Obviously, I am a practicing Roman Catholic. I'm assuming that most of the readers of this blog are also practicing their faith and don't mind reading my thoughts on the faith. As a Catholic (and I'm hoping I speak for all practicing Catholics), I believe that there are sacrifices we make for our love for God, and that we need to live a Christ-like life above and beyond what society thinks is "good" or "cool", or - my personal favourite - "tolerant." Let me tell you, one of those tiny sacrifices should be to not watch this show.
I mean, c'mon, we're really just hitting the nail on the head here now aren't we? I have to give some credit to a show like Glee, where the main purpose and plot of the show is to tell the ups and downs of a high school show choir, but then sneaks in the side stories about characters that are acting on their same-sex attraction. Or Modern Family, a mockumentary comedy show which boasts seriously smart and witty writing, but also includes a gay couple who is raising a baby in its cast of characters. In both cases, the shows sneak attack their approval and promotion of the active homosexual lifestyle amidst other very appealing aspects. But now there is just no pretense anymore. The main plot of The New Normal is that two homosexual guys want to raise a baby, and a woman decides to be their surrogate. As the trailer says: "A family is a family, and love is love." The quote in and of itself is actually sound logic. It makes perfect sense. It's like saying "one equals one." But practicing Catholics need to understand what God, in all His divine authority, has revealed to be love. And shows like The New Normal miss the mark.
God has revealed to us that He is love (1 John 4:8). The Father in eternity begets the Son. The Father eternally gives Himself to the Son, who eternally accepts this self-gift, and eternally gives Himself to the Father, who also accepts this self-gift. This eternal self-gift is the third person of the Trinity, The Holy Spirit. Love is complete gift and receptivity. It is a Communion, and we, as people, are called to share in that very mystery of God. Blessed Pope John Paul II said that "the body...and it alone is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and divine." Man AND Woman are made in God's image, and thus, our bodies (and sex) are a sign to the mystery of God.
We also can't forget that Christ told us to love each other as He has loved us (John 13:34), and that St. Paul tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the Church (Ephesians 5:25) - as in, to give their very selves up for her, so that she can bear fruit. Full, faithful, fruitful, and free. That is the Love that we are called to image. That is the love through which the world can see a sign to God. And God has deemed that icon of the Trinity to be found in the Family: in a husband, in a wife, and in their openness to children.
The catechism says this about homosexual acts (to be distinguished from same-sex attraction):
"...homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the Natural Law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved" (2357).
Homosexual acts are a sin - a very grave sin, partly because it has to do with the integrity of who we are as a person and partly because of who we are supposed to be imaging in sexual union. Homosexual acts are not fruitful. They also aren't full - only a husband can fully give himself to his wife, and only his wife can fully receive him, because that is how human body complementarity works. I don't think I have to go into detail about how some homosexual acts entail something going up a place from which things are only meant to come out.
Society has already made normal the idea of two people romping outside of marriage, also a sin. Now it's going a step further. Catholics, don't fall to it! People with same-sex attraction, like people with opposite-sex attraction, are called to live chaste lives! When you think about the separation they are putting between themselves and God, do you not lament? Do you not shed any tears because they are giving into something less than to whom they are called? I do - and that was just from watching the commercial for the show. Not because I care for the characters, who are fictional. But because the show is glorifying a real lifestyle that is damaging - and not just spiritually. I just don't think that matter of this gravity can simply be ignored, or driven into apathy while you watch an hour long TV show every week.
I don't recommend that any Catholics watch this show, regardless of your sexual attraction. Don't sell yourselves short. Don't sell those with same-sex attraction short! They deserve so much more than what secular society is giving them. Maybe instead of watching the show, every time it airs, go say a rosary for all those struggling with their same-sex attraction (I say struggling, because those who truly allow Christ into their hearts, while they still maintain this attraction, are indeed set free to Love). Pray that all those who are trying to further this agenda will find God. Pray that people watching the show don't allow themselves to slowly be fed lies by the media.
It is not my intention to trivialize, or simplify, the lives of those who have same-sex attraction. I only mean to show that with the faith that I have in Christ and His Church, I firmly believe that God knows best. We are called to something more than what this TV show is portraying. Catholics need to stand firm in the Truth.
Here's a much more lengthy article about same-sex marriage:
http://www.catholic.com/documents/gay-marriage
I think my face has a dent in it.... :P
ReplyDeleteA real eye opener Jer!