Priest in Texas newspaper: ‘Homosexual acts lead to the damnation of souls’
August 02, 2010
A Texas parish priest has written a column for the El Paso Times in which he strongly denounces homosexual activity.
“Every single Catholic, out of fidelity to charity and truth, has the absolute duty to oppose (1) the murder of unborn babies, and (2) any and all government attempts to legalize homosexual union,” wrote Father Michael Rodriguez in an August 2 column. “Any Catholic who supports homosexual acts is, by definition, committing a mortal sin, and placing himself/herself outside of communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Furthermore, a Catholic would be guilty of a most grievous sin of omission if he/she neglected to actively oppose the homosexual agenda, which thrives on deception and conceals its wicked horns under the guises of ‘equal rights,’ ‘tolerance,’ ‘who am I to judge?,’ etc.”
“I urge all of the Catholic faithful to treat homosexuals with love, understanding, and respect,” he added. “At the same time, never forget that genuine love demands that we seek, above all, the salvation of souls. Homosexual acts lead to the damnation of souls.”
“Abortion and homosexual acts are unequivocally intrinsic moral evils,” he concluded. “And friends, this objective truth doesn't depend on the opinion of the majority. Frighteningly, if the majority chooses to deny the objective moral order, then we will all suffer the pestiferous consequences.”
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Posted by: Mike in Toronto -
Aug. 03, 2010 11:51 AM ET USA
First, @lelewell: The Church does "recognize civil marriage between consenting [non-Catholic] heterosexuals," and will acknowledge the civil effects of such a marriage even if between two Catholics. Second, re Fr Rodriguez's words: Catholics who support homosexual acts MAY commit mortal sin, but do NOT place themselves ipso facto "outside of communion with the Roman Catholic Church." Canon Law lacks provision for any excommunication in this case, latae sententiae or otherwise.
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Posted by: -
Aug. 02, 2010 11:13 PM ET USA
Father Rodriguez is also a very humble and self effacing priest. This strongly worded statement speaks to the great love he has for the Church and his zeal for the salvation of souls. He was also a leader in keeping the Extraordinary form of the Mass in the Diocese of El Paso despite serious opposition. He is a very holy priest.
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Posted by: -
Aug. 02, 2010 10:41 PM ET USA
Where has this priest been for the past 50 years when we have needed him desperately. May his kind break forth like an army set for battle. Thank you, Fr. Rodriguez.
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Posted by: Chestertonian -
Aug. 02, 2010 7:22 PM ET USA
Lelewell, you err on two counts: first, it IS the Church's business, since 'marriage' is by definition a fruitful union and ordered by nature's God. Homosexual acts are unnatural and barren and cannot be defined as 'marriages'. Secondly, civil law does not serve to preserve rights that do not exist. There is no 'right' to homosexual 'marriage' any more than there is a right for an adult pedophile to 'marry' a child. The law shouldn't exist to serve what is unnatural--quite the contrary.
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Posted by: rpp -
Aug. 02, 2010 7:19 PM ET USA
Abortion and Sodomy are two of the four sins that "cry to Heaven for justice". Comparing them is perfectly legitimate. I applaud Rodriguez. I bet he give great homilies!
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Posted by: -
Aug. 02, 2010 4:59 PM ET USA
To include two moral crimes in the same exhortation does not trivialize one or exaggerate the other. If he had had the cause of evil policy to include idolatry, he might have done that also. It does not raise homosexual acts to the severity of murder; it simply lists them both as moral evils. The state does not "grant" rights to its citizens; it receives its power from them. It preserves rights that have objective being, like the marriage of a man and woman. It cannot create homosexual marriage.
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Posted by: New Sister -
Aug. 02, 2010 4:05 PM ET USA
Well said, Father! (and lelewell - the good priest didn't "compare homosexual acts to abortion". He lists both as grave evils that Western society promotes as morally acceptable.)
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Posted by: lelewell -
Aug. 02, 2010 2:46 PM ET USA
To compare homosexual acts to abortion trivializes the grievous nature of abortion, where an innocent life is extinguished. While not condoning homosexual acts, they do not rise to the level of murder. Furthermore, granting homosexuals the right to marry is none of the Church's business since it does not even recognize civil marriage between consenting heterosexuals.The civil law should be applied equally and homosexuals should have all the legal benefits of civilly married heterosexual couples.
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Posted by: -
Aug. 02, 2010 11:41 AM ET USA
Let us pray his message gets out to many before this wonderful priest's ordinary pressures him to 'clarify' his statement. Wait for it....
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Posted by: Justin8110 -
Aug. 02, 2010 9:45 AM ET USA
This priest is very brave and I will pray that he may recieve the grace to deal with the heaps of insults and possible violent attacks on him for speaking the truth. On another note I find it sad that today the Church and the greater culture has become so weak in being bold that something like this--a priest speaking Catholic truth--is somehow considered news. How far we have fallen in the last 50 years or so!
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Posted by: -
Aug. 02, 2010 7:59 AM ET USA
It's refreshing when truth and words go together in such close company. I imagine that now he'll have to suffer the withering attack of the 'tolerant', who can not tolerate those who openly speak such truths. Extra word-score to Father for using "pestiferous"!
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Posted by: -
Aug. 02, 2010 7:23 AM ET USA
It takes courage and love to speak these truths. Bravo, Father Rodriguez, and may God bless and protect you.
