[Greek] πορνεία (porneia), [Latin] fornicatio, [Latin] prostitutio: unchastity, dishonoring, profaning, immorality, whoredom, idolatry; 26 scriptures
St. Peter Damian (1007-1072) already saw the problems with sexual immorality, homosexual predatory behavior, moral laxism, and silence within the clergy.
Background information:
New Testament: This term means unlawful marriage, unchastity, and immorality. Immorality can include fornication, evil, harlotry, and licentiousness.
Unlawful marriage: Mt.5:32, Mt.19:9, Acts 21:25
- Involves serious sexual sin, incest, adultery, annulment grounds
- Marriages involving Mosaic law violations and sanctions
- Jesus’ admonitions apply only to valid marriages
- Paul asks Gentiles to abstain from unlawful marriages
Immorality: Mt.15:19, Cor.5:1, 1Cor.6:13,18, 1Cor.7:2, 2Cor.12:21, Col.3:5, 1Thess.4:3
- Evil thoughts and deeds, coming from the heart, defile the person
- There is a need for separation from the unholy
- Sexual satisfaction becomes as commonplace as food
- The immoral person sins against his own body
- One must have an understanding of one’s own limitations
- You [Corinth] have not repented of your impurity, immorality, and licentiousness
- Put away parts of you that are earthly (worldly)
- God wills that you refrain from immorality
Born of fornication: Jn.8:41
- If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham
- You are trying to kill me [Jesus] who has told you the truth
- You are doing the works of your father [the devil]
- Your father is the father of lies
- You do not belong to God
Prostitution in Corinth:
- Corinth was considered the “Amsterdam of the ancient world”
- Aphrodite was the patron goddess of Corinth
- Women slaves, prostitutes, and courtesans were sold into prostitution
- [Paul]: any woman unveiled brings shame upon her
- Adulterous women’s hair was cut short (so others may see their shame)
- Prostitutes and lesbians were thought to have to short hair
Church in Pergamum:
- The Nicolaitans practiced a mixture of Christianity, paganism, and the occult (which becomes a mockery of their faith)
- The Nicolaitans had a shallow “dumbed down” faith
- The Nicolaitans practiced eating of meat sacrificed to idols
- The Nicolaitans practiced free sexual intercourse
- The Nicolaitans followed the doctrine of the cult of Balaam
- The Nicolaitans valued tolerance and compromise
The Harlot of Rome (Babylon):
- The greatest seducer of nations and their kings
- The kings of the earth have syncretic “intercourse” with this harlot
- This harlot is the center of paganism and apostasy from God
- This harlot mixed idolatry, lusts, religion, worldly ways, and philosophies
- Babylon is filled with fornication and pleasures
- Babylon is contrasted with the pure community of God.
Scripture:
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon, the great that made all nations drink the wine of her licentious passion (fornication).” Rev.14:8
This harlot seduces and intoxicates the nations (and leaders) with idolatry, paganism, superstition, worldly ways (human traditions), fornication, and lusts.
“The kings of the earth have intercourse with her, and the inhabitants of the earth became drunk on the wine of her harlotry.” Rev.17:2
The kings of the earth commit spiritual adultery with this harlot. The great harlot seduces them with unfaithfulness, idolatry, passions, and corruption.
Homosexuality (fornication) in the Church:
Who was St. Peter Damian (1007-1072)? He was an Italian cardinal and Doctor of the Church. He had shed a spotlight on the sexual immorality, clerical homosexuality, and laxism among the clergy.
What does St. Peter Damian say about homosexuality in the clergy?
- Homosexuality is incompatible with the dignity of the priest
- There is a correlation between liturgical abuse and an indifference to the moral demands of the gospel
- Fundamental disorientation regarding the natural complementarity of the sexes
- Devastating psychological and spiritual effects of homosexuality
- This can lead to a continuum of sins that depart from the nature of the sexual act
- The tendency to recruit others into their lifestyle
Conclusion:
Prostitution, prostitute, fornication, fornicate, porn, pornographic
It is important to note that the New Testament makes references to unchastity, unfaithfulness, and unlawful marriage
In the New Testament, it can be inferred that an unlawful marriage is in contrast to God’s laws for marriage and procreation. (Man and woman)
Jesus overrules the Old Testament’s allowances for divorce. Jesus reaffirms God’s original designs for marriage (man and woman become one flesh).
