Healing After a Homosexual Lifestyle In Seminary w/ Marco Casanova

[@rl2388]

As a man struggling with same-sex attraction, this video indeed becomes a 'witness' to God's grace. Please pray for me and for the other fellow Christians who struggle with the same, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Edit: thank you so much for all your prayers and love. I was trapped in the cycle of pornography and SSA since I was little. I can 100% relate to everything that Marco said. A couple of months ago I met a very kind chaplain who invited me to the bible study group. So around 5 months ago for some reason the urge to watch porn that never goes out even after 20 years suddenly vanished right after I cried in the confession room. I did not understand what was happening. But since then I have kept reading the bible, praising Jesus every day.

[@Seliz463]

I will absolutely pray for you, God bless you!

[@701delbronx8]

The AIDS should scare you enough

[@Cindy-bw1oq]

I am praying for you to have the clarity and peace God has in mind for you and for the strength to follow His will.

[@emotionalsupportpaintbrush]

Sometimes the attraction doesn’t change. Look at the founders of exodus. What you DO with that is a different story. You can still live chastity. But also please don’t despair of the attraction doesn’t change.

[@catholicmama3586]

Praying for you!

[@elizabethgilbert5142]

"if I risked much to sin, then I can risk much to be healed" Wow, that is so powerful

[@RealAmericanStar]

It truly is.

[@NestortheArgonaught]

It’s phrases like this that prove I am worthless. There is no cure for laziness. Only people with drive can obtain heaven.

[@ddrse]

You can be LGBT and Christian 👨‍❤️‍👨

[@mingus444_gaming]

@@ddrse you can also die in a transformer explosion ❤

[@ddrse]

@@mingus444_gaming God created everyone with a unique orientation. As unique as your God-Given fingerprints. No Two are the same. One of the letters is for you. You are included. No exceptions. Zero excuses.

[@Seliz463]

Ten minutes in and this man is already absurdly articulate, introspective, and so full of the light of the Holy Spirit

[@ambevil]

My thoughts exactly.

[@enidmorrison6103]

Yes!

[@ddrse]

You can be LGBT and Christian 👨‍❤️‍👨

[@israeliana]

At the 1:24:00 this was so real. I love what he called out from Fr James Martin, then Marco gave his resources for how to proceed with caution. Integration is so important for anyone with sexual hurt, sin, or disordered desires

[@sarathomas8499]

​@@ddrsewhat

[@anthonysanseverino6268]

So excited for this, I went to Seminary with Marco, one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. And sings like an angel!

[@DarkAngel-cj6sx]

So this guy wants to be a priest now? Hummm

[@TheWhitePine5]

@@DarkAngel-cj6sx "Went"

[@rogerraya8614]

Anthony, it’s nice to see you on KZbin. Marco is such a noble man and I too remember him with much admiration during time in seminary (Rogelio).

[@701delbronx8]

Did you kiss him?

[@anthonysanseverino6268]

@@rogerraya8614 Good to hear from you brother, hope you’re doing well 😊

[@Jackjohnjay]

As a straight woman I wasn’t sure what I could get from this but I fit a lot. Well worth the listen: INTEGRATION

[@marguerilla]

agreed. beautiful man. great insight.

[@KAced73]

Wow, thank you for sharing this. The world needs to hear this testimony. I don’t struggle with same sex attraction but it has depended my understanding that we all need the lord to guide us out of our darkness and share it so we can be there for each other. Thank you Jesus❤

[@windowsoflife]

Beautiful testimony. I’m a friend, and fan of Marco and the founders of Desert Stream. Faithful to the core.

[@joshuafruend3348]

Marco’s testimony at a Seek conference in Feb of 2022 changed my life. I went to Living Waters in July of that year and received so much needed healing in the area of my broken sexuality. God bless Marco and Desert Stream!

[@MimosaRose]

It takes so much courage to share areas of shame, those areas of the heart we hide. Your bravery through Christ is honorable.

[@bobs9968]

Marco! I knew you through friends in Chester county. Whose son was in seminary with you. You are doing such good for the church turning g your painful struggle to help others! May God continue to bless you.

