u/TwinseyLohan

This might be an odd request and I'm super secure in myself as a gay man, but hear me out --

I've really been enjoying learning about the Catholic view on homosexuality these past few weeks. I've focused on books from Catholics supporting homosexuality and gay relationships like Building a Bridge, A Home For All, and God and the Gay Christian (although he is not a Catholic, his book is very well rounded). I also have a book on the way called Faith Beyond Resentment and oh yeah the Catechism itself.

Even what the catechism says is intriguing to me as a non-catholic. I acknowledge that there still has been a lot of hurt to our community due to the catechism, but as somebody who grew up in nationalistic evangelical Protestantism, in my perspective, I find it to still be more well rounded that the evangelical approach.

The modern evangelical church has no structure and with that the views on homosexuality come off as based on political sidings, hatred, and exceptionalism. The views all are over the board and confusing. And grifters LOVE to crap out book after book about their opinions of homosexuality (thank you, Focus on the Family).

So with that, I'm wondering if there are any books from Catholics (whether clergy or congregation) that are in opposition of homosexuality? I'm hoping to find some that are written by well respected people, and written in a respectful way that focuses on scripture and catechism to support their opinions, rather than be driven by political opinion, personal hate, and vitriol.

I just sent my mom my Encens 9 for Mother's Day because I had it under the warmer in her room when she visited me and she was obsessed.

Then we went to Catholic mass, me being my first time. And while I was entirely confused about what was going on, I fell in LOVE with the incense that the kids wave around at the start.

Now I know it's resin incense and I used to burn it when I was a little hipster, but as an adult I can't just smoke up the entire house I don't think my dog will like that.

I'll get Encens 9 one day, but the bad performance of that candle in terms of the burn doesn't leave me rushing to buy more Le Labo anytime soon (though it was a beast under the warmer).

Is there anything else out there that I should try that packs a wollup and invokes mass, prayer, Latin choir songs, painful kneeling?

I'm a 38 year old male and I am very confidently and comfortably gay. My post is not to ask people's opinion on if it's a sin or not, I understand the Vatican's views thoroughly on the matter.

My mom who had been very evangelical all her life recently fully converted to Catholicism and last weekend when she was visiting my partner and I took her to our local parish St Thomas the Apostle.

Growing up, we were evangelical and I have some trauma from that, that basically made me lose all faith and not want anything to do with the church for all of my adult life. I almost considered myself atheist, or maybe agnostic or something but I didn't love that, even consider it a boring way to think and live.

Going to mass last Sunday for the first time I realized how different Catholicism was and looked into it. Some of the main issues I have with evangelical Christianity has to do with their ideas of the end of the world, and Israel, among other political and theological beliefs that I find distasteful. While I understand these differences might not be major, they are enough for me. And I really love the current Pope.

My partner and I have visited some of our more touristy Catholic Churches such as San Xavier del Bac mission, St Francis mission, and Church of the Holy Cross and always loved how they felt and how we felt in them. Going to our first actual mass last Sunday we both for the first time felt we were in a place that God exists in. We left feeling bright and happy and fulfilled even though we were super confused at some points, just going with the flow lol. My mom helped guide us. Told us what we could and couldn't do, etc.

So that brings this around to what I'd like some insight on. My parish is in the central Phoenix area. Probably our more liberal, best educated, and wealthy neighborhoods. St Thomas seems to be our areas main church in general as we don't even have too many Protestant church's in this specific area.

I want to know if it's typical that two gay men will make others uncomfortable. We are both regular guys. Look and hold ourselves as men. We are respectful and do not take part in PDA or rubbing it in people's faces. We would look like two bros going to church together. There would be nothing we'd project that would force parents to have uncomfortable conversations with their kids. I did not see any other gay couples but that might be more about the current situation with most gay men and religion as they typically don't want anything to do with it and even find it a red flag when other gay men are religious.

Would we cause a stir? I don't want to be told that people will pray for us in that feel sorry for us way. I don't really care to make friends or connections so I'd keep to myself but wouldn't be opposed to making friends with those that I could randomly mesh with. I would even consider actuality going through OCIA if I felt that it was acceptable to do or was encouraged by others in the church to do so. Would this be ok? Should I just not even consider joining the church if I had no intention of denouncing being gay? Would we be judged, or become a spectacle in a way that is disruptive?

I'm hoping for honest opinions. I will understand and respond respectfully, without taking offense as I'm hoping to not argue if possible. I would rather get some insight here than start going to church and always worrying if I was stepping on toes.

I know that there tends to be a larger amount of liberal leaning folks in the Catholic Church compared to a lot of other Christian denominations, so if there are any in this sub, i would also love to hear your take on this matter.

I ran this by the mods first and they were ok with the post.

I lift at home and my set up is on my back patio, in Phoenix. It's generally dusty, so I haven't really cared about what I wear and usually just get cheap things from Amazon so of which have help up great over 3 years.I'll be going back to the gym once they finish building the new Crunch, as well as bringing my equipment inside for the summer. So I want to start buying clothes and shoes that hold up and look good. Price isn't really an issue.

I have a Fabletics store in my mall and found the quality to seem nice right off the bat. Their membership program is kind of weird but also have heard it can be awesome certain times of year for sales.

Things I'm looking for are good materials that do not trap odor or sweat stains, good stitching that keeps shape. I really hate when a collar gets wrinkly and out of shape. I find in the cheaper stuff once that happens it never shapes back up.

It seems that every gay person in my area wears lulu lemon. It kind of feels though they only do so because it's trendy. I have heard that with their recent explosion of stores in every mall or shopping center, that their quality doesn't hold up to the price anymore. So I'm weary of that. We have Alo and Vuori stores in my area as well but I haven't been in them yet.

Also looking at shoe suggestion for lifting, cardio, etc. I usually just wear my old Vans or Converse on leg day so may continue that.