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Date:         Sun, 10 Jan 1993 11:49:00 PST
From:         Jim McIntosh <Jim@AMERICAN.EDU>
Subject:      Re: The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8

On Sun, 10 Jan 1993 01:05:11 GMT Thomas E Zerucha <zerucha@SHELL.PORTAL.COM>
said:
> Another point is that the teaching on Homosexuality goes all the way
>back to Sodom and Gommorah.  If the Catholic church's teaching (and other
>churches and religions as well) has been that consistent, you need more than
>a quick dismissial that it has been wrong.  Can you disprove every doctor,
>saint, and other teacher of the church?

The truths contained in sacred Scripture must be continually re-explained.
The meaning of the various words can change over time, but also the minds of
those hearing or reading the Word of God change. The Bible says that
handicaps are the result of sin (sometimes the sin of the father results
in the handicap of the child). With our understanding of medicine and
genetics there are few educated people that still believe that handicaps are
the result of sins. The Bible (even Jesus!) seems to accept that mental
illness is caused by demons. There are few today who would accept that as
being true.

Likewise Paul says "According to the rule observed in all the assemblies of
believers, women should keep silent in such gatherings. They may not speak.
Rather, as the law states, submissiveness is indicated for them. If they want
to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. It is a disgrace
when a woman speaks in the assembly." (1Cor 14:33b-35) Except for a small
lingering debate over the ordination of women, there are few who would
require that the proceeding be followed. The reason is that our understanding
of the nature of women has fundamentally changed. We do not accept "A man, on
the other hand, ought not to cover his head, because he is the image of God
and the reflection of his glory. Woman, in turn, is the reflection of man's
glory. Man was not made from woman but woman from man." (1Cor 11:7-8)

I don't think that many would argue that homosexual unions are ideal, or
should be prefered or accepted by those who have the capacity of loving
someone of the opposite gender. However, for those who have the capacity for
forming loving and committed relationships only with those of their own
gender, the opinion is gaining a wider acceptance that their unions should be
blessed. What has changed is our understanding of the nature of
homosexuality, and a greater appreciation of how God's love is made more
complete in us when we form part of a loving and committed relationship with
another person. We know now something that our ancestors did not: that
homosexuality is not a decision about behavior, but rather is something
that is formed in the young child (perhaps even before birth). God creates
some people as homosexuals, and therefore this is a gift from God. We must
view Scriptures with this new understanding, just as we do with our new
understandings of the nature of handicaps, mental illness, women, slavery and
the nature of the physical universe.

Jim McIntosh, SFO (jim@american.edu)
The American University
Washington, DC USA 20016-8019

PS: Note that I am not arguing for the acceptance of alcoholism, bestiality
or the molestation of children. These are not the results of a committed and
loving relationship between two people. I am discussing the need for a very
narrow thing, the blessing of the union between two people who are in love
and who do not have the capacity of loving someone of the opposite gender.