[@nromerob]

I find Marco's witness as powerful as St Augustine's. I am so glad to see that he is thriving in the faith and sharing his witness with others.

[@aniellobarone7415]

Blessed to have had this man of God serve as a cantor and a chorister at a parish I previously served at. I second what someone else has already commented: he is a genuine and kind individual. And indeed, he sings BEAUTIFULLY! I have learned much from his Christlike example of living. God bless you, Marco!

[@Neb-ie5mj]

This is the type of vulnerability we need. Helps me get a little closer to my own healing.

[@Isaac_El_Khoury]

As Matt has said, vulnerability is the most powerful quality a human can have. All about humility. Listening to people being unbashful when retelling their prior shame-- It really helps me.

[@ucl75]

Yeah it‘s great being gay and to live it out openly because it‘s totally normal and nothing special!

[@shananotz9920]

Not finished listening yet, but this has been such an incredibly beautiful interview. This could have been a very awkward or difficult topic, and Matt has been so masterfully casually interested in Marco as a person instead of a token for a topic. Lovely, Matt. And Marco's vulnerability as well.

[@janetharrison9807]

my exact thoughts, you verbalized it so well 🙂

[@enidmorrison6103]

Yes!!

[@angrypotato_fz]

Agreed!

[@shaunsaega]

That's Matt's expertise!

[@Maugs-wi7pz]

realizing that we are broken in every way is so eye opening. We all struggle with sexual sin and it just manifests it self in different ways. This podcast was amazing.

[@psyche8187]

I could listen to this man’s thoughts all day. I’m so grateful for the gift of this episode.

[@israeliana]

Amen. This was such a blessing

[@fasted8468]

13:42 "there is no us and them. It's just different degrees of brokeness." Makes alot of sense. Thanks for that

[@YeshuaIsLord7777]

I dont suffer from same sex attraction but I can relate to much of this. This was an excellent conversation. It reminds me of Jesus’ metaphor of the doctor and the sick. Jesus came as man and died for us to attend to the sick not the well. He came as man to show sinners the light. Regardless of your sin, Jesus is here for you

[@jean.tolkian]

In the West, there is generally greater support for the people suffering from same sex attractions. It's easier to openly discuss and find support within churches, organizations , prayer groups and find therapy. In contrast, in many Eastern societies, the journey can be much more challenging. People with samesex attractions often find themselves fighting this battle alone struggling to find the necessary support. It’s such a blessing to be able to listen to this, it’s our only support here.

[@chrisl3987]

There is nothing wrong with bring gay. Free yourself from the stupid evil Jesus cult for your own good, and more importantly, ours.

[@KyleH-v1h]

I cannot even begin to say how much this has helped me, touching so many issues that I am dealing with. Thanks be to God that I came across this literally by accident (or not?).

[@DesertStreamMinistries]

Thanks for listening!

[@AeipathyOfAprill]

This man is SPEAKING. Every word is full of wisdom and discernment. Such an eye- and heart-opening video!!!

[@ExpandingHuman]

He emanates God's light. I haven't watched someone give their testimony in a while that is just so Christ-like. Bless you Marco! Edit: you're in a close 2nd Matt!

[@stevegoble8211]

Thank you Marco and Matt! This interview was so helpful. Marco is the real deal in his raw honesty about his struggle. With humility and vulnerability, he has grappled with wounding and underlying contributing factors to his same-sex attraction and homosexuality; I agree when he describes this as “inherent disorder”. Marco has experienced the transforming love of God and has increased his capacity for healthy relating. He has learned he is a good gift as a man and now can dignify others in the way he relates to his wife and other women and men in his life. From age 24 to 40, I lived homosexually, gender confused and settling for a limiting gay identity. Living Waters was the catalyst for major change in my life. I found myself in a church in San Francisco that offered Living Waters, and I participated in Living Waters for three years (and later became a leader). Through the prayer in small group and large group, I learned that Jesus is present to me in all the moments of my life, and I can be intimate with Him. I opened myself to healing prayer and the touch of the Holy Spirit. The Word became more alive to me. I gained hope and courage to leave my same-sex partner of 16 years, and pursue healing and sanctification more wholeheartedly. Through Living Waters, the Lord thawed out this hardened sinner. I moved from knowing about Jesus in my head to knowing Jesus in my heart as my savior and friend. My well-being improved significantly with the help of three major tools the Lord has given me: Living Waters, change-allowing therapy, and quality friendships. I heartily recommend that everyone get a copy of Living Waters Guidebook from Desert Stream Ministries!

