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

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

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

Hi, Steve —

I used to run a free program that sent Catechisms to seeking Protestants and non-Christians but 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.

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Mike