. I don’t see why one is seen as more threatening than the other and yet it clearly was.   Which indicates to me it is very much learned behaviour. 

Edited December 27, 2023 by Calm

[Damien the Leper]

On 12/20/2023 at 9:58 AM, MiserereNobis said:

Absolutely. I think there will be something like "the spirit of Vatican II" with this. People won't actually read the document and instead go off of what progressives are saying about it and then take it farther than it actually was meant to go.

Absolutely again. The very progressive and very traditional wings of the Church are both misinterpreting this.

Nor I.

I concur.

Thanks for giving a good explanation to our LDS friends in your full post.

I'm in complete agreement with you both. It's best not to make this into something it's not.