2015-07-25   Kevin Walters (UK)    

A Bond of Divine Mercy
        Comments welcome here

Please consider reading in conjunction with my previous articles   

Christian marriage as defined by Jesus Christ.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh”. The Truth of this statement can be seen in any offspring they may be blest with. The greatest gift we have received is the gift of life, given by God, through the action of our parents, refusing to fully partake in His creation by deliberately denying another the opportunity of life, is sinful. The beauty of parenthood (Marriage) and its unifying bound the creation of a new life.

The baby was a daisy

The mother a turtle dove

The daisy looked for sunshine

The dove cooed with maternal love

The daisy drank the sunshine

That flowed from the dove

That poured from the One above

The daisy had a cap of white

The dove a cape of snow

Both did reflect that light

Are heart was meant to know

O’ my daisy and my dove

May you ever be drenched

In that eternal love

Marriage can only take place between a man and a woman; civil partnerships are outside of Church teaching. But we are not here as Christians to stone people who may find themselves with sexual identity problems (Which cover a wide range of differences) The Church cannot offer marriage or bless their partnership (Civil union). Mercy demands a way to be found that can incorporate those baptized Christians who find themselves in this most difficult position, to be accepted into God’s family the Church and society at large.

The Catholic Church holds that, as a state beyond a person's choice, being homosexual is not wrong or sinful in itself. But just as it is objectively wrong for unmarried heterosexuals to engage in sex, so too are homosexual acts considered to be wrong,  we are all born with original sin—but that never excuses sin.

The Church teaches that the only option open to a gay Christian is celibacy and if they should sin they are in exactly the same position as all of the unmarried, the sacrament of penance is available to them and in this regard, they are treated equally.

Heterosexuals have the option to marry and the majority do, marriage is an institution, instituted and ordained by God for a lifelong relationship between one man as husband and one woman as wife. The Church consider it the most intimate of human relationships, a gift from God, a sacred institution that recognizes the dignity of a sexual relationship and the connection of this relationship to form deeper ties of love in this life and is to the common good, as it forms the basis of family life.

 In many dioceses there are groups formed for singles, a place is found for them to meet and socialize with members of the opposite sex. This encourages them to establish friendships, many of which develop into a commitment to marry, pastoral care is been given.

The Church must protect her children as they develop so as not to be led away from the Church

What pastoral care can our Church/Shepherds offer to the parents of young adult gay Christians?

For young Christian gay adults, the options appear to be stark, live a single celibate life. As Christians we consider this to be a gift from God. Obviously Homosexuals have the same needs as heterosexuals for a loving sexual relationship, to impose celibacy upon any one, either a heterosexual or a homosexual person would create an intolerable situation within their heart, which would only serve to increase the desire for companionship and sexual intimacy.

 But coming to terms with an identity that is different to that of most of your peers, or coping with ignorance, prejudice and discrimination, can be confusing and distressing. People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are at greater risk of some mental health problems and alcohol/drug misuse. Suicide is higher than amongst the general population and considerable more so amongst males aged under twenty-five.  Anal sex has very serious health risks, more so when casual, HIV is another consideration, a stable relationship would be beneficial.

  Many Christian Homosexuals in their need accept that they cannot live the celibate life and this in effect condemns (Drives) them to a life of sin and often leads them away from the Church. As over time they see more and more contemporizes marry and raising families, they receive affirmation from the Church, friends and society at large. . Compared to them it would be hard not to feel a failure in their own eyes, rejected by the Church (and by definition God) and society at large. Excluded, been an outcast to the norm, it would be only natural to form friendships with people that identify with each other, many of whom are not Christian, and without the gift of celibacy and no means to form a formal commitment, the feeling of comradeship would increase and gradually other none Christian values will be adopted. It is reasonable to assume that causal sexual intimacy will often take place and all manner of behaviour will be accepted by the group, as no standard pattern of behaviour has been established, hence we see the desire for marriage/civil union which would give structure to their relationships, which would form the basis of acceptance by society at large.

 The Church must protect her children as they develop, so as not to be led away from the Church and her teachings, compassion demands that more must be done, a way must be found to fulfil their most basic need, to be valued and accepted as they are, by the Church and by definition God.

