Posted by TF Charter on Homosexuality on November 21, 2003 at 00:56:22
In Reply to: Good to know posted by In-house Editor on November 20, 2003 at 07:00:24:
Offenses Warrenting Excommunication
B. Engaging in any male-with-male sexual activities.
It is our Bible-based belief that male homosexuality is ungodly. Family members will be excommunicated for engaging in such activities. This clause is purposely worded in this manner to make it very clear that it is strictly forbidden for men to have any kind of sexual activity whatsoever with other men.
. Sodomy is male homosexuality, or "men with men doing that which is unseemly," and which God strictly forbids and severly judged as the most evil and abominable sexual sin of all (ML#258:16).
. Sodomy is [a] very serious excommunicable offense. (ML#2717:25)
Sex and Affection Rules
Q. Female homosexual relationships are not permitted.
You will notice that this is worded differently from the male homsexual rule in the Offenses Warranting Excommunication section. The Bible specifically prohibits male-with-male sexual activity, but there are no passages forbidding such activity between women. This rule is meant to reflect that difference, as we do not entirely prohibit all female-with-female sexual activity, unlike the rule regarding males. As Dad said, it's fairly natural for some females to be affectionate and loving towards each other. It would therefore be acceptable for two sisters to hold hands or be arm in arm, or have their arms around each other, kiss, caress or hug each other closely, even sexually. Whereas any sexual overtures between two men is prohibited. Of course, such female-with-female cuddling would need to be conducted in the non-public areas of the Home, just as any other sexual affection would.
Although such affection between women would be permitted, an actual lesbian relationship, in which the two partners were deeply involved to the exclusion of others,is prohibited. The definition of homosexual is "Relating to, or having a sexual orientation to persons of the same sex." And as Dad has said, it is not natural for women to only desire sex with other women; such female homosexual relatioships would not be considered as natural, and as such are not permitted.
Although many may consider affection between women distasteful, we must remember that love is what should guide us. We must be understanding of the needs of others, so if two women have the need for affection between themselves, since it is not Biblically forbidden, we should be loving and mature enough to understand.
Any such female-with-female activity must be with mutual consent, and no one shoudl be coerced or feel pressured into participating. This is not license for those who feel the need for such affection to try to actively search for those who will participate. Only if there is a mutual desire and agreement between two women may they be affectionate with one another.
. When a girl never had any normal desire for a man, I begin to wonder if it's spiritual thing. It is certainly not normal or natural as God intended, therefore such lesbianism is a perversion. (ML#292:5)
. But two [women] can be very close friends without having to necessarily express it that way, although why not? (ML#292:61)
. Where it is real love and affection of any two people for each other, that's a different story. But this carnal....lust of the flesh, ....totally only for women, that's not of the Lord. (ML#1748:17)