Bringing you the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and His Church While PROMOTING CATHOLIC Apologetic Support groups loyal to the Holy Father and Church's magisterium
Home About
AskACatholic.com
What's New? Resources The Church Family Life Mass and
Adoration
Ask A Catholic
Knowledge base
AskACatholic Disclaimer
Search the
AskACatholic Database
Donate and
Support our work
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
New Questions
Cool Catholic Videos
About Saints
Disciplines and Practices for distinct Church seasons
Purgatory and Indulgences
About the Holy Mass
About Mary
Searching and Confused
Contemplating becoming a Catholic or Coming home
back
Homosexual and Gender Issues
Life, Dating, and Family
No Salvation Outside the Church
Sacred Scripture
non-Catholic Cults
Justification and Salvation
The Pope and Papacy
The Sacraments
Relationships and Marriage situations
Specific people, organizations and events
Doctrine and Teachings
Specific Practices
Church Internals
Church History


Steve Johnson wrote:

Hi, guys —

I'm not sure if this is the right venue for my question but here it goes.

I am an Anglican who is moving slowly but surely toward Rome and have made great strides in the past few years in my understanding and acceptance of Roman tenets and doctrine. My question concerns the fact that I am gay. I am aware of the Church's teaching and can understand and accept it, as it is.

My position on my sexuality is that it was not a choice I made. The rest, I leave in the hands of God. I am not involved in a relationship nor am I sexually active and do not see that changing.
My question is:

  • Can I expect my sexuality to be a hindrance to being accepted into the Catholic Church?

Steve

  { Can a gay Anglican expect his sexuality to be a barrier to being accepted into the Catholic Church? }

John replied:

Hi, Steve —

Thanks for your question.

Your sexual orientation is not an issue. People who suffer from same sex attraction are called to celibacy as are heterosexuals who are single.

All that is required is that you accept what the Church teaches in the area of faith and morals. Should you stumble or fall into sin, the solution is the same for both hetero and homosexuals:

  • you repent
  • go to Confession
  • accept God's grace, and
  • move on with your life making your best faith effort to avoid sin by the help of God's grace.

I'm not making light of sin, any sin, but by the same token, Jesus died for our sins and is always ready to forgive us. We don't take God's mercy for granted, but once we repent, we have to stop beating ourselves up for prior forgiven sins.

John

Paul replied:

Dear Steve,

Now that John has given you a good answer let me zero in on a couple of things you said and offer some suggestions:

You state:
. . . nor am I sexually active and do not see that changing.

  1. There is a considerable difference between not seeing yourself doing something versus resolving not to do it. When it comes to acts of sin the latter is the necessary attitude.

  2. I know it is easy to label yourself according to how you feel or what you're attracted to but
    I don't think it's helpful, nor does it do you or anyone else justice. This is playing the world's game of claiming we are what we feel; even if those feelings are disordered and even when they're not acted upon.

    Labeling-words such as gay shortchange people and place them into a category, which ultimately has a political agenda at its origin. We are all human beings. Our deliberate choices can be good or evil and such choices can contribute to our character and becoming; but to label persons simply according to feelings or attractions, especially if they are not acted upon, is unreasonable and unnecessary.

Paul

Eric replied:

Hi, Steve —

In addition to what my colleague says, I recommend you Google:

  • On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
    [Vatican][EWTN][Wikipedia]
    (A document from the Holy See on this topic.)

Another document is:

  • Persona Humana: Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics.
    [Vatican][EWTN]

The Church makes a distinction between the inclination (which is merely disordered) and the acts, which are gravely sinful.

Eric

Mike replied:

Hi, Steve —

I used to run a free program that sent Catechisms to seeking Protestants and non-Christians but I no longer have the financial or operational means to do this anymore. Nevertheless, if you wish to go deeper, consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.

— If you, or any visitor, have been helped by our work at AskACatholic.com, consider financially supporting us today.
— If you can't right now, click on a few ads on our website. Every ad click brings in a bit more revenue that supports our work. Every click helps.

Mike

Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
© 2012 Panoramic Sites
The Early Church Fathers Church Fathers on the Primacy of Peter. The Early Church Fathers on the Catholic Church and the term Catholic. The Early Church Fathers on the importance of the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome.