Celibate gay men
Stances of Faiths on Queer Issues: Roman Catholic Church
BACKGROUND
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the world, with approximately billion members across the globe. With its origins in the earliest days of Christianity, the Church traces its leadership––in the person of the Pope––to St. Peter, identified by Jesus as “the rock” on which the Church would be built.
The Catholic Church in the United States numbers over 70 million members, and is organized in 33 Provinces, each led by an archbishop. Each bishop answers directly to the Pope, not to an archbishop. Those Provinces are further divided into dioceses, each led by a bishop. At the build of the organizational structure are local parishes, headed by a pastor, appointed by the local bishop. The Conference of Catholic Bishops in the United States meets semi-annually.
As part of a global organization with its institutional center at the Vatican, the Catholic Church in America is shaped by worldwide societal and cultural trends. It is further shaped by leadership that is entirely male, with w
Last November, Jason and his partner Noah moved in together after dating long-distance for nearly a year. Both in their mids, they had built a serious relationship by talking on the phone every afternoon, visiting each other regularly and going on a summer vacation. They posted photos as a pair on social media to the point where people were surprised to learn they lived in different U.S. states — Jason* in Kansas and Noah* in Missouri.
Their relationship was also founded on another surprising principle: celibacy. Jason is an Eastern Orthodox Christian, and Noah went to an evangelical church. They both believed the Christian faith called them to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and a woman. So they didn’t arrange to have sex with each other or anyone else — ever. But taking sex out of the equation didn’t mean going it alone. “We see ourselves as partners in life,” Jason said last fall, “helping one another, encouraging one another.”
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Celibate male lover Christians are an emerging group who are openly
What Christians Don&#;t Want to Admit About Celibacy and Homosexuality
In my last send , I discussed the deficit of physical touch in American culture and the role it&#;s played in stripping gay people (and everyone else) of access to non-sexual affection. Today, I want to chat about an even deeper trend. The decline of social capital.
There’s an elephant in the room when it comes to LGBT+ issues, and many Christians will never admit it. It&#;s like there&#;s this collective fear that if we let the classified slip, then all the hordes of gay people who were going to live a celibate lifestyle won&#;t buy it anymore. News flash — most of them don&#;t get it already.
So I’m just gonna say it: The social landscape of latest America is making celibacy practically impossible.
There. I said it. Celibacy is next-to-impossible. It&#;s not like lgbtq+ people don&#;t know it already. It’s not prefer everyone doesn’t know it already. And it&#;s occasion we came to terms with it. We’ve got to admit the correctness before we can switch it.
So I’ll declare it again. Celibacy is becoming impossibl
I want you to encounter a rather unique couple. Their names are Sarah and Lindsey, but don’t form your opinions too quickly. Yes, Sarah and Lindsey are partners. Yes, they are attracted to the same sex. But no, they are not married nor are they engaging in sexual relations. They are celibate. Now, before you race to declare where you “stand” on this situation—Is it sin?! Is it not a sin!? Why are they partners and not just roommates?!—why don’t you get to know them first? If you’re an evangelical Christian, and you’re heterosexual, and you are wrestling with the scrutinize of homosexuality, the optimal advice I can provide you is to cease and listen. To tune in is to love and to learn—few people ever learn anything while they are talking or racing to form opinions with ear plugs in.
So let’s listen to the story of Sarah and Lindsey.
PS: Thanks Sarah Lindsey for sharing your story with us. Why don’t you begin by telling us a little about yourselves. Who you are, what you do, and how long you’ve been together?
S&L: Thanks, Preston, for interviewing us. It’s a minute weird to intr