Spreading wrong interpretations

In the past week, Mr. Chito Germino has written two articles on matters of faith, pushing his personal interpretation of Scripture and morals. The two articles in question are “Gay is divine” and “Religious deception.” This will be a detailed refutal of his claims.

In “Gay is divine,” Mr. Germino sought to please the LGBT sector. Our brothers and sisters who are attracted to the same sex need respect, accompaniment, and guidance, but above all we should tell them the truth with charity.

Mr. Germino says that he “found out that God is just, fair and merciful and full of compassion, pity, love and faithfulness.” I agree. All of us, including those attracted to the same sex, are created in God’s image and likeness, and are deserving of true love and respect because we are sacred. It is the homosexual act itself, not the person who experiences the attraction, which is wrong. It is due to sin, which entered the world shortly after creation, that our inclinations and capacities to love have become imperfect.

Even Mr. Germino cannot deny that homosexual acts are explicitly prohibited in Scripture. “No man is to have sexual relations with another man..” (Leviticus 18:22).

And I disagree with his assumption that there are no biblical restrictions to female-to-female relations. It says in Romans 1:26b (Cebuano) “Ang mga babaye naggawi sukwahi sa naandan, tungod kay ang ilang isigka-babaye mao ang ilang giasawa-asawa.” This is in the Bible. But I’m not surprised that Mr. Germino omits this verse because he accuses St. Paul of being an “Anti-Christ.”

He even goes as far to accuse Jesus of being wrongfully attracted to St John, on account of him being “the disciple whom He loved.” Mind you, Jesus Christ, who is true God, cannot sin, and therefore He did not have disordered affections. Clearly, Germino is picking and choosing only the verses he likes, to fit a certain agenda.

And since I brought up the topic of Paul, let us analyze the article “Religious deception.” He accused Paul, as well as 99.9% of Christian preachers, of being liars for preaching that good works are not necessary. Paul never said it was faith alone that was necessary, because both he and Catholic Church know that faith and works are necessary.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For all of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.” Clearly he points out that God will reward each according to his works.

Furthermore, he accuses preachers of teaching that we can go on sinning as long as we have faith. On the contrary, it is he, who says that unnatural sexual relations are alright and we should be proud of them, when the Bible clearly shows that it is sinful.

So who is telling the truth here? I end this article with the words of St. Peter, “First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20) --