[@familyt1588]

Wow, this man is a REAL man. Thank you for your courageous witness and work.

[@edwinadrianta9455]

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. - Henri Nouwen

[@kzbaby2002]

And then lead them out

[@Jppx31]

And Henri Nouwen was a homosexual, in case you didn't know.

[@Ng-zg4dq]

God bless this man with his humility, honesty and faith.

[@thankfullyforgiven9611]

Thursday seems handier than a pocket on a shirt. You name it, he’s two steps ahead of you. Way to go Thursday. You two make a good tag team. Great interview as always. This gentleman seems so sincere. I’m excited to see what God has in store for his ministry. I added it to my prayer list.

[@MrRipley1414]

Wow. This talk was awesome guys. Incredible to know that the influence of Christ in the Eucharist continues to bring people home. Trust.

[@diannewinfordart]

I agree with the way other commenters see Marco. I am also impressed with his integrity toward others and the grace and contentment he shows toward others in his life who are just learning his story. I am praying for one who is SSA and fully hope for Christ's healing in her. So this has been a deepening discussion for me.

[@mchristr]

"Normal moral felons." That is so good. Marco has such an outstanding intellect and heart.

[@curtismoss8616]

I had one experience that was a tiny fraction of this man‘s toils with sin, and it still haunts me today. The power of Jesus is truly strong and I ask for healing in his name.

[@ceciliacastelino1250]

O glorious THRONE of GRACE, IMMACULATE HEART of MARY, JOY of the HEART of JESUS, TRIUMPH & REIGN in ALL hearts.

[@fasted8468]

Watching people talk about their homosexual actions is something so humbling and inspiring. In a way they show me what I am supposed to be. The love and understanding that they receive softens my heart. There are no people who express more of their fears with more vulnerability. To put myself in their shoes, it's incredible. I honestly think I would just hide it or embrace it fully as a part of myself and join the secular culture. I am protestant, the most beautiful part about catholicism is the confession to priests. It's something we lack.

[@ThoinFrostaxe]

I’m a Baptist convert who had my first confession four months ago. Let me tell you man, it was heavy going in, but it felt so good afterwards. The relief is incredible.

[@lynncrf]

Hard disagree. Confession is the worst thing about being Catholic.

[@mx_moi1964]

@@lynncrfmore like one of the most hardest and humbling things to do as a catholic

[@lovelyloaa]

It's something they are lacking, because they removed it. Protestant came from us, the early protestants rebelled from the Catholic Church. (And I think that will not change for a million years) I am quite shocked that you don't somehow believe in confessing directly to God. That's always their rebuttal when we talk about confession.

[@jamiel5708]

This guy is very intelligent. He’s going to go places. Really fascinating discussion.

[@stooch66]

I feel like we all have battled our own sinful ways…and it can be painful, but also beautiful to fight against those ways in the confessional. God’s will is God’s will and we must conform to it, but He knows we are fighting concupiscence and His love is always waiting to help us. It is truly mind-melting. It is just the most beautiful thing ever, that God created us knowing that we will stray from him, and He is ready to help us come back to Him. When I think of his love so clearly displayed on the cross, I weep many times. This was a beautiful episode. Thank you, Matt.

[@racheljames7]

What a splendidly romantic name, Marco Casanova!

[@emdaniels27]

Wow I just met Marco for the first time last night and now I am seeing him here. He is an incredible man doing incredible work.

[@bikecameraaction3334]

Wow! This guy is articulate and very good at explaining the truth and reality of our brokenness.

[@angrypotato_fz]

Thank you for sharing this story! And I appreciate Matt's questions to explain some terms (like the "reckoning") and make guest's views more comprehensible - it's helpful and I'm glad for these interruptions :) Also, greetings from Poland! I often visit Kraków. Good for Marco to find a wife there! May God bless Marco and Ania.

