Above: Painting by Emile Friant, late-19th Century.
1. Pray
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – Thess. 5:16-18
Start every morning with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of your Son. Ask God to keep him safe from harm. Throughout the day, even if they seem insignificant, offer up little prayers, hardships and sacrifices to the Lord for your son’s protection. Remain joyful in everything you do. Many young men who identify as “gay,” in general, retain very negative perceptions of their fathers as well as Christianity, particularly Catholicism; in addition, these two forces are often seen as either incredibly harsh and condemning or all-accepting and tolerant. Therefore, the religious man can only be one of two things: an ally or an enemy. You must be neither, but a father. In this regard, you must pray for determination, empathy and prudence. This is sometimes a difficult balancing act that requires humility through supplication to God’s will; Bishop Athanasius Schneider stated this very well, when he said: “Genuine understanding and compassion” for a person’s true good certainly does not result “from concealing or weakening moral truth.”
2. Attend Mass (daily if possible) and frequently receive the Sacrament of Confession
“I believe that were it not for the Holy Mass, as of this moment the world would be in the abyss.” – St. Leonard of Port Maurice.
At Mass, offer up your reception of the Eucharist for the reparation of those sins committed by those who are confused or have been deceived about their sexual identity. Your prayers at Mass are critically important because a number of Catholics, especially those who are young, do not pray for the conversion of anyone involved in same-sex relationship, because they do not believe that its wrong. You could possibly be the only human being on the Earth that prays for your son and no other prayer is as efficacious as those offered to heaven during the Sacrifice of the Mass.
3. Work on your own personal sanctification
“Day after day I was able to observe the austere way in which he lived. By profession he was a soldier and, after my mother’s death, his life became one of constant prayer. Sometimes I would wake up during the night and find my father on his knees, just as I would always see him kneeling in the parish church. We never spoke about a vocation to the priesthood, but his example was in a way my first seminary, a kind of domestic seminary.” – Saint John Paul II
Be an example of Catholic masculinity to your son. But what does that mean? Use as your model: the foster father of Our Lord Jesus Christ – Saint Joseph. Many “gay” men, beginning in childhood, are attracted to the strong-silent type who is also a man of decisive action as evidenced in the example of homoerotic male icons from James Dean to Channing Tatum. These are secular and sexualized versions of what Saint Joseph represents; everything in the “gay” community is a poor substitute for what is our heart’s true longing. Of course, you cannot be something different from your own temperament, but you can be a resolute figure for your son – even if you were not in the past. That requires not being afraid or embarrassed to reveal your faith – and this can mean doing something as simple as making the sign of the cross and praying before meals. Like the father of John Paul II, these small acts can be accomplished quietly and unobtrusively.
4. Develop a devotion to Saint Joseph
“The Holy Patriarch was not an old man, but a young, strong, upright man, a great lover of loyalty, a man with fortitude. Holy Scripture defines him with a single word: just (see Mt 1:20-21). Joseph was a just man, a man filled with all the virtues, as was fitting for the one who was to be God’s protector on earth.” – Saint Josemaria Escriva
In the Gospel’s, there are no recorded words spoken by Saint Joseph. Yet, except for the Blessed Virgin Mary, no other human being had such a great influence over Our Lord Jesus Christ. According to Scripture: “…he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.” Therefore, ask Saint Joseph to intercede on behalf of your son; Our Lord will refuse nothing to the man who so bravely protected Him from Herod’s assassins. In the same manner, you must now go into battle to help save your own son. And, if you have to – offer up your own life for his salvation.
5. The family should be the center of your life
“The Catholic family represents the first bulwark against the current great apostasy. The two most efficient weapons against the modern apostasy outside and inside the life if the Church, are the purity and integrity of the faith and the purity of a chaste life.” – Bishop Athanasius Schneider
The only hope for your son ever leaving homosexuality – is you. When the “prodigal son,” after his self-imposed evil into the decadent world of sexual liberty, found himself near death and sleeping among the pigs: What would have happened if he had no father waiting for him at home? When the “prodigal son” demanded that his father accept him for who he claimed to be: What if his father had done just that? Where would the boy go?
