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 foolishness 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.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 11, 2019

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