On Homosexuality

This is a topic that human nature makes uncomfortable and that modern media distorts in so many ways. With the recent news of the State of New York's legalization of marriage-like unions between two people of the same sex, and a photo I saw of two TV drama characters at their lesbian wedding, coupled with President Obama's promotion of the "It Gets Better" campaign, people today need an authoritative source to speak out on the ultimate truth of the matter, taking into account the manner in which our contemporary audience receives teachings regarding homosexuality.

I recently received, by email from an Oblate priest, an article entitled "I am Not Gay . . . I am David." This article has a refreshing, realistic view on the topic of homosexuality today. It discusses the problem of our modern vocabulary that creates an essential identity of persons with a same-sex attraction with various terms, such as "gay," "lesbian," "homosexual," "transgender," and so on. It highlights the fact that emotionally and psychologically, the labeling of these terms does a tremendous injustice to the persons who are referred to in these terms, denying in a sense the fact that they are human beings and persons of great dignity.

What the Catholic Church has tried to teach is that the faithful should have the attitude of repugnance for sin itself (actions that are immoral due to a violation of natural law, the virtues, and the Commandments of God), but the utmost love for every person, regardless of what they have done. This love that we have for each other comes from the fact that God created every person who exists (from the moment of their conception) out of love, and our loving each other is a response to that Divine Initiative.

Understanding this general teaching in the context of the issue of homosexuality, we must work to reaffirm the dignity of those persons we may meet who are attracted to other persons of their sex, while helping them to understand the moral violation that is a sexual response to that attraction. This is the activity that the Catholic Church condemns as being fundamentally (naturally) disordered. And this is an ancient problem, most notably highlighted in the condemnation of Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities in which sexual activity among persons of the same sex was rampant and in which warnings against such crimes went unheeded.

The campaign of many contemporary groups to reduce bullying and oppression of persons who have same-sex attractions, especially those who exhibit such a disposition, is a distorted movement. The "It Gets Better" campaign focuses on enduring the trial of schoolyard bullying of a "homosexual child" in order to meet a loving life partner and subsequently live a "great life." A series of video testimonies from prominent speakers and activists who support the social freedom for those who have same-sex attractions to manifest this attraction sexually and legally have highlighted these points. Another series of videos made by employees of the Federal Government over the last couple years follows the same trend, trying to convince people (especially youth) that it is possible to lead a "normal" life, manifesting their same-sex attraction.

What makes these campaigns effective and appealing is their generalization of terms and their use of terms that are well-accepted and valued in our society. The study of communication calls them "God terms" because as we have total faith in God, so we have a strong acceptance and adherence to these terms. Terms like "rights," "human nature," "freedom," "choice," and "personal identity" are abused to represent things that are fundamentally and naturally a violation of personal freedom, identity, and choice. We are made to feel bad for those people who are bullied on these pretexts, which is, in fact, justified. Proponents of these campaigns rightly point out that the high suicide rates among oppressed same-sex attracted youth are alarming and should be prevented. We should have compassion for oppression of human persons who find themselves in a particular situation such as this. This is the only benefit of the campaign. This compassion, however, must be elevated in the context of eternal salvation, and while we love and value the infinite worth of each human person before the eyes of God, we must help that person to achieve salvation by living a life that is pleasing to that same God.

The culture of death that has engulfed American society in so many ways and shows itself in many other parts of the world involves this issue of the promotion of active homosexual lifestyles, in addition to the devaluation of life in the womb and of the elderly or suffering. How timely it is that today is the feast day of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan friar who was martyred in a Nazi death camp in 1941 and whom the Church has named patron of the Pro-Life Movement, and who is also my Confirmation patron saint. Let us ask his powerful intercession for a dramatic conversion around the world to the deepest understanding of the truth on this issue. Let us ask that, in his words, the world may be won for the Immaculata, his endearing name for Mary the Mother of God, "as soon as possible, as soon as possible, as soon as possible!"

Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca

Nature!

ZENIT - Pope to Parents: Take the Kids Outdoors

Our German shepherd, Pope Benedict XVI encourages parents to take advantage of the fair weather and lack of school commitments common in many families for the rest of the year by showing their children the splendor and beauty of the great outdoors. This is something I always enjoyed as I was growing up; we began taking annual camping trips to national parks throughout the Southwestern United States, hiking in the mountains, exploring caves, and playing in rivers all over the place. And it was on these trips that the only mention of the priesthood as a possibility for my vocation ever came up - that I might bring my kids back to these places, or maybe I might be a priest.

How good God is, and how much we can agree with His reaction when He created the earth and the plants and animals, as He looked out saw that it was good!

Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca

Independence!

Happy Independence Day!