The sad truth – many parents, particularly mothers of “gay” sons, willingly accept those demands for instantaneous approval and recognition. Especially in those families with a history of abuse or neglect, its far easier to believe that someone was “born gay” rather than go through the heartache and pain of self-examination in order to determine the underlying trauma which perhaps initiated the homosexuality.
Those in the LGBT community have many family members and friends who celebrate their sexual orientation, sometimes – as a gift from God. But they have very few, or more likely no one, that loves them enough to challenge some of their most dearly held assumptions. You can be that one person. This doesn’t mean that you should brow-beat your son, but any relationship with him, no matter what transpired in the past, must now be based upon the truth. How he reacts to that truth will largely dictate his future perception of you. But, in order to preserve a place that he may return one day, you have to allow him to get angry and walk away. Then, like the father of the “prodigal son,” all you can do is pray and wait.
6. Never accept the false ideology that your son was “born gay.”
There is no evidence for a biological or genetic determinant for homosexuality; even the very gay-affirmative American Psychological Association can not claim that anyone was “born gay,” according to the APA:
There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors.
However, psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors, and even some priests within the Catholic Church will tell you that if you do not accept your son as “gay,” you will contribute to his eventual psychological destruction – even to the point of suicide. However, in nations with the longest recorded history of modern LGBT acceptance, namely The Netherlands and Sweden, disparities in terms of mental illness still exist between homosexuals and heterosexuals; even among same-sex “married” couples; in addition, drug use and STD rates remain higher among the LGBT population.
7. Promote healthy heterosexual relationships
“There is no greater force against evil in the world than the love of a man and a woman in marriage.” – Cardinal Raymond Burke
Oftentimes, a boy who later come-out as “gay,” experienced difficult circumstances in their own families; whether these situations were due to domestic violence, abandonment issues, neglect, an overprotective mother and a disinterested father, molestation, or even bullying at school, these early experiences sometimes leave “gay” men with a profound sense of loss. In order to fill that void, they attempt to self-heal through sex with other men. It doesn’t work, hence the proclivity for multiple partners in the gay male community; even among those who are in a relationship.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to the family as a “domestic church.” Consequently, observation of the family creates an innate appreciation for creation and the Creator. For every “gay” man seeks the same sort of harmony which is biologically possible in heterosexual couples, but only results in a simulacrum when copied by two men. And, instead of the potential for generating life, all-male copulation only brought forth death – through the rise of the AIDS epidemic and a continuing scourge of rampant STDs among the gay male community. The total opposite of this disorder can be appreciated in Catholic men who are husbands and fathers as they mirror not only the tremendous courage and self-sacrifice of Saint Joseph, but the love of the Father, through the death of His Son, for all of humanity.
8. Talk to your son
“Jesus does not deny the existence of sin and sinners. This is obvious from the fact that he calls them ‘sick.’ On this point he is more rigorous than his adversaries. If they condemn actual adultery, Jesus condemns adultery already at the stage of desire; if the law says not to kill, Jesus says that we must not even hate or insult our brother. To the sinners who draw near to him, he says ‘Go and sin no more;’ he does not say: ‘Go and live as you were living before.’” – Father Raneiro Cantalamessa
Never be afraid to initiate a conversation. The person your son most fervently disregards is also the person he most wants approval from; the person your son would rather not talk to, is also the person he most desires to have a connection with; in fact, the majority of men who “come-out” will do so first to their mothers, and sometimes not at all to their fathers. Therefore, its important that you begin the discussion; usually, this will immediately elicit a response of either avoidance, curiosity or disdain. The conversation may end before it started. But given the opportunity – the truth must be stated out loud. This may be your only chance. And, there is a sense of urgency that always exists when approaching this topic with a young man who is about to become sexually active with other men, or just started. Because there exists a unique set of factors in the gay male community, including a large alienated population where sexual opportunities are plentiful, the presence of numerous psychological disorders, and the absence of the moderating influence exerted by women, creates an environment in which STDs have often multiplied completely out of control. Therefore, its better for someone to walk away upset, after hearing the truth, rather than remaining in an oftentimes silent and tacitly facilitating relationship. You have to be willing to fully take on the role of the father to the “prodigal son.” And, sometimes that means saying goodbye – staying behind, and praying as if your son’s life depends on it – because it does.