[@cristinamz2137]

"We need the Holy Spirit to help us navigate ourselves"...this is gold.

[@margieinmn8292]

"Resume of brokenness" really resonated with me. I spend a lot of time contemplating my brokenness and wondering if I'm broken beyond repair. I also at times have thought that everyone is broken, some just cope with it better than others.

[@janetharrison9807]

Matt I really love how you guided this discussion...🥰....Thank you as well Marco, really appreciate this episode😍

[@peggybruening4415]

Very interesting and helpful…Thank you Mr. Fradd (Clarifying the language, helped a lot) and Mr. Casanova. Prayers for you both and your wives and families!

[@somanylovings3395]

Absolutely admirable! So awesome! Well done Marco 👍

[@lauragrace325]

Marco the way you articulate is just beautiful and poetic. Thank you for sharing your testimony ❤

[@therese_paula]

"I wanna be a saint!" 📯📯📯 We all ought to want to be saints. God bless you and your wife and your future kids!

[@elenaeich]

No words can express the awesomeness of this session! Thank you❤

[@eddiej9733]

There needs to be a wider realisation of ALL sexual deviancy (from Gods instructions) I am Catholic and married when 22, separated at 42, lived with another woman for 7 years, but came to realise that as a Catholic I was in error. I separated from the woman I was living with and although I struggle with sexual desire, with the help of Jesus and St Joseph am committed to a chaste life.

[@dianajohnston1425]

Good for you!!

[@lovelyloaa]

God bless you! 🎉❤

[@therese_paula]

I pray for you and your separated wife, that you may both live chastely despite the separation. May St. Joseph and Immaculate Mother Mary intercede for you.

[@seannyfraze]

You are so brave Marco and I think your story is going to change lives.

[@cherylsellstrom9839]

Great interview Marco! ♥️ I HIGHLY recommend “Living Waters”! I hope it takes off in the Catholic Church.

[@michellesalazar6448]

This interview blew me away. So much to digest.. important ideas to grapple with given our current cultural struggles.

[@lonelylad9818]

Wouldn't consider myself a full Christian as of right now but I did come to got about a year ago. Cut porn completely and I'm still fixing my understanding of sexuality and fixing my addiction to masturbation. I'd like to make more progress and free myself of these habits entirely one day

[@jambangoni]

Wow, what a passionate and inspiring man. A life full of grace is great to witness

[@BadmamajamaC]

I love the way Marco expresses himself! So smart!

[@psyche8187]

I would love to hear more from this man. He has a really beautiful subtlety of mind and humility. What a gifted soul!

[@maryjordan4129]

Matt your excellent questioning skills are so on point here. I learned so much from this interview.

[@CruyffsTurns]

As a catholic with a gay father. (it’s complicated, he came out when I was 15 and a confirmed catholic, already) This topic and story is tough for me. I’ve had to live for over 10 years accepting the unacceptable about my own father. For over 10 years I’ve had to stomach the separation of my parents over something that had no solution. I’be reverted to the church (much to the concern of my direct family) and it’s still a complex topic for me. I believe all things are possible through Jesus. But this is a tough pill to swallow in a way. I’m happy for him, though.

[@ElPresidenteAndycito]

Thanks for posting this comment. I suspect there’s a lot of other lurkers here who have similar feelings. My situation isn’t the same as yours, but having had plenty of experience with gay issues at this point…I just don’t share the same joy that others commenting here do when I hear Marco’s story. Frankly, this video makes me feel sorry for Marco and angry at the (Institutional) Church. He doesn’t need healing from his same-sex desires. He needs to trust in God even more radically. He wants to believe that the gay/“SSA” part of him is bad, but in reality, the “SSA” part of him is part of who he is. Dismissing it as something inherently negative is to deny the Imago Dei. Don’t curse the gifts that God has given you, Marco! God loves you, including your “gayness!”

[@CruyffsTurns]

@@ElPresidenteAndycito But I’m also not here to endorse what my dad did nor what he does. It’s been a problem for me most of my life now. It used to a a shadow of shame that I only carried for him. I know now that it’s not my cross to carry. There are gay couples at my parish. They’ve integrated themselves into parish life. So I know people are trying. But this specific case stings a bit for me.

