The Spirituality and Miracles of St. Clare of Assisi

The Sad Consequences of Submitting to the Culture of Death

Not long ago, I received an unusual email from a homosexual male who was living with his "partner" who, for some strange reason, felt he had to justify his relationship to me. I suppose all my talk about the Bible, my Catholic pro-life views on the election, and my support of pro-life candidate Alan Keyes, made him feel a bit uneasy about his lifestyle. I also told him that the Christian hates the sin but loves the sinner, which he found difficult to grasp.

In response to my comments, he wrote me an email a couple of weeks later, explaining that his relationship with his partner was based on "love", that they shared "love". His comments made me feel ill and I immediately said a prayer for him. I must be honest in saying that I feel sorry for someone who believes this lie and lives out this "sad" and "sinful" lifestyle which is so devoid of the beauty and sanctity of the covenant bond of marriage which exists between and a man and a woman that mirrors Christ's love for His Church. I thought about all this young man was missing out on in this life and the next. I prayed that he would turn his life around.

Today, I came across an article which reminded me of him (I served on a community voting issues panel with him for a brief period of time.) and I believe that this was the Lord's reminder to me to persevere in prayer for him and others like him who permit themselves to be consumed by the "culture of death". Not only are there terrible consequences to a homosexual lifestyle here on earth, but unless there is conversion now, there will be even worse consequences in the afterlife for all eternity.

CDC Warns Doctors About Rare STD Spreading Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Europe; Disease Could Threaten U.S.
[Nov 09, 2004]

CDC officials have warned doctors about a rare sexually transmitted disease that has been spreading among men who have unprotected sex with men in the Netherlands and other European countries and could appear among such men in the United States, the New York Times reports (Tuller, New York Times, 11/9). Lymphogranuloma venereum -- LGV -- has been diagnosed in about 90 MSM in the Netherlands, and other cases have been reported in Belgium, France, Sweden and Britain, Reuters/CNN.com reports. The infection is caused by a strain of the bacteria that causes chlamydia and can be cured with antibiotics. LGV is associated with genital ulcers and flu-like symptoms and can cause severe gastrointestinal distress, according to Reuters/CNN.com (Reuters/CNN.com, 10/29). Because most U.S. doctors have never seen a case of LGV, CDC officials are worried that physicians might incorrectly diagnose the symptoms and fail to provide necessary treatment, which could cause the STD to become worse, according to the Times. LGV usually is seen in developing countries -- such as those in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America -- and most often is diagnosed among heterosexuals, in whom it causes genital lesions and swelling in the lymph glands in the groin. Men who experience rectal symptoms -- including bleeding of the rectum and colon -- most likely contract LGV through unprotected anal intercourse, according to Dr. Stuart Berman, chief of the epidemiology and surveillance branch in the STD prevention division at CDC. Health professionals also are concerned because the rectal inflammation and ulceration sometimes caused by LGV could increase the risk of transmitting or contracting HIV and other bloodborne diseases (New York Times, 11/9).

I really don’t understand why a man would do this to himself and call it "love." (Unfortunately, as a retired psychologist, I can produce some hypotheses.) You would think that someone who works in the medical field just might have a glimmer of insight into the natural, physical consequences of his behavior. However, I do know that "wise" people often behave foolishly and give in to temptation.

There are many factors that enter into play here, I am sure, but today I give him to you, Lord, for You are the Divine Physician and the Healer of both his body and his soul. Lord, protect Him and place Him in the palm of your hand, warm him with the light of Your love. Open His eyes that He may see the brilliance of Your beauty. Shine Your light into his soul, purify it, and make it glow with a bright white radiance. Cleanse him, heal him, and set his heart on fire for You. Open his ears that he may hear Your Word and consume it, that it will become a living, breathing part of his being. Pour out your abundant graces upon him and grant him wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. Open his heart that he may accept all the love you have for him in your Sacred Heart. Melt his heart and mold it, Lord, into the image of Yours. Help him to discover the great miracle and meaning of true Love and remain with You for all eternity. I ask this in Your Precious Name, Jesus, through the intercession of our Holy Mother Mary, and all the saints. Amen.