Rev. James Martin

So I think anything that goes against that needs to be looked at carefully. So it's a balance, Ross, I think, between, you know, what you might call prophecy and unity, right? I'll tell you a story. I would write to him fairly, not frequently, but a couple times a year. And I suggested that he do something. I forget what it was, to be honest, about LGBT stuff.

So I think anything that goes against that needs to be looked at carefully. So it's a balance, Ross, I think, between, you know, what you might call prophecy and unity, right? I'll tell you a story. I would write to him fairly, not frequently, but a couple times a year. And I suggested that he do something. I forget what it was, to be honest, about LGBT stuff.

And he said, yeah, that's a good idea. He said, but if I do that, I thought this was an interesting choice of words, I will provoke a chain reaction. And he's right. So while I thought that he could have gone further, he would have, right? He would have provoked a chain reaction. And he saw that as a negative thing. And I came around to agree with him.

And he said, yeah, that's a good idea. He said, but if I do that, I thought this was an interesting choice of words, I will provoke a chain reaction. And he's right. So while I thought that he could have gone further, he would have, right? He would have provoked a chain reaction. And he saw that as a negative thing. And I came around to agree with him.

You know, that's not worth breaking the church over some of these things. So I think his approach was to open the discussion, which again, that's a change.

You know, that's not worth breaking the church over some of these things. So I think his approach was to open the discussion, which again, that's a change.

That's a great question. I'm not a theologian. I'm not a moral theologian. So I'll try my best to answer that.

That's a great question. I'm not a theologian. I'm not a moral theologian. So I'll try my best to answer that.

I would say reverence for the other person. I would say sex and sexuality is something that is sacred. not using the other person, and the value of monogamous relationships. Well, I mean, Jesus doesn't teach much on marriage. He teaches a lot on divorce, right? His first miracle is at a wedding feast, so there's a positive outlook.

I would say reverence for the other person. I would say sex and sexuality is something that is sacred. not using the other person, and the value of monogamous relationships. Well, I mean, Jesus doesn't teach much on marriage. He teaches a lot on divorce, right? His first miracle is at a wedding feast, so there's a positive outlook.

He's pro that marriage. He favored that one. He, of course, himself is celibate. He doesn't get married for a number of reasons. But I would say that's the distinctive Christian contribution today is which is reverencing the other person and not using the other person and seeing sexuality as sacred and deep and not something to be, you know, just kind of used in a relationship.

He's pro that marriage. He favored that one. He, of course, himself is celibate. He doesn't get married for a number of reasons. But I would say that's the distinctive Christian contribution today is which is reverencing the other person and not using the other person and seeing sexuality as sacred and deep and not something to be, you know, just kind of used in a relationship.

And I think that is different than a lot of liberal, secular understanding of sexuality. I mean, when people come to me in the confessional about that, that's one of my first questions, you know, are you reverencing the other person, right? How are you treating the other person?

And I think that is different than a lot of liberal, secular understanding of sexuality. I mean, when people come to me in the confessional about that, that's one of my first questions, you know, are you reverencing the other person, right? How are you treating the other person?

So, and I think that's different because I think in today's what Pope Francis would call throwaway culture, that's not accepted by every liberal secular person, even a good person.

So, and I think that's different because I think in today's what Pope Francis would call throwaway culture, that's not accepted by every liberal secular person, even a good person.

Absolutely. I think, yes. I mean, in terms of the sacrament of marriage. But I think what Pope Francis was trying to do... you know, was to remind ourselves that we're also dealing with individuals, right? And so we talk about, you know, we've talked about divorce, masturbation. I brought it up just for the record, sorry.

Absolutely. I think, yes. I mean, in terms of the sacrament of marriage. But I think what Pope Francis was trying to do... you know, was to remind ourselves that we're also dealing with individuals, right? And so we talk about, you know, we've talked about divorce, masturbation. I brought it up just for the record, sorry.

You know, it comes up in the, I don't know any man that comes to the confessional, at least in my experience, who does not confess that. So it's, you know, it's common. There's also a sense of, and homosexuality, right, in terms of all these topics.

You know, it comes up in the, I don't know any man that comes to the confessional, at least in my experience, who does not confess that. So it's, you know, it's common. There's also a sense of, and homosexuality, right, in terms of all these topics.