[@Sanee-n1l]

You have to remember that the lies of the devil is so attractive, if you had a true encounter with the devil you will realize his lies. Marco's entry into the gay lifestyle started with watching pornography, which meant he opened his door fully to the devil thus the devil took control of his emotions. How can that be right then with God who stated in his creation, "I created man and woman". It is the devil that dictated to him, you are gay. I know it because at one time in my life, I had this very strong empowered thought of jumping into the bridge, I know that was wrong yet it was overwhelming, I can not sit still, FYI, the devil will twist your mind if you let him into your life.

[@etcwhatever]

​@@Sanee-n1lyoure right porn is the door.

[@brucebogtrotter3430]

Your dad betrayed you and your family.

[@catkat740]

Goodness gracious. This guy is amazing. Que Dios te bendiga, Marco!

[@JenniferoftheSea]

The scriptural clarity and insistence on truth and obedience outlined in this interview is just excellent.

[@leeowwh]

Lord! Thank you for this man of God! I can very well see how he is a witness of the Holy Spirit cleansing and strengthening his intellect. Hence whatever he speaks sounds like voices from Above. He very well painted the brokeness of his sexuality and how amidst that, Christ's grace was enough for Him. Jesus bless him, abundantly and Mary be with him always!

[@admg1340]

The implicit message of "healing from homosexuality," often seems to be that you are not really saved or converted or "washed in the blood" until you experience sexual arousal and attraction towards the opposite sex. Reparative therapy or conversion therapy, or experiencing heterosexual attraction or arousal is not necessary for salvation. That may be part of the experience of some who have experienced some degree of SSA, but it is not a requirement to live in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church's traditional teaching on human sexuality. The requirement of chastity for both single and married people is the same. There is no additional "heavy load" of a required"conversion to heterosexual attraction" that is tied up and placed upon the shoulders of those who experience SSA.

[@matthewm.986]

This is correct. As I say in another comment above, part of the wisdom of the Courage Apostolate is that moving toward OSA (Opposite-sex attraction) is not a requirement or one of the goals of the ministry. This is wise because not everyone wants or can afford Reintegrative (formally known as Reparative) therapy and not every person with SSA receives the grace or is able to move toward OSA.

[@johnnyGoosePGH]

Less than 20 min in, and this dude is LEGIT

[@BriD2119]

This was Like Woah Just Hits me like a Dump truck. I shared it with some Spiritual leaders in my life. This is fire love it 🔥

[@alexika9981]

This was a great episode and related too much to what Marco was saying. I loved how descriptive and centered his talking was. this was helpful and I will look into these resources.

[@angelakodicek]

“Everyone has some sort of résumé of brokenness.” ❤

[@maryme2263]

yes please, have Andrew Comiskey on the show

[@OxyCleanForYourBrain]

He’s right - words matter and how we identify ourselves matters: I knew someone who was so devoted to his identity as Gay that it caused an existential crisis to be attracted to a woman and yearn for female companionship.

[@Ahomesteadersdream]

40:37 - “If I can’t renounce the good of marriage for the sake of the kingdom, I’m not ready to be a priest.” - Wow, of course a priest needs to truly understand the beauty of marriage and what they are choosing to sacrifice prior to being ordained a celibate priest, that’s in part of what gives the priesthood such profound sanctity! Every same sex attracted seminarian needs to truly understand this at the level that Marco has been healed before ever being admitted advancement through the seminary, and ultimately onto priesthood. Many priests have contaminated the sanctity of sacramental ordination by this fundamental oversight within our seminaries. And that has spilled over into the moral decline of the sanctity of marriage as these priests fail to help properly form couples prior to professing their wedding vows! Same thing applies to straight men addicted to pornography before advancing through the seminary, or advancing through the engagement process towards a heterosexual marriage. One should never enter into the valid sacraments of the Church while having these deep rooted sins permeating throughout their lives. The time to heal and be unchained from this type of bondage is prior to ordination OR marriage!

