5.6 - Homosexuality

5.6 – HOMOSEXUALITY Talk Handout

I. Homosexuality: Attraction and Acts 1) What is Same-Sex Attraction? “Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained.” (CCC 2357)

2) Homosexual Acts - It is not sinful to experience same-sex attractions or inclinations. Homosexual acts are sinful. “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’ (CDF, Persona humana, 8) - They are contrary to the natural law. - They close the sexual act to the gift of life. - They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. - Under no circumstances can they be approved.” (CCC 2357)

3) Homosexual Tendency is Objectively Disordered “The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.” (CCC 2358) Q. Why are homosexual attractions considered "objectively disordered"? Isn't that a harsh term? A. The term “objective disorder” is a philosophical term. It is used to describe homosexual attractions because such attractions can never lead to a morally good sexual act. It is objected that if a man lusts for a woman or vice versa, this too is an objective disorder. This latter example is not an objective disorder, because, if the man or woman controls this natural attraction, and wills to express it in the natural state of marriage, it is a good thing. The term “objective disorder” may strike some of us with same-sex attractions as being harsh, because we feel that we never asked to have homosexual attractions and we fear that this term is in some way condemnatory or derogatory. It is important to remember that “objective disorder” is a philosophical term which describes a particular inclination - it does not diminish our value and worth in the eyes of God. It is psychologically understandable that certain people struggle with homosexual attractions. The Church recognizes this and does not condemn people for simply having these attractions; however, the Church also teaches that homosexual acts are always immoral, and therefore, one must also accept that the inclination to engage in such acts is, philosophically speaking, objectively disordered. Above all, we must keep in mind that homosexual inclinations do not make up our true identity as rational or Christian persons. We are first and foremost men and women created in the image of God - we are exceedingly precious in God's sight and we have been given the gifts of intelligence and free-will. We can live a life of union with Christ, through prayer, and we can know the peace of interior chastity. This is God's desire for us, and He continually gives us the grace to live it. (Courage Website, “Frequently Asked Question”, www.couragerc.net/FAQs.html)

4) Persons with homosexual tendencies are to be treated with respect and are called to chastity. “They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection. “ (CCC 2358-2359)

Catholic Moral Decision-Making

1

5.6 – Homosexuality – Handout

Objection: If homosexuality is a biological disorder, how can it be wrong for someone to do what is natural to them. They can’t help but be gay, they were born that way. This question implies that same-sex attraction inevitably leads to same-sex behavior (“They can’t help but be gay”). While we may not have a choice about our attractions, we all have a choice about our behavior. All of us have disordered desires of one type or another (greed, lust for power, tendency towards sloth, etc.) that we must counter and struggle with in order to follow Christ. If some of these tendencies are partially or even fully in-born, that does not make it right to act upon them. Should the Church change her teaching on having only one wife/husband because some men are born with a desire to be in a sexual relationship with more than one woman? “It is crucially important to understand that saying a person has a particular inclination that is disordered is not to say that the person as a whole is disordered. Nor does it mean that one has been rejected by God or the Church. Sometimes the Church is misinterpreted or misrepresented as teaching that persons with homosexual inclinations are objectively disordered, as if everything about them were disordered or rendered morally defective by this inclination. Rather, the disorder is in that particular inclination, which is not ordered toward the fulfillment of the natural ends of human sexuality. Because of this, acting in accord with such an inclination simply cannot contribute to the true good of the human person. Nevertheless, while the particular inclination to homosexual acts is disordered, the person retains his or her intrinsic human dignity and value. Furthermore, it is not only sexual inclinations that can be disordered within a human person. Other inclinations can likewise be disordered, such as those that lead to envy, malice, or greed. We are all damaged by the effects of sin, which causes desires to become disordered. Simply possessing such inclinations does not constitute a sin, at least to the extent that they are beyond one’s control. Acting on such inclinations, however, is always wrong.16” [Footnote 16: Circumstances may affect the degree of culpability in individual cases, but to will homosexual acts is always wrong. “In fact, circumstances may exist, or may have existed in the past, which would reduce or remove the culpability of the individual in a given instance; or other circumstances may increase it. What is at all costs to be avoided is the unfounded and demeaning assumption that the sexual behavior of homosexual persons is always and totally compulsive and therefore inculpable” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, no. 11).]” (US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care, November 14, 2006, p. 6, http://www.usccb.org/dpp/Ministry.pdf)