9. Eucharistic Adoration
“Every one of us needs a half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy – then we need an hour.” – Saint Francis de Sales
Take time out of your day, about an hour, to adore Our Lord Jesus Christ in the form of the Blessed Sacrament. Find a quiet chapel, close your eyes and ask God for His help. Thank Him for giving you the patience and strength to endure and for keeping your son alive, so that one day he may perhaps turn around and head back home – where you will be waiting.
10. Fast and Penance
“All that we do without offering it to God is wasted.” – St. John Vianney
Deny yourself little pleasures, such as a favorite meal, snack or drink; skip a lunchtime break and instead attend Mass or visit an Adoration Chapel. Ofttimes, when a loved one does something that we know is wrong for them, they are oblivious to the perilous situation they have placed themselves – and we are the person who suffers. But your suffering is not in vain – when combined with prayer: it will perhaps make the difference between life and death for your son. Never think, just because the two of you are not speaking – that what you are doing every day of your life is not having a direct impact on your son. The unappreciated and unnoticed prayers of my father, while I danced the night away in a San Francisco gay disco, although I didn’t know it, kept me from utterly destroying myself. The father I abandoned and despised – never abandoned me.
Two more; and they are the most important:
11. Pray the Rosary
“The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.” – Saint Padre Pio
Everyday, make it a habit to recite the Rosary. Set aside a certain time that is dedicated to this prayer. If possible, pray the Rosary with your wife, other family members, or alone. At first, like much of what you are doing on behalf of your son, it seems ineffectual and hidden, but if and when your son returns to his senses, the worth of those prayers and sacrifices will be revealed. Until that day arrives, you must remain vigilant; as Padre Pio remarked, the Rosary is a “weapon” through which you will defend your son from the demonic forces of confusion and deceit. My father prayed the Rosary daily for my conversion.
12. Never give up hope
“The father of the prodigal son who waited on the road suffered more than the prodigal son.” – Archbishop Fulton Sheen
If you give up on your son – its almost over. When I was a kid; I tried to hide. I thought being artistic, effeminate and shy made me “gay.” I was embarrassed. While I may have exhibited a natural aptitude towards creativity, the insular world of drawing and picture making became a safe escape from what I wasn’t good at – namely sports or any physical activity which required a modicum of hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Was I effeminate, or did I become reclusive and unsure of myself, soft-spoken, scared of other boys, but accepted by some girls; did I begin to take on the outward expressions of my peer group? As a boy, when I was comfortable with my surroundings, especially around women – I was bouncy and exuberant; among men, I didn’t know what to do.
By my late-teens, I didn’t care what any one thought of me; including my father. As my attitude changed, so did my appearance. I was simultaneously trying to shock, gain attention, and test the loyalty of those closest to me. Not surprisingly, my father wasn’t pleased. His continued distance and silence signaled to me what I wanted to know. However, I pushed a little further. Finally, my father had to speak-up and he said what needed to be said. Of course, I didn’t take it well; even objective criticism, with my best interest at heart, I regarded as a personal attack. It was inevitable. Because this battle was never just about me; and it wasn’t about a scared kid against a homophobic world in the age of AIDS; and it wasn’t about finding myself in the arms of another man; it was always about me and my father. When I would curse him, I subconsciously believed that he was the one who sent me into every gay bar, bathhouse and sex dungeon. I wasn’t ashamed of who I was or what I did, but I hated him for it. Maybe he wasn’t the father I wanted – or needed; maybe he didn’t give me the attention I wanted – or needed. But when all seemed lost, when it mattered most – he did the right thing. Looking back, it’s the ultimate irony that through his prayers – I was saved.
Sharing, so well done.
If being gay is not something you are born with, then why would anyone “choose” it in a family where only heterosexuality is presented? Not only would a large number of individuals in Catholic families have to independently “invent” homosexuality, they would have to consciously desire it enough to get themselves potentially in trouble with their role models, as opposed to simply being programmed that way, which makes a whole lot more sense.The mere reality of being attracted to the same sex isn’t incompatible with Catholicism, so pseudoscientific hand-waving isn’t even necessary here.
My response to the “born gay” theory –
https://josephsciambra.com/born-to-bottom-or-god-didnt-make-me-gay
Thank you so much for your wise words. My son is battling alcoholism, and I can relate to much of what you say, because there are similarities between the two situations. I am at the waiting and praying stage, although I am his Mum, I , like the father of the prodigal son, am there for when he needs me.