[@esterleroux9214]

Thank you. Good remarks. In these times we need more Church Militant warriors like Marco and Matt.

[@mirellaczajkowska-turek5819]

Glory to God❤ we are all sinners, but God gives His hand to help us. Putting the right person on our ways. May God bless all people with any problem which is separating them ftom His love

[@LauFiu]

Honestly, homosexuality is something that needs to be addressed now more than ever. The conservatives leaning side are quick to condemn without making any attempt to get to know them or get to the root causes and on the liberal side they are far too embracing of the sin and the sinner. It’s midway point people like Matt who are actually reaching hearts and souls of the confused by being charitable when charity is needed and being just when justice is needed.

[@mht5875]

Agreed, it's time to "get back to basics" on what homosexuality is about - and what it is not. Number One is: having a friend of the same sex does not make a person homosexual at all.

[@PsychoBible]

Marco! Represent, brother!

[@Diamondkiwi14]

Excellent podcast!!! Totally appreciate his vulnerability and testimony!!

[@BeingCatholicMedia]

Loved the point Matt raised about folk not experiencing that transformation with the Lord and this point was so well put. Intellectually we may know that God loves us but how many actually feel it deep down? . This is where there can be a disconnect. Great conversation on both sides here. Very meaty. Talking on a relationship with Jesus is easy but when we recieve the grace of truly knowing it, that's when the journey really begins. CK

[@brucebogtrotter3430]

Wonderful Marco! Thank you

[@carlosux]

this is a great loving testimony. great topic. thank you for your openness

[@veneciaromero9821]

he soeaks so eloquently so truthfully

[@maximillianjames7799]

This episode really resonates with me. Thank you Matt and Marco.

[@emilymg1]

Beautiful testimony!!! ❤❤❤

[@donde2k]

BE VERY VERY careful of who you open up to. I came out to my closest friend during my college years and I got hammered for it.

[@Dienekes678]

I'm sorry to hear that. He must not have been much of a best friend, really? You deserve a much better best friend than that 😊

[@JP2GiannaT]

Im so sorry.

[@m.f.5739]

This is a huge problem nowadays. It's extremely difficult to get genuine help if you suffer from same sex attractive. There's even a big risk of being tempted instead of understood.

[@justaguy10100]

I pray that you have healed from that hurt

[@donde2k]

@@justaguy10100 Thanks. I’ve learned to stay in the closet around my Christian friends,

[@Jessicarodriguezcastanon]

Wow this one’s powerful, God bless his soul 🥹

[@peggybruening4415]

Prayers. The more testimonials and stories I hear there is no easy part of this equation. And I think God says it best(of course) in the Bible man alone can do nothing but with Him all things are possible. Positive thoughts, love and major prayers your way.

[@ambevil]

This is a fantastic conversation.

[@eileengaffney]

Thank you for your very honest , open , sharing of your struggles ❤ May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen and encourage you 🙏 🙌 God bless you 🙏

[@Conorthedad]

A powerful witness and humbling to recount no doubt.

[@CatholicSamurai]

Very excited to watch the full interview, but always remember: Matt is friends with George Farmer George is married to Candace Owens Candace is good friends with Brett Cooper THUS the PWA fanbase is perpetually just one series of texts away from getting Brett Cooper on the show to do a meet-cute with Thursday.

[@Seethi_C]

But too bad Brett isn’t Catholic and doesn’t seem to even have Catholic values

[@christinereich6050]

Meet cute!!! love it

[@caro1ns]

Yes but if it ever happened we viewers must all be very very quiet. Nothing kills a potential romance more quickly than a cheer squad giggling and cheering on the sidelines.

[@aileenbordelon7884]

Is Brett Cooper Catholic?

[@littledrummergirl_19]

This is like the 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon but with PWA and Brett Cooper lol

[@kristoph888]

Greetings from Kraków to Marco!

[@Sanee-n1l]

Did Marco ever thought that that desire coming back is from the devil who is always challenging us on our path to holiness and when we fail he laughs at us or maybe challenge our Lord again. I mentioned in so many places in the internet, have a favorite phrase from the Bible which you repeat over and over in your mind when that desire comes to you until that desire goes away because yes this is a fight with the devil(people do not realize the strength of the devil on your mind if you opened your soul to him and even if you did not open to the evil spirit). The daily Rosary is truly the weapon against the devil and all kinds of sin.

[@katherinefulkerson2866]

Matt, you are doing some great interviews!!!

[@JNKJ_CiK]

Please pray for me as I struggle with my brokenness :( lately I have been heading to confession almost weekly, and I am struggling with keeping my head above water

[@maxsmith695]

My friend was in the Novus Ordo Seminary in St. Paul and said the homosexuality issues drove him to get ordained in the Eastern Rite.

[@mariabaysa8288]

“We have to get this right, otherwise it will create havoc…” yes. I’m here as a volunteer to a youth ministry seeking answers on how to walk with teens who has this struggle. I’ve been listening to Kim Zember… but my problem with her message is that she said to “sit with them” and that they probably think about their sin more than we do. Unfortunately, in the current culture here in CA, most teens no longer think it is a sin as it is widely accepted. How do we even begin to sit with them when they aren’t even aware that it is sin? And I’m seeing this havoc already beginning because we don’t know how to speak about it.

[@classicworks0316]

“…empathy is often more about being at the foot of the Cross with the one who suffers, awaiting the Resurrection together, than about ‘doing something.’…” ~ Deacon Dominic Cerrato in “Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate”

[@mediaglobalpublish]

What an eloquent testimony! Very powerful indeed....

[@kylej.reeves4268]

Our God has shown time and time again that no one is “infertile” when it comes to Him. Sarah, well beyond her child-bearing years, miraculously conceived Isaac by His will. The Holy Mother conceived without knowing a man. The infertility argument used to discredit ordered sexuality is meaningless for Christians, if they believe God can and does work miraculously. That’s not to say they will conceive. But to engage in the marital act is to be open even to that miraculous possibility in spite of what a doctor may tell them about their physical ability to procreate.

[@michaellowe5558]

When the Catholic Church bought into "same sex attraction" as a kind of identity, it pretty much doomed a whole lot of men and women to the belief that their attraction was some kind of cross they were to bear, rather than a temporary abnormality. God didn't create us to be attracted to the same sex. That is a perversion brought about by sin. The goal should not be to live with same sex attraction - it should be to overcome it, get out of that mindset, and try to live life as God intended for most people: marry, have children, raise them to glorify God. Making this condition into a reason for special groups, clubs, niches, is entirely counterproductive, unless the goal is to help these people overcome same sex attraction. Same sex attraction is a confusion between sex and intimacy. Males especially want intimacy with other males, starting with their fathers, but it becomes twisted when sex sullies it. Homosexuals confuse a desire for candid, warm relationships with sexual desire. They sexualize intimacy. That's the problem. To believe God created you with homosexual tendencies seems a diabolical belief.

[@classicworks0316]

I use the term "SSA" mainly as a descriptor, but never have I felt that being SSA was a "cross to bear" or that I am "doomed" because I have ssa. SSA is not sinful in itself, and this is something people can't comprehend because they equate SSA with homosexual acts, which is not true. The discomfort some people, in this case men, experience towards SSA men is understandable, but it's in no way charitable to express especially in this context, it's something that stuck out to me from this interview. Homeless and sick people attend mass daily in my parish, and it's really heartbreaking when people do not notice them or are afraid of or disgusted by contact with them. It's not a Christian thing at all.

[@desertrose0601]

On the contrary, I think it releases people to realize that it’s just an attraction, not something that needs to define them. We’re all attracted to sinful things. Doesn’t mean that has to be our driving force in life.

