The Issue with Pride

By: Grayson Filippis

Author’s Note: 

This is another article in a young segment of The Catholic Michigander. It is designed for teens that want to know more about political and moral issues, as well as what we as Catholics believe regarding them. It breaks the issue at hand down into three parts: Issue Overview, Catholic Slant, and what I like to call, the Adolescent Assignment. This will almost always be the shortest section of these articles because it’s just a quick debrief on you as a Catholic teen can do to support the matter. I will generally follow a monthly theme, but will also take requests if I see fit. If you would like to ask a question or bring a certain issue to my attention, please email us at themichigander21@gmail.com 

Pride Month Issue Overview

Boy, do I have some dissecting to accomplish. June just passed, which brought debate for all the present, past, and future political pundits out there. In the last decade or so, Pride has been more than an issue, it’s been an ideology. The far left has been going the extra mile about throwing this lifestyle at anyone and everyone that they can. Meanwhile, the right has been working on a culture shift by attempting to bring some dark characteristics of Pride into the light, and we’ve seen quite the battle. If you have Hulu, Disney+, or most any other major streaming service, you’ve probably seen the “Pride Sections” that are filled with many LGBTQ+ material. From full-blown Pride Parades in streets to the raising of the rainbow flag in major cities, Pride has taken a position like no other in the public eye. However, according to Ipsos, in thirty countries surveyed, only 9% of people per country identify as part of this community. To put it into proportion, Pew Research Center tells us that 9% of Jewish Americans are Orthodox, as of 2020. I am willing to bet that not every Jew in America could tell you exactly what an Orthodox Jew believes. However, if you asked the average American what the Pride community believes, you would likely have an elaborate answer on your hands. Why is this? It could have to do with Pride being as controversial as it is, as well as the amount of negative attention it has received from conservative media. So, as us Catholics observe this moral battle being waged in modern politics, what side of the fence do we stand on?

 Catholic Slant

As Catholics, we see this as sin because homosexual activity conflicts with our natural sexual design. It’s notable that the movement itself is named after one of the seven deadly sins, so that should give something away. The problem with some conservatives on this issue, though, is that they hate these people, and we as Catholics are called to love them. But what exactly is love? Love means wanting the best for someone moving forward, and that’s what we are called to do for the people that have been sucked into this lifestyle. There are many young people who are confused, and the movement is appealing to them. It approves of being yourself, no matter what that means. While it’s great to be yourself, you can’t express ungodly characteristics proudly, no matter what that sin is. How do we know that these actions are sins? As one example, the pride parades are filled with terribly inappropriate actions that are not meant for children. The problem with this? The kingdom of God is meant for children. Anything that isn’t for children isn’t for the kingdom of God.

Concerning homosexuality, in Saint Paul's letter to the Romans, he writes about how it isn’t God’s intentions, and people commit the sin of lust in this lifestyle. We can also see in Genesis that God created man and woman for each other, and God doesn’t make mistakes. Does this make being gay a sin? No, it does not. It becomes a sin once acted upon because it is not the way God intended human relationships to be. Another mistake not made by God is a person’s sex. The trans movement is likely the biggest issue of them all, and we have every right to be frustrated with it. Let’s flashback momentarily to last edition when I broke parenting down. Another thing that some parents do wrong is give their children everything that they want, regardless of how it will affect them in the future. This is what happens with confused kids that are sucked into transgenderism, and they have quite a good chance of regretting it in the future. This is why we must make it known to them that God loves them and made them the way he did intentionally, reassuring them that the body they were born in is just right for them. The movement also makes women feel unsafe in what used to be women’s spaces. This shouldn’t be a controversial statement, but it is. The “trans women” are disrespecting the sacred womanhood that was created by God, and are doing so proudly. This is why we must do everything in our power to stop the Pride movement before it brainwashes more innocent children. We must save them from hurting themselves and others, intentionally or otherwise.

 Adolescent Assignment

The assignment for this issue is to talk about it. Debate, research, and find holes in the opposing argument. Remember, these articles are just quick debriefs on what the issues are and how the Church thinks about them. You can also stream podcasts and shows that talk about the issue, including the Chris Stefanick Show, which does an incredible job talking about advanced Catholic spin on many moral issues. You need to be sure that you know what you’re talking about, so make sure you do the research prior to debating people in public. This is an awkward topic, and I get it. It’s important, though, to make sure that you spread your beliefs far and wide. As long as you show respect for others and keep your cool, you will succeed in having good debates on this topic. I hope God reveals to you words of courage to speak up and share all that is on your mind about this topic. 

 Sources:

The Chris Stefanick Show

The Matt Walsh Show

Pew Research Center

Ipsos