Comments on: What does the voice tell you?

By: andre

andre — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 22:04:57 +0000

In reply to Michael.

Michael,
Thank you for your email and interest in this topic and this website. Please allow me to offer some comments on your words.
First of all, I am not sure that I understand what you mean when you write: “love between brothers constitutes homosexuality”, certainly that is incest and not what this website is about and not what LGBT Orthodox are seeking.
Second, I agree with you that sex is indeed a symbol of love and therefore we argue that same-sex couples should be recognized for their love, commitment and devotion and be allowed to be married in the Church because God has already blessed the couple, Those who God created as gay, are not drawn to someone of the opposite sex. Therefore to be married to someone of the opposite sex, if you are gay or lesbian, is a rejection of God’s creation and His plan for you.
Thirdly, I would agree with you that there is no such thing as “homosexual” love or “heterosexual love”, but only love. When a couple, either heterosexual or homosexual, declares their love for one another, their words are accepted by Christ as a promise to one another. The Church has participated in heterosexual promises, it needs to participate in homosexual promises.
Next, you write that “For a man to lay with a man can only achieve pleasure and possible emotional sensations.” I would agree IF that man is not in love with that man, but simply satisfying his carnal lusts, then indeed, it is nothing more than a sexual relationship, and is belittled. The same is true when a man lies with a woman, with whom he is not in love. Assuming that you are heterosexual, for you to lie with another man, or a woman you were not in love with, would be only for pleasure and emotional sensations. The same belittling would not be true for you and your wife.
Finally, your comment that the purpose of sex is to be fruitful and multiply, has been rejected by the Church, otherwise there would be no marriage for people passed the age of conception. As a priest I celebrated the marriages of numerous couples well into their 50s and 60s and even 70s.
We invite you to pray for the LGBT Orthodox community of faithful and begin to understand us as God made us.
I bid you peace,
Andriy

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 08:06:36 +0000

Thank you for writing this article, in reflection of your thoughts. However, I disagree. Remember, love between brothers, nor sisters, constitutes homosexuality. The love between a man and a woman- married or not, is the love that all should relay. Sex is not a symbol of love, but of marriage. The love between those that are married and those that are friends- even of the same sex, should also be the love of our enemies. Sex is not a practice of love, but of union. Sex often accompanies emotional states, and vice versa- bit even this is not necessarily proper. Sex is the marriage. Love is merely the duty of every man and woman. There is no such thing as “homosexual love,” nor “heterosexual love.” There is only love. Sex is a practice in which a man and a woman wish to unify themselves physically. For a man to lay with a man can only achieve pleasure and possible emotional sensations. Both of which are belittled by the teachings of our fathers. To be fruitful and to multiply is the purpose of sex, and a proper unification between a man and a woman fulfills this order from our God.

By: Emil

Emil — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 07:59:08 +0000

Thank you Father Andre for this reflection.