Once again Joseph, great advice. Thank you and may God bless you.
Thank you for this wonderful advice!
If MY Dad pulled this, he would be out of my life for good. I have had it with religion and its persecution of an entire subset of human beings’ love. You people are why so many of us feel worthless and want to kill ourselves and you are why the government has consistently legislated against us. As for any “my response to the born gay theory” articles out there, that is a moot point. Born, or not, its not a choice, but even if it were, that would be nobody’s business anyway. We don’t have to justify ourselves by talking about the genesis of homosexuality. The Catechism of the Catholic Church itself has no “my response to the born gay theory”, instead it admits that the genesis is largely unexplained. CCC 2357 This article is homophobic to the core.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts; you may find these two blog entries helpful:
https://josephsciambra.com/who-am-i-to-choose-catholics-cannot-agree-if-same-sex-desires-are-chosen
https://josephsciambra.com/born-to-bottom-or-god-didnt-make-me-gay
Dear Joseph, Thank you so much for stating the Truth.
I have known many homosexual males in the Arts and in the Church and in my work. I do not judge the person but the acts and have been voluntarily confided in more often than not. I always asked what and with whom their first sexual encounter was with and have received honest replies. Every single one has been with an older male. Truly it is written that,”……. more happens to a man when his seed spills on the floor …….” Remember that verse? It goes on to explain that more happens to a man than just the act itself.
Even in the OT testament Jewish males who joined the military were exempt from duty the first year they were married.It was understood the couple needed time to bond.
Men emotionally bond with their partners through sex ,while women bond with their children after childbirth ,which is why the infant is placed immediately on the mother’s heart and in her arms.
Some adult male pederasts know this and have actually told the boy they have molested ,” Now you are one of us.”
This psychological /emotional bonding was understood by the ancients but is never spoken about in our hyper sexualized society.
I find it strange that it is only after many decades of marriage that so many men today finally realize there is so much more to love than just sex.
If ONLY good priests understood the overwhelming need to preach to men about how to be good fathers and husbands.But alas, just like Adam they seem to find it easier to blame the woman.
A dear friend , a decade plus older than myself told me the real story behind the canonization of little Maria Goretti.
Her uncle was a Monsignore on the Commission for her Canonization in Rome.When he visited he complained to her mother ,his sister , that the other clerics had decided to make her an example for Catholic girls and preserving their virginity because society had become so bad that fornication was common even among Catholic women.
He said they knew maria had been abused for a long time before Alexandro murdered her in a rage because she warned him it was a mortal sin what he was doing to her.In other words the poor child was and is really a Saint for the sexually abused.
What I am trying to explain is that our clergy should and must preach according to God’s Natural Law. If they teach men to be good fathers who teach their sons to value a woman for her modesty , most young women would change direction if they knew that was what attracted men to them. If boys felt the love and attention from their fathers they would not seek to find it in older males and if sexual acts were given the honored strict limited consideration as the building block for a firm foundational marriage and family , how much healthier would our society be?
May God Bless you for your courage to go against the popular tide of misplaced priorities and social lies.
Thank you, Joseph.
I do most of the things you advise, and even more.
So far, not much of an effect, but I “know” that my son will be saved.
Your article reminded me of contacting my child again.
Thanks again and God Bless You for this important work
Andrew
Hi Joseph! It seems my earlier comment wasn’t posted. May we share this article on an online bulletin? We are using this bulletin to bring ProLife enrichment materials mostly to members of our Catholic charismatic community. The bulletin format is simply a printer-friendly version of articles such as yours, that will be most helpful to a deepening of their understanding on ProLife issues. Looking forward to your favorable reply. God bless always!
Yes, go right ahead. And God bless you.
Thank you for the advice, Joseph.
I am just not sure about the idea of HAVING to talk to my son about this. I know the time will come, but I do not want to just rush it. Maybe the time will be when he “comes out”. My son knows I will not approve, but by not talking about it now, he is careful to be not so blatant about it. This is what I think anyway. Having said that, should I be convinced that I have to initiate such a conversation, I will not hesitate.
Do I make sense?