Apparently-To: catholic@american.edu
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.catholic
Date:         Mon, 11 Jan 1993 07:21:16 PST
From:         "Greg Wolff, MISG, ICS::,
              MSO1-1/J50 11-Jan-1993 1020" <wolff@ICS.ENET.DEC.COM>
Subject:      Romans 1:24-28 and homosexual acts,
              claimed lack of condemnation...

There is a claim that Scripture condemns only homosexual acts in the
context of idolatrous religious behavior.  This means that homosexual acts
performed out of emotional involvement that has nothing to do with religious
cult are OK and not condemned by Scripture.

"Angelo J. Paguia" <ajpg1322@UXA.CSO.UIUC.EDU> claims that Romans 1:24-28
is a basis for this statement.

This is not the case.  Please consider the larger context of Romans.
Verses
    1-7     : introduction and praise of God.
    8-15    : praise of the faithful Christians in Rome
    16-17   : praise of Faith, "the Righteous shall live by Faith"
                [pgw    we've seen the good, now comes the contrasting with
                        the bad.]
    18-23   : the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and all
              unrighteousness
                [pgw    two things are condemned, un-Godliness (idolatry...)
                        & un-Righteousness (immorality...)]
    24-25   : "therefore God gave them over"  because of un-Godliness and
              un-Righteousness they are condemned to dishonor themselves in
              this life
    26-32   : massive condemnation and punishment including eternal
              damnation.  Verse 32 is particularly important
                "and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those
                who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only
                do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who
                practice them."

Notice here that the "ordinance of God" is a predecessor of this passage.
This passage is based on the "ordinance of God" which says that the immoral
practices in question are worthy of death.  What are the practices that the
verse is condemning as worthy of death?  Let us look at the critical verse
for our topic which is verse 27:

27  and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the
    woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men
    committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due
    penalty of their error.

Notice that St. Paul declares such acts erroneous and indecent in and of
themselves.  The acts are wrong and objectively evil in themselves and
these acts have consequences and those who do them will receive the "due
penalty of their error."

St. Paul states "that those who practice such things are worthy of death."
Those who practice the horribly degrading and dishonoring immoralities will
be rewarded with Eternal Death.  No one who does such things will enter the
Kingdom of Heaven.

Homosexual acts are just one of the things that the first chapter of Romans
lists as worthy of Eternal Damnation.  We in our modern world should read
these passages and weep, for we are condemned as a generation of people by
the Gospel, and not just for our sexual immorality.

                                    In Christ the Savior

                                    Greg Wolff      (pgw)
                                    [wolff@ics.enet.dec.com]
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU