COMMENTS CLOSED IN 2006 - Archived DREADNOUGHTER Comments Below - V.R.S.N.S.M.V. + S.M.Q.L.I.V.B
* I posted this in another comment thread, but thought it appropriate here too.
I'm not sure if there is much need for convincing nowadays. It seems to me that the problem is hardly an intellectual conviction or understanding that needs to be articulated, but rather the testimony of witnesses who refuse to go quietly into the night, who refuse to be characterized by their weaknesses, and who announce with confidence that there is One who is more than they are and that He calls all of reality to Himself.
Personally, I think your site is fantastic. I won't pretend to "understand" you because I certainly haven't read everything you've posted, nor have I had the chance to meet you and talk to you (which of course can be rectified) but I can say one thing from a "first impression" of sorts . . . You've got balls. And balls are what it takes to be a Christian today.
Unfortunately most people (liberals AND conservatives) have reduced Christianity to a moralism. The conservatives try to follow the moralism and the liberals reject it, but both have committed the fundamental heresy of reducing Christ to a set of rules and dogmas and ideas.
If anyone here has even opened the gospels and read them they would be certain of one thing . . . sin doesn't keep you from Christ. In fact, the bible is full of stories of sinners who meet Jesus and then "go and sin no more." And so immediately people jump to the "sin no more" part and think that's the point.
Fuck that shit. The point is that they met Him and from there a long drama called "life" ensues. Some, like Mary Magdalene immediately leave their old life behind. In fact, it's often the women who do this, because of the receptivity to the divinity that they were created with. The men, like Peter and Thomas and Judas . . . their struggle is a little more intense, often replete with a few "quo vadis?" thrown in.
DN, I think you are an amazing witness to Christ and His church. Not because you're perfect . . . we have way too many people who think they're perfect already . . . no, I love you because you say "hey, I'm fucked up, and I want an answer to my life."
This is Christianity, in all its messiness, in all its brokenness, in all its transcendence. Because it is the drama of a life full of desire for happiness that recognizes that somehow this desire is attached to the one who said "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life." The one who identified himself with what we can know to be true, and who says "if you are alive then I am present." He identifies himself with life . . . all its drama, all its weakness, all its power.
Keep at it dude.
btw, I want to make clear that I don't believe that ALL women react like Mary Magdalene, or that the conversion of some men isn't less dramatic than Peter. I know, I know, it takes all kinds.
Thank you Stephen! I have cut and pasted a section of your comments to the ego wall. That's a compliment within a compliment.
I saw your interview on Speaking in Tongues and I was wondering you say that you are going to live a life of chastity? And if you don't mind me asking does that mean are you allowed to masturbate? Also based on what you aid on the interview if a person is gay and catholic does that mean that they must hate themselves because of something that they didn't choose to be?
Hail the Dreadnought John!
I've read the post on CA (http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?
t=109960), so much-debated and unnecessarily prolonged by idiocies, and I must bring to your electronic domicile a bouquet of appreciation. Considering on the one hand your obviously aesthetic yet strong temperament and on the other the consistent drivel you must be thrown with, I can only but congratulate you on your continued electronic presence.
However, I would also wish remind you that those who have no experience of an innate homosexual orientation, let alone the 'lifestyle', can not but help be alarmed by your 'gay-dad' pictures in the DREADGALLERIES, or by the use of the word 'boyfriend'. I was initially alarmed, but your continued sincere espousal of Holy Mother Church's teaching in an undoubtedly self-wrought reflection gave me pause. It is undeniable, upon unaffected and charitable perusal of your blog, that you are following the road of grace, be it a particularly socially stigmatic via crucis nonetheless. I would bid you, though, have patience on those souls who have no understanding of the struggles we (yes I too) with SSA go through.
What they often do not realize, these semi-eloquent detractors, is that the road to a state of grace is arduous and bloody and downright scandalous in every sense of the word. It would be dishonest to pretend it is not. You, however, do no such thing, and your continued and deliberate ridding of deception in this regard is therefore laudable.
My many personal experiences in attempting to live a chaste, holy, undivided and integrated life confirm your journey and your expression. They also affirm wholeheartedly that you connect with those who struggle in this particular way. As evidence I would submit that I connected to the Internet tonight in search of some gay porn (mortal sin! mortal! and I know it!) and instead ended up writing this comment.
May the Risen Christ enlighten your heart, meet you in your sorrows, and lead you always toward the Ineffable Light of His Love. In all things may you be drawn to Him, Source and Stay of all things.
PS A few years ago it would have been enough merely to state that one is in complete agreement with the Church's teachings, and submit wholly to her. Now it seems one must submit also to all and sundry a detailed personal curriculum vitae including your sexual history and struggles before one can pass the orthodoxy test. Kyrie eleison!
Edited By Siteowner
Ahem (coughs apologetically)
I've now read this post (http://johnheard.blogspot.com/2005/04/
dreadapologia-hotties-make-me-sing-for.html) and I now understand the DREADGALLERIES. With a bow of the head (along with a nod in the direction of your artistic flair), you have my apology.
Edited By Siteowner
Sorry argentofan, I missed your comment for months.
Chastity means trying to keep the body and soul free from lust and other unworthy urges. Masturbation is a sin against chastity, it is not allowed. No one should hate themselves, certainly SSA men have no reason to think they're made wrong just because they feel strongly attracted to other men. Like anyone else, we'll be judged on what we do, not who we happen to be 
"As evidence I would submit that I connected to the Internet tonight in search of some gay porn (mortal sin! mortal! and I know it!) and instead ended up writing this comment."
Aha! And this is something that is borne out over and over in the web stats. You wouldn't believe the filth (I'm not talking vanilla porn, this is horrid, evil, criminal stuff) that people search for before ending up here Claude.
The DREADHOTTIES seem to get a ridiculous amount of attention. Do these people go to the beach?
Thanks for your support. I'm glad I sing to you. Hopefully, God willing, I can continue to cry out from my DREAFUL little cage and my sorrows, my joys, might merge with yours so that our sorrows constitute a hymn to Christ.
Or at least, perhaps we can lift each other up on the path to the light
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