Goal for the Life Night:
The goal for this night is to give the teens a clear understanding of the Church’s teaching on homosexuality as well as the need for love and compassion for those with a homosexual orientation.
Life Night at a Glance:
DISCLAIMER: This is a difficult topic that needs to be approached in prayer, honesty and compassion. Although it can be easier to simply not do this night because it makes you uncomfortable, our teens deserve the truth of the Church. We need to give them a safe place to ask questions and seek the truth. It is important that the Core team talks and prays before this night. Make copies of Father J’s and Mark Hart’s articles in this volume of Spotlight and hand them out to the Core team. If possible, ask your priest to come and talk with the Core on this topic and give them time to ask any questions.
In the current culture, homosexuality is becoming more widely discussed. This Life Night serves to dispel any misconceptions on the Church’s stance on the issue of homosexuality. It clearly lays out the Church’s teaching and calls for an attitude of love and compassion. The night begins as the teens gather for a time to eat and socialize. During this time the teens will be secretly judged on their actions. The Core will call them out and claim to have the teens figured out with their outlandish assumptions. The Gather will lead into a teaching on homosexuality and our call to truth and love. The teens will have an opportunity to respond in a large group discussion. The night will end with calling upon Mary to intercede for us and our gift of sexuality.