Cure for Synodal Sickness

‘Don’t live in the futility of their thinking . . . you didn’t come to know Christ that way. You were taught to put off the old self, corrupt in its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.’

(Eph. 3:18, 20, 22–24)

Why is anybody surprised by the synodal report on homosexuality? It’s the same old dull playbook. Two guys who want to be ‘gay’ and ‘married’ make everything else the enemy: reparative therapy, Catholic orthodoxy, excellent support groups like Courage.

Agile ‘gay’ activist Father James Martin championed these two as premier examples of ‘gay’ Catholics who, alongside him, spoke into the ’23 synodal discussions on homosexuality. (Months later, Martin provided the pastoral ‘blessing’ at one of the men’s civil ‘gay’ marriage ceremony.)

As to why these three empowered white guys misrepresented the face of Catholic strugglers around the world who actively seek to live chastity well, well, that’s the Church political. Everyone just listened in rapt, synodal silence as these three played the victim card. A carefully chosen study group, already inclined to agree with these three, wrote up the report.

Note to all Catholics: for the last 50 years, ‘gay’ victims have been trotted out in every mainline Protestant denomination for relentless ‘listening’ sessions. They name the same perpetrators, and effectively persuade leaders to reinterpret the Bible, rethink what it means to be human, reconsider the meaning of marriage, and state novel ideas—as in this gem from the synodal report: ‘Sin doesn’t exist in same-sex relationship; the only sin is lack of faith in God who desires their fulfillment.’

Wow. As nonsensical as it was with the Episcopalians, the Presbyterians, the Lutherans, the Methodists, and on and on. Forget about Jesus and the Cross and repentance and chastity and redemption. Bow down instead to charming immoralists and their advocates, smooth-talking westerners willing to risk their souls for rainbow causes.

I am bored with this playbook. Nothing new under the sun. Take heart; you’ve already endured a half-century of shadowy efforts to undermine the beauty of God’s image. Trust me, an unreasonable study group can’t undermine 2000 years of Scripture and its reasonable interpretation. Nothing can stop Jesus’ passion to reclaim His image in us.

Our cure lies in the transformation of real lives. Forged by truth, we declare freedom from enslaving desire. Bring on testimonies of hope! We have a great cloud of witnesses who, empowered by Divine Mercy, refuse the rainbow gods. I am surrounded by them, in heaven and on earth.

We have surrendered our broken ground and now drink in rain from heaven. He makes all things new, and we live to tell His truth. We champion Catholic orthodoxy and Courage and everyone’s right to reparative therapy.

The best cure for synodal sickness? Lives transformed by the truth of Jesus and friends.

Tonight, my daughter and I are convening a sanctuary full of men and women made new by Jesus. It’s the last night of Living Waters, and participants are bringing their friends, family, and church elders to hear the marvels He has done among us over the last five months. Katie and I will teach a little, but the best part, the real meal, is their simple declaration of Divine Mercy. ‘Jesus didn’t forsake me because of . . . ; He wooed me into greater wholeness.’

We overcome synodal sickness through the blood of the Lamb and through the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11).

Stay tuned for a series of blogs featuring amazing witnesses, forged by truth and generous mercy. Heads up also for the long-awaited Queered Out series, which will feature thirteen testimonies expertly woven into an eight-part video series. Coming in July!