Is a civil commitment beneficial in that it gives structure to a union, even though it is outside of Church teaching (Sexual activity outside of marriage)? The general consensus by Western Society is yes.

How can the Church protect (embrace) those Catholics who cannot live the celibate life?

What can the Church offer, if anything to those who have taken a civil partner, absolution cannot be given unless their physical relationship is renounced, we are then back to celibacy. 

I am in my late sixties and I have a very conservative (Prudish view) on Catholic Christian moral teachings but the Divine Mercy (revelation) message, the true message, that incorporates an image of broken man, that has been given by God Himself to our Holy Church on earth, has caused me to reflect on Christ’s teachings within the gospels, especially those relating to His mercy, while at the same time, reflecting upon my own sinfulness and need of His mercy.

What I am going to suggest to you now, if suggested before the Divine Mercy revelation, I would have considered it to be an affront to God and I place this suggestion before you with humility for consideration by the church.

 Offer to those who make a civil union (commitment)

A bond of Divine Mercy

 This will put them on par with the divorced, who have taken a civil partner also those who use contraception (Artificial birth control) and those who for whatever reason, except the Sin against the Holy Spirit, who out of human frailty have been ensnared (so many) and cannot receive absolution, be permitted each time before approaching the Bread of Life, to look upon (Venerate) the true image of Divine Mercy, a broken image, a reflection of themselves before God in the Eucharist. Bringing them face to face with their own limitations (sin/ frailty) and in doing so, see their need of the Lord for His mercy and then saying these words from the heart, before the presence of God in the Eucharist, which have been given by God Himself to His Holy Church on earth

 “Jesus, I Trust in Thee”

And now dwelling in His Mercy, permit them to partake of the Bread of Life and in their humility, grow spiritually. They have not received absolution but live continually dependant on God’s mercy.

To know that you need God’s mercy is to acknowledge your dependence on him and him alone. When His mercy is fully ACCEPTED within the heart, it forms a bond (Friendship) with God. It becomes the greatest gift we can possess as it incorporates Faith, Hope and Charity “Unites us to God” and in this friendship based on our humility we cannot help but feel compassion for our neighbour, because in him we see our own fallen self.

 See below my first reflection on the divine Mercy Image (Message), written almost twenty years ago, which has led me to the conclusions I have now proposed.

 Mother church, I am angry it is true I have many bones to pick with you

I read about a Nun, the mirror of her heart shone in the dark

She held the lord in the most perfect way, tender heart, water, and gentle ray

Paint me in such away, that they will know what I want to say, taste the water feel the gentle ray

The result was stark like a tree without bark

 She might as well have painted in the dark

An earthly hand said this will never do, paint it anew

 She drew and drew but in her heart she knew that for the hand of authority, it would never do

We will have another do it anew we don’t want them to laugh at you

We will make it in our image perfect in every way

Your reflection is failure, take it away

 I knew a child I knew him well he tried to draw a picture for you as well

 No child was more honest and this is true on first communion day you tore his heart in two.

 You cannot read you cannot pray, this is a sin this is not the perfect way, go away

 Guilt was the price to pay I did not know the correct words to say

Benediction came can I ring the bell? No you will not do it well

 “But I do all you ask”, why are you like an Asp

 Puberty came, now this really was sin, I could not win

 I tried but all you did was chide

In trust I gave you the picture of my heart, you tore it apart

I took you at your word you see, you said. “Be perfect”, just like me.

You knew that my heart fell at the apple tree you did not tell that you fell as well

Now we have a picture on display, perfect in every way.

Whose reflection is shown?

Why does hers, not hold the higher place, was not she the one with the grace.

 But for you Mother it will not do it must be perfect to reflect you

 Will love find a way to show the truth, form the way and mould a heart so that it may pray?

Let the children come and play, taste the water and feel the gentle ray

So that they might live in day

Venerate the picture of broken man we reflect the Lords heart the best we can.

“Father” we only have to turn to you and always you give the morning dew.

Your heart is nailed to a tree, so that we dance free when we bend our knee

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                             Jesus I put my trust in thee.

kevin your brother

In Christ

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