Within limits.
Sin has its limits too.
We know God set the limits for the sea, the earth’s atmosphere, and so on, but do we ever stop and think he has also set limits as far as sin and evil goes? The stories of the Old Testament verify that; for example the confusion of tongues at the tower of Babel, the destruction of the Cities of the Plain, the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt, Israel sent into exile in Babylon, and so on. In all of these stories the sins of men cried to heaven for vengeance… The sins had reached their limit - until the scales tipped.
Obstinate sinners.
Just so, St. Alphonsus Liguori suggested that each man has a limit to how many mortal sins he may commit as well. I read this at Salve Regina blog wherein the author interpreted the saint as saying, God permits only a set number of mortal sins he will forgive before he chastises the soul - or abandons it all together. If I’m not mistaken, in Our Lady’s revelations at Akita, Japan, she urged people to amend their lives because a time would come when they are unable to amend or obtain forgiveness for their sins. That is a scary thought, especially if we are wont to commit a sin thinking we can always go to confession, or we are in the habit of justifying a sinful state in life - such as practising contraception, cohabiting without benefit of sacramental marriage, or even engaging in homosexual acts - no matter how regularized by monogamous fidelity.
Abandoned.
A friend sent me an article with a report by a British exorcist claiming perversion may lead to diabolic possession. In fact, there seems to be a basis for the priest’s claim in Paul’s letter to the Romans; “In consequence, God delivered them up in their lusts to unclean practices… He therefore delivered them up to disgraceful passions… and thus (they) received in their own persons the penalty for their perversity.” - Romans 1: 24-32
Disgraceful passions.
Fr Jeremy Davies, the diocesan exorcist for Westminster [England] since 1986, said that more and more people in Britain were becoming afflicted by evil spirits through “perversion”.
“Among the causes of homosexuality is a contagious demonic factor,” he said. “Even heterosexual promiscuity is a perversion; and intercourse, which belongs in the sanctuary of married love, can become a pathway not only for disease but also for evil spirits”.
“Some very unpleasant things must be mentioned because young people, especially, are vulnerable and we must do what we can to protect and warn them.” - Source
Justifying one’s sin as a gift from God.
I find this very interesting in light of another quote my friend handed on regarding this subject. She found it in a book on spiritual direction by Fr. Dubay, wherein he quotes Peter Kreeft- I know, a lot of quoter’s quoting quotes here!
Some individuals claim to be perfectly content with their hedonistic lifestyle. But this brave protestation, notes Catholic apologist and philosopher Peter Kreeft, “verges on culpable dishonesty, the sin against the Holy Spirit, and requires something more like exorcism than refutation… Even John Stuart Mill, one of the shallowest minds in the history of human thought, said that it was better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.” - Seeking Spiritual Direction
So it is one thing to suggest a sinful or perverted life can lead to possession, while it is quite another to claim such sins are a gift from God, as the quote from Kreeft via Dubay hints at, and is perhaps more intellectually acceptable to people unwilling to believe in anything diabolic - whether it be possession or obsession.
Homosexuality is not a gift from God.
Taking all of these thoughts into consideration, anyone who reads me on a regular basis will not be surprised I’m connecting all of this to issues related to homosexuality. Especially the idea put forward by gay Christians that homosexuality is a gift from God. Quite the opposite I would say. In fact, as Roman’s suggests, it may be a punishment for sin. (Yes, I know what modern exegesis says to refute that idea.)
The result of fallen human nature.
As I understand the matter theologically, desire or concupiscence, albeit a direct result of the fall, is pretty much neutral territory - until it is entertained, cultivated, nurtured, and acted upon - in other words, willed. (Of course, the fall from grace was the original chastisement.) Thus, if illicit and sinful desires are habitually indulged, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe that God, wearied by a soul’s obstinate rejection of grace, risks being ”delivered up to unclean practices” - in other words, reprobate. However, I doubt there is a Catholic biblical scholar or moral theologian in the world who would confirm the idea that homosexual inclination alone is a sin - unless it is willed and acted upon.
You become what you do.
For instance, I can desire a million dollars in a woman’s handbag, but unless I harbor and nourish the thought, and then act on wresting the handbag from her, the only sin affecting the desires would be covetousness or greed - I would not actually be a thief unless I stole the money. Just so, the person who desires another man sexually, but doesn’t act upon it, is guilty of lust. (In Matthew 5: 28 our Lord affirms that impure thoughts and desires are in themselves sinful.) So - conversion first and foremost is about ending/changing behavior - coming out of homosexual behavior. Renouncing homosexual acts. Subsequently, the desires are disciplined and ordered through mortification, prayer, sacraments, and patient endurance - and more mortification. And then getting up when you fall and continuing to keep on trying. Holiness is in the struggle.
“Where sin abounds, grace super abounds!”
It seems to me likely that the prevalence of sin in a decadent society does indeed beget more sin, and therefore we might understand it as a punishment or chastisement from God. I don’t know for certain, and the Roman Catholic Church surely doesn’t interpret scripture in the same way Evangelicals or fundamentalists might on this subject. What I do know is what the Church declares on the issue of homosexuality, as well as what St. Paul says about a sinful culture; “Where sin abounds, grace super abounds”. Therefore, it’s not over until the fat girl sings - so anyone desiring to leave a sinful lifestyle, perverted or not - that desire in itself is God calling the soul to salvation - indeed, it is that desire the soul should act upon. As the Gospel summons: “Repent and believe!”
That said, if the soul obstinately persists in error and sin, the Lord, in justice, could deliver him up to sinful passions, which I suppose could lead to possession, as the British exorcist said. Please keep in mind I am not trying to be a biblical scholar or a theologian here, I’m simply reflecting upon man’s propensity for sin and its penalty.
Note:
However, the mercy of God is infinite, so as St. Benedict says, “Never despair of the mercy of God.” And of course the Divine Mercy devotion calls us to trust and have continual recourse to the Divine Mercy. Naturally, if the soul rejects God’s mercy, that is the ultimate unforgivable sin. Although we will never know who the unforgiven are - at least in this life.
