James,
Thank you for your comment and support of this website. You are very blessed to have had kindness expressed to you by priests during Holy Confession. It should not matter if a priest is “liberal” or “conservative”, but simply that he act like Christ. Please pray that more people will experience what you have, because many have had the opposite experience. One man was told that being homosexual was something so horrible that even the devil did not want it. Imagine a penitent feeling like he was worse than the devil? Also, please pray for more compassionate and educated priests; the Church is very much in need of such pastors.
I bid you peace,
Andriy

In typical Orthodox fashion – there is that which is written, that which is spoken and that which is practiced. There are various pronouncements by Holy Synods, individual bishops and priests concerning homosexuality. I have read numerous articles by bishops and priests that do anything but make the stance of the Orthodox Church clear. I have heard sermons that would put the most conservative, fire and brimstone preacher jealous and yet have also heard very pastoral responses. In practice I have attended same-sex weddings celebrated by Orthodox priests from mainstream jurisdictions and have also counseled individuals who were spiritually destroyed by priests in and outside of confession because they wanted to discuss their homosexuality.

Jefferson,

Of course God created Steve, if not, who did? We are born this way and God made us this way. If it has to do with genes and hormones, who created those if not God?

Andriy