[@mx_moi1964]

I love how you wanna speak like the expert regarding ssa when the way you type about it and its solution shows that you have a shallow understanding of SSA. SSA isn’t just some temporary abnormality, at least for most people. It’s something, that oftentimes, is deeply seated in a person. For example, I knew I had same sex attraction since I was in the 2nd grade. That was when I was aware of it. I didn’t feel shame. I clearly remember crushing a kid my age and being really shy when around him. It was a striking feeling that simply surged in me. I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I was living my innocent life without a care in the world. So how is it that this perversion of my sexuality was brought about by sin? Whose sin? My parents’? My own? I had never sinned majorly at that time. I doubt my little sins would be enough for me to develop sexually broken as many people like to call it. And not to mention that throughout my childhood, I had little “homosensual” experiences with certain male friends after feeling that and strong healthy male friendships too. I had three male best friends who I never saw as anything but that. So it’s safe for me to say, that it’s been part of my psyche for as long as I can remember. And that doesn’t mean it has to stay this way. However, it’s easy for people like you (sorry for assuming but you haven’t identified this as a once personal struggle) who don’t struggle with to say “Overcome your attractions” than it is to actually overcome them. If you know, then how do you overcome them then? It’s beyond me. We all have different reasons, some in my case unknown, for why we like the same sex. For some, it’s not being able to relate in some way to one or both parents or even siblings. This can take many forms. Such as physical or mental parental abuse/trauma (be it maternal, paternal, or even both, abuse from a trusted adult or even another peer/kid (usually incestuous but can also be non incestuous). Or simply not feeling truly loved or cared for by one’s parents or your siblings, which allows a young psyche to desire same sex intimacy, which can turn to SSA. For others, it’s difficulty relating with other males (usually this one overlaps with other potential causes or is a symptom). Or it could be from probably being emasculated all the time as a kid from peers, siblings, or parents, especially but not exclusively by female peers. Some people have it occur in them after developing a fetish in childhood associated with masculinity or after experimenting with members of the same sex as adults without a driving inclination. In others, it’s after watching homosexual porn or other forms of homosexual erotica. And for some, it’s mix of some, most or even all of the aforementioned causes. The list of possible causes or wounds goes on.. But we don’t have all day and I am not a psychoanalyst either. Those are just some that I have heard about or seen. Not to say that all of these automatically mean same sex attraction but if anything, it’s to point out that this issue is as complex as every issue that has to do with the human soul/psyche is. Furthermore, if a person with homosexual tendencies sexualizes intimacy, it’s because they are experiencing desire like a normal healthy human. They aren’t asexual. It’s not necessarily a confusion of sorts. It can be. When it comes to this issue, there are no absolutes. Everyone has to stop speaking as though there are. By absolutes, I mean when trying to figure out the causes of this sexual condition. And finally, it is rare to find someone who struggles with SSA and is an active Christian that believes God made them this way. Or else, they wouldn’t be struggling.

[@steve19811]

Using relentless gratitude helps you heal and rise above.....

[@matthewm.986]

Marco was at the Courage Conference held this past summer in Atchison, Kansas, along with Andrew and Anette Comiskey. Andrew has spoken at past Courage conferences due, I believe, to his conversion to the Catholic faith. While Andrew gave a very passionate and charismatic talk it was somewhat controversial as some felt Andrew was implying you have to get married to the opposite sex in order to deal with one’s same-sex attractions. One of the wisdoms, I believe, of the Courage Apostolate, is that developing attraction to the opposite sex is not one of its goals, nor is pursuing Reintegrative (formally known as Reparative) therapy. They will support you if you choose that route, but it’s not a requirement.

[@matyfish]

I have been curious about the subject of being gay vs same sex attraction. This what a great show to really flesh out the disorder, and make it seem as another cross to carry. Struggle is a part of the journey and it is cool to see men treat this as a hurdle not lifestyle. Also Marco looks a lot like the actor who plays Matthew on The Chosen. Great work Matt!

[@maxsmith695]

Gay is SSA.

[@matyfish]

@@maxsmith695 that is what I was speaking to in my comment. It is nice to see the distinction vs the label of "gay" or basically "broken" ssa makes the notion of disorder and the possibility of growing in it.

[@maxsmith695]

@@matyfish I am not sure there is a distinction.

[@meredithc4735]

Great interview. I just loved listening to this❤

[@jeffreysharp8526]

One of the most important videos I have ever seen. Can't articulate its timeliness or, its impact for the country. Pax

[@heydeereman1040]

22:18 doctors told my Great Aunt that she would never have kids. They adopted two boys and then she conceived a daughter