"But when I read the article, about the Pope's refusal to sign a declaration to end discrimination against people, I have to ask myself, "Really? Is this what Jesus would do?" 

Are you seriously asking if that is what Jesus would do? The Bible says it's an abomination not discrimination! Therein lies the problem!

And I got to thinking about this after I left the above comment. It was originally turned "homosexuality" I believe, from the Bible in fact. Then, we called it an "alternative lifestyle". Then came a subcategory of  "transgender". What is next? It's still the same thing...homosexuality, and I know the Bible calls it an abomination, but I do agree with you that it's no worse a sin, at least in my opinion, :)

Somone can tell a lie to avoid hurting someone's feeling, to soften the hardness of telling the truth, etc., but when you cut to the core of it, it's still a lie. Why not just call it that from the git-go?

Just my thoughts, :)

@JUSTAVAPORHERE@xanga - heh, sorry, my own wording. I think I've been watching too much Lord of the Rings.... But yes, Iran, for example, kills anyone found to be a homosexual. That's the biggest issue with this situation, I think.

@thirst2@xanga - lol at you and Lord of the Rings, :)

Well, I didn't know that, thank you! But no, of course, not, I would not think death was right. And this made me wonder why homosexuality is said to be an abomination in the Bible and not all sins. While I would never tell God he was wrong in his thoughts, of course, lol, makes me wonder why that one is said to be an abomination and not the others. Don't really seem fairly, honestly, in my simple, worldly mind, but I didn't make the rules, lol, :)

@JUSTAVAPORHERE@xanga - It's not the only thing that God calls an abomination.

@hubbaduh@xanga - Yes, that's what I'm saying. I honestly didn't know, but then again, I guess I just assumed people only admitted it here. Perhaps I'm naive, I guess, :(

@JUSTAVAPORHERE@xanga - I agree with you. I think God is against all sin, and to say "Yeah, do whatever you want." is basically accepting it.

No, we can't force anyone to believe in God and separate from sin, but we don't have to promote it. People get mixed up and associate discrimination against homosexuality as meaning discriminating against the person. No, it's against the act itself. As a Christian, I can't vote for a law that promotes homosexuality as a good or healthy lifestyle. God says it's wrong, so I am against it.

Just as I am against adultry, murder, fornication, lying, and all other forms of sin. This is why the world is such moral decay. Satan wants us to think that we cannot speak out and say when something is wrong. In reality, being silent only encourages it.

@Celtic_haven@xanga - :), I concur.

@musicislife446@xanga - well said.  :)  no real comment from me necessary now.  once i realized what news site the article was from and the OBVIOUS bias in it, I knew I needed more info from a reliable source.

@JUSTAVAPORHERE@xanga - I'm just having a hard time with this.  It's not about gay marriage, or approval of homosexuality.  The majority of the nations that signed the declaration refuse to legalize same-sex marriage. 

It's about nations not being allowed to execute homosexuals, or deny them their livelihood.  You simply cannot argue that the Christ of scripture approves of humans treating humans that way. 

So a Christian body like the Catholic church refusing to sign the declaration is abominable.  Nothing in the declaration "supports" homosexuality; it just protects human life. 

So that's one disagreement, and one I can't be swayed on.

Another one, on which I'm open for discussion, is whether or not the church would have an easier time showing the love of Christ to homosexuals in daily life with a national policy of support vs. one of suppression.  You think that the nation should repress their immorality, for your own reasons; I think that the nation should allow them individual freedoms, for the reason that it will be easier for the church to show them the gospel that way. 

So, two disagreements.  Did I do a fair job of summarizing them?

@sirnickdon - Okay so I had my comment all typed up and then lost it so I'm not going to retype it.

But I wanted to tell you that I don't think the writer of this post was relating this to the killing of homosexuals that you mention. I think she simply stated she had a problem with the "discriminatory" aspect of it.

And I can only tell you this from experience, sirnick...I love all regardless of sexual preference. I would invite a homosexual to my church just as I would someone who had murdered someone. Love should never discriminate with REGARDS TO LOVE. I don't have a problem with allowing homosexuals to come into my church. To me it 's no different than a couple not being married and having sex coming to church. It's still an ongoing sin. I personally believe everyone should answer for themselves in regards to sin and not "be a busybody in other men's affairs" but honestly, for other Christians at least, I feel their problem arises in someone calling themselves a Christian but a homosexual.

As I said, to me homosexuality is no worse than any other sin and I have no problem allowing them into the churches. To me, it's all the difference in how one, sadly, looks at a murdered versus a liar. We as humans simply see one as being worse, sadly, :)

@sirnickdon - I think the nations that discriminate against Homosexuality wouldn't welcome the Catholic Church because of their religion or ideology.

Would that make this discussion the end or would you still call the Catholic church abominable because you're supposedly not supporting gay rights?

We welcome groups to come to our church if they feel threatened or discriminated against but don't ask Christians to hang out a banner endorsing other people's behavior.