As we prayed yesterday, while we recognize our achievement of political independence from England, we must further recognize our essential dependence on our Creator, the giver of life. Freedom, in the deepest sense, is the capacity to choose from good alternatives, as well as bad ones, ready for the consequences of each. It is also the ability to choose the good, not being forced to choose the bad.

So often independence and freedom are chalked up as an encouragement to do whatever feels good or desirable, on any level. The rich history of philosophical thought shows us that everything a person does is desired by that person for some reason, even things that society sees as evil - many times some harm is done to oneself or another person because of a desire to alleviate suffering for oneself or someone close.  That is to say, nothing that any person does is undesirable on every level. But as an entire culture, especially what is frequently represented on broadcast media and visible in many partial ways in the underlying mindset of many individuals here, Americans need to elevate their evaluation of what is acceptable conduct and what is desirable conduct among the members of American society for its own preservation. In politics, education, the family, and the work ethic, this society has turned to so many policies that are unsustainable - shockingly ironic given the tremendous push for so many elements of our physical infrastructure to be sustainable.

Let us pray and work toward a society that is more sustainable - inevitably more in line with the eternal plan for the whole human race, the plan ordained by our Creator and sustained by His Grace, with our cooperation. And such a Creator sent His Son and the Divine Person who is the love between them to guide us along this path, in the loving arms of so good a Mother. Let us follow them in Faith, Hope, and Love - verus amor!


Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca

The Holy Spirit!

Veni Sancte Spiritus! Come, Holy Spirit!

Pentecost, traditionally 50 days after Easter (10 days after Ascension, which is 40 days after Easter), marks the birth of the Church, as Fr. Ed Broom, OMV (www.youtube.com/fredbroomomv) noted in his homily on the Thursday after Ascension. The account of the coming of the Holy Spirit, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, upon the Apostles, in the presence of Mary, notes in several places that "[the apostles] were praying in one accord" and "they were all gathered together" - representing the community of the early church. Further, when the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, leave the upper room, Luke notes in the Acts of the Apostles that "there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem" (2:5). The Spirit most certainly works in mysterious ways - how else would have so many devout Jews have come to that place at that time in order to witness the Spirit's power?

Fr. Ed also encouraged us to be "Romans 8" people - people of prayer inspired by the Holy Spirit: "the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings." (Romans 8:26) He noted that, in this way, the Holy Spirit teaches us to pray, and also gives us the courage to be faithful witnesses of the Gospel message of God's incredible love for us.

Let us then come together in prayer, inspired by the Spirit, and then go out, bearing witness to God's love and His incredible offer of salvation to all we meet through the example of our lives and the words we may be inspired to share. And let us recall that "Mary, the mother of Jesus" (Acts 1:14) was with the Apostles when they received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, her spouse, and continues to intercede for us in this way.

Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca

It is finished!

Final exams are over, and I feel very confident in high marks across the board. Some classes are already determined and the grades published and the last ones I should hear about in the next few days. We studied long and hard until the end here, also preparing for the Seminarian Scholarship Dinner, to be held tomorrow night here at St. Clement's in Boston.

I also concluded my meetings with the psychiatrist/psychological counselor, and spiritual director for the year, preparing for the summer with both. We have a massive Spring Cleaning operation slated for next week before we all take off, and everyone at the house is gearing up for summer work and assignments. The main project at St. Clement's is to re-roof the church, a continuation of work that was begun last summer on other parts of the property.

As for me, I will be returning home until the last Saturday of August. While home, I will be working doing odd jobs in several areas including web design and development, IT support, and academic tutoring. I am open to coach children on violin and viola and provide training for others on any of the above areas - spread the word and refer to my main website: www.pnguyen.net on which I have posted my resume suitable for seeking summer employment at this time. It contains complete contact information for others to reach me.

It has been a truly phenomenal year, and it has been a great blessing to have such a welcoming and vibrant community of Oblates here in Boston, the militant support of prayer warriors here, at home, and everywhere, and maintained contact with family and close friends as I embark on this new journey of seeking to do the Lord's will particularly through preparing for priestly ministry. Many thanks to all of the academic personnel and everyone who has contributed to my vocation and formation through your prayers, sacrifices, and (even silent) approbation of this path.

I am also grateful for the sisterly support of Sr. Teresa, who celebrates her first birthday in religious life today. Happy Birthday!

Finally, on this feast of Our Lady of Fatima, who first appeared to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco on this day in 1917 in Portugal, let us charge forth with great vigor bringing the whole world to:
Love the Immaculata!

And let us say with Venerable Fr. Pio Bruno Lanteri, whose 252nd birthday we celebrated yesterday:
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca