AboutTom Schott Expertise I am an ordained permanent deacon in Catholic church. Married with three children. I am able to answer questions about most aspects of our faith, from Scripture to prayer. My perspective is pastoral and progressive.
Experience Ordained to permanent diaconate in 1985. Parish work in hospice, RCIA, liturgy, evangelization, and adult education since then.
Question ok, i dont really know how to explain this but i will do the best i can. I never really grew up with alot of christian background and a few months ago i went to my local perish, and wanted to learn more about the catholic church. so i started taking the rcia classes, going to mass,ect.. I fell in love with church. i have stopped partying, drinking, took all my piercings out and been living more holy. There is one problem, i am gay, and have been with my girlfriend for 9 years, i want to try and work on living chaste because i want to be closer to god, well i told my sponser that i was gay and she basically said i cant become catholic, i was in shock, because jesus would have never turned his back on me. it really shot my faith down, but im going to keep my head up. so my question is, why cant i become catholic if im gay, because being gay isnt the only sin, and catholic accept other people who commit other sins,
Answer Dear Jessica,
Your sponsor is absolutely wrong and grossly misinformed. There are many gay people in the church. There is nothing sinful about your being gay, and being gay is certainly no impediment to joining the church. You are right about what Jesus would say about this. Please don't let this affect your faith. You sound like the kind of person the church can use actually.