The New Testament reaffirms that immorality comes from within (the heart).
It is significant to note that fornication, immorality, disobedience, pride, and the devil are all tied together. Really not surprising, since the devil seeks to undermine, upend, and destroy God’s laws and creation. “We are not illegitimate (born of fornication)” Jn.8:41
During Old Testament and New Testament times, it was considered proper for a woman’s head to be covered. Otherwise, an uncovered woman was considered shameful (lesbian, adulteress, temple prostitute)
The Nicolaitans had overcome the culture the Christian culture by its introduction of paganism, occult, and “tolerance”. Jesus hated their lukewarm mockery of the Christian faith.
Interestingly, St. Peter Damian identified the moral weakness, homosexual lifestyle, doctrinal error, silence, and further predilection for sin among the clergy.
Quotes by St. Peter Damian:
“Sodomy raging like a cruel beast within the sheepfold of Christ”
Peter Damian observed homosexuality rapidly spreading within the clergy.
“Why do you seek after the height of ecclesiastical dignity with burning passion?”
Peter Damian observed self-seeking promotion of this deviant lifestyle within the clergy.
“Undoubtedly, those who turn a blind eye to the sins of their subjects that they are obliged to correct.”
Peter Damian observed the secrecy, silence, and lax disclosure of homosexuality within the clergy.
“If such a priest is barely permitted to enter the church pray, how is it that he can approach the altar to intercede for others”
Peter Damian states homosexuality is deeply related to the dignity of the priest.
“What do you seek in a man, that you are unable to find yourself, you seek in vain in another body?”
Peter Damian sees that the priest has a disorientation about the natural complimentarity of the sexes.
How did Pope Leo IX respond to homosexuality in the priesthood? He approved a canon decreeing excommunication for those guilty of sodomy.
Update: Like the Nicolaitans, many Catholics and Christians now have a lukewarm faith.
Like the Nicolaitans, many in our post Christian secular society engage in hook up culture and sexual promiscuity.
Like the Nicolaitans, our Church continues to be influenced by the culture demanding “tolerance” .
The recent Church sex scandal has in part been greatly influenced by clerical homosexuality, clerical laxism, hiding sexual abuse disclosures, homosexual predation (recruitment), and doctrinal error.
The German bishops and others are now advocating for blessing same sex unions. The German synodal leaders, acting like harlots, are prostituting themselves in syncretical intercourse (combining religion, philosophies, and culture) with the laity in changing Church teachings.
Pope Francis and inner circle, in their outreach to the LGBTQ community are seeking to destigmatize and normalize homosexuality. These Church leaders are “prostituting” themselves in order to gain acceptance from the LGBTQ community.
Pope Francis and his inner circle are “having syncretical intercourse” with the world in incorporating (and mixing) worldly philosophies, practices, and cultures into faith practices. (This becomes the basis for their synodal ways! Examples: Panchamama fertility idols and Mexican indigenous liturgical ‘adaptations’, etc.)
Pope Francis states that the Church must change into a synodal church. They have created a new human tradition.
Pope Francis and his inner circle have developed a new human tradition that the ‘God of surprises’ provides the rationale for approval of their synodal ways in changing the Church. (In reality, this is a pre-approved agenda ratified by hand-picked allies.)
Pope Francis and his inner circle have changed their view toward sin (Jn.8:11). They now stress false compassion, tolerance, and “inclusion” rather than true compassion, repentance, and conversion. This idea of “mercy above all else” becomes a new human tradition.
“Someone who lived practicing the vice of sodomy will suffer more pains in hell than anyone else, because this is the worst sin that there is.” St. Bernadine of Siena