Our society can deteriorate so much that many people "are filled with every kind of wickedness: maliciousness, greed, ill will" (Rm 1:29). We can get to the point that our society is the closest thing to "hell on earth." This extremity of evil is preceded by "disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and the men gave up natural intercourse with women and burned with lust for one another. Men did shameful things with men" (Rm 1:26-27). This barrage of homosexual sin is in turn preceded by idolatry, worshipping "the creature rather than the Creator" (Rm 1:25). When we practice idolatry, that is, put anything ahead of God, we set the stage for worse sin, particularly homosexual sins. Prior to idolatry, vain reasoning, senseless minds, and just plain foolish stupidity proliferate (Rm 1:21-22). Then the bottom line of this retrogression is the repeated refusal to give God glory and thanks (Rm 1:21).

Using this analysis of cultural breakdown from the first chapter of Romans, we can surmise that although our culture of death is in the latter stages of evil, it can get worse. We can also see how serious homosexual sins are. Furthermore, we can understand where idolatry comes from and where it goes. Finally, we can also see that the beginning of renewing society is to live lives of praise and thanks to God. Learn from Romans.

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The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Giles H. Pater, April 24, 2003

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 28, 2003