Objection: Expecting Christians with same-sex attraction to not have sex is unrealistic… “Chastity is the universal call on all Christians, married and single, a universal virtue and aspiration. Married Christians are called to express chastity in their marriages by refraining from artificial contraception and remaining faithful to their spouses. Unmarried Christians are called to express chastity through refraining from sex outside of marriage. In calling me to chastity the Church is not calling me to path any harder than the paths of the many Christians who remain unmarried by circumstance rather than choice… If seeking to live in sexual purity and chastity is part of following Christ for me, so it is also part of following Christ for all those men and women who don't live with Same Sex Attraction and who yet have as little chance of being married as I have. Why should the requirements of following Christ be different in my life than in theirs?... One important part of the bottom line for all of us, whether with live with same-sex attraction or not, is in the last line of paragraph 2359 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where with participation in the sacraments, the support and love of friends, prayer and grace, we are told that people living with same-sex attraction ‘can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.’ Catholic Moral Decision-Making

2

5.6 – Homosexuality – Handout

And what is Christian perfection but sainthood? The Catholic Church, who speaks with the voice of Christ on faith and morals, looks to me, a man living with a degree of same-sex attraction, a figure which has been so often turned into an icon for various political, social and sexual causes and says ‘you can follow Christ, just like everybody else. And more than that, you can be a Saint. In fact, we think you should be Saint.’ In my life and experience that's pretty powerful, because it's not patting me on the head and saying, ‘Oh, poor lad, you have same-sex attraction, maybe we can overlook some sins for you’ or, worse, ‘Maybe we can’t expect you to live chastely like we expect other unmarried people to live.’ Instead it’s the Church saying, ‘C’mon, you can be a Saint, let’s go. What are you waiting for?’ And that's head and shoulders above anything that anybody else is saying on this topic.” (David Morrison, “A Courageous Message,” Sed Contra blog comments, Nov 1, 2003, http://web.archive.org/web/20060621132718/davidmorrison.typepad.com/sed_contra/)

“Since when is living chastely denying anyone any outlet for their emotional needs? I live chastely and have lots of outlets for emotional connections, as do many other people living with same sex attraction who live chastely. As a matter of fact, many report their emotional lives improve after beginning to live chastely because they find and make friends whose friendship is explicitly not built upon what they can or would do.” (David Morrison, “Lost Sheep Claims Shepherd Is Lost,” Sed Contra blog comments, Oct 20, 2003)

Objection: But if two people are in love with each other, they should be able to express that love! “I stopped having sex with my lover of seven years over a decade ago when I became convinced that genuine and authentic love wants what is BEST for the beloved. Despite how ‘great’ our sex before was, there was no way I, as someone trained in biology and familiar with the human body, could make myself believe that gay sex is best for anybody or that having it reflected genuine love. I understand that other people have different impressions and have come to different conclusions, but I am responsible for living as best I can within the grace Christ has given me. Since then, again over a decade later, my former lover is still my best friend and our relationship is more intimate and loving now than it was then. Nothing in the Church’s teaching precludes genuine love and intimacy, merely sex outside of marriage.” (David Morrison, Sed Contra blog comments, December 17, 2003)

“For me it boiled down to love. How I could I claim to love someone if I didn't sincerely wish, through my prayers and my actions, his good? And given Christianity’s objection to homosexual activity as serious sin (on scriptural, traditional and natural law grounds), how could I claim to love Dan if I was willing to act toward him in a way that was objectively wrong? So I opted for genuine love instead of fears (that if we didn't have sex we would no longer love each other) or pleasure (but I like sex!) or convenience (why rock the boat?). As Christ noted, no greater love has anyone than that lay down their life for their friends. Did I love Dan enough that I wanted his friendship forever in heaven? Absolutely...so I went to him and asked if we could stop having sex. And while it has taken us a while to work out where we are with our lives and with each other, we are still together, still love one another and, if anything, much closer now than we ever were when we were having sex (even as we both enjoyed the sex). Love in any friendship is a good - why not seek to take the good even higher? If you were to stop having sex and he stopped loving you (or vice versa) how much of a claim to love would there be?” (David Morrison, Sed Contra blog comments, August 9, 2004) Catholic Moral Decision-Making

3

5.6 – Homosexuality – Handout

RESOURCES ON HOMOSEXUALITY Beyond Gay by David Morrison 1999, ISBN: 0-87973-690-9, Our Suday Visitor, www.beyondgay.com “Few moral issues are as divisive and controversion in American culture, politics, and morality. David Morrison, a former gay rights activist, writes from the front lines of this battle. A man who once debated Christian critics on the subject of homosexuality, Morrison experienced a profound conversion. Through his growing awareness of God’s love, he came to understand the true meaning of human sexuality. Through God’s grace, he made the decision to live with his same-sex attraction while refusing to be defined by it or act upon it. His journey, written from the perspective of lived experience, gives hope and encouragement to the more than twelve million Americans who live and struggle with same-sex attraction or who care about someone who does.” (Blurb on back cover)

The Truth about Homosexuality: The Cry of the Faithful by John F. Harvey, O.S.F.S., 1996, ISBN: 0-89870-583-5, Ignatius Press, 800-651-1531 “This book addresses the complex moral and pastoral questions involved in both homosexual orientation and activity, including an analysis of lifestyles in accord with the Christian Gospel and those running counter to Christian moral teaching. Fr. Harvey, a pioneer in the pastoral care of homosexual persons through the organization Courage, gives a comprehensive view of the issues involved in homosexuality…”

Homosexuality and the Catholic Church by John F. Harvey, OSFS

2007, www.ascensionpress.com

“As the founder and director of the Courage and Encourage support groups, Fr. John Harvey is aware of the sensitive nature of homosexuality. With his extensive experience ministering to those with same-sex attraction, Fr. Harvey presents the Church’s teaching in an objective and pastorally-sensitive manner. Priests, religious, and laity alike will benefit from the many questions considered here including: - What is the basis of the Church’s teaching regarding homosexuality? - What do many consider to be the cause of same-sex attraction? - Can a person overcome same-sex attraction? - Why is it important for civil law to limit marriage to one man and one woman? - How can a person live the virtue of chastity joyfully?” (Blurb on website)

Courage www.couragerc.net [email protected] Phone: 212-268-1010. Portraits of Courage - Video set produced by the Courage movement “For the first time, the members of Courage step from the shadows of anonymity to face the camera. They reveal their struggles with homosexuality and the amazing grace of chastity within Courage. Regardless of your own sexual orientation, whether you are an adolescent, a parent, a religious, a single man or woman, this remarkable glimpse into these aspiring lives will forever change the way you regard your faith and value your own chastity. Understand the Catholic Church’s controversial teaching on homosexuality from the first person singular. With unsparing honesty, the men and women of Courage bring together the truth and compassion of the Church’s timeless wisdom. Part 1: Into the Light – Witness seven inspiring stories including Peter, whose therapist labeled him “gay” and encouraged him into the homosexual lifestyle; Vera, a self-professed “child of the 60s;” and Angelo, whose seemingly idyllic “West Hollywood” lifestyle led him to an emotional breakdown and a spiritual epiphany. Hear Fr. John Harvey, OSFS, share how he became the founding director of Courage. Part 2: The Cry of the Faithful – David, a former “gay” activist takes a spiritual journey that inspires him to become an activist for chastity. Richard saves his marriage by dealing with issues beneath his homosexual feelings. Joe finds transformation in Christ. EnCourage parents deal with their son’s revelation that he is “gay.” Also, Psychiatrist Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons explores the genetic and environmental factors involved in same-sex attraction… Catholic Moral Decision-Making

4

5.6 – Homosexuality – Handout