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Bob Beaudry
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
- What is the Catholic Church's position, or belief, about gay and lesbian sexuality?
- Namely, are some babies born that way, or do they become [gay/lesbian] through societal and cultural influences?
Thank you!
Bob
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What is the Catholic Church's belief on whether babies are born with a homosexual tendency? }
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Paul replied:
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Dear Bob,
The Church has no say on that scientific question, as science itself has no consensus on it.
The Church's mission is to communicate the means for salvation and eternal life, which includes to teach infallibly on matters of faith and morals. What she does teach is that homosexual orientation is an objective disorder and homosexual acts are intrinsically evil.
We are not created and designed by God for homosexual acts. The fact that some people
have disordered feelings or inclinations to do this, speaks of the brokenness of man due to
sin (which we all share in different ways), not of human nature, or God's will.
Paul
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Mike replied:
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Hi, Bob —
You said:
- What is the Catholic Church's position, or belief, about gay and lesbian sexuality?
Though my colleague Paul has directly answered your question, I thought you may be interested in the Church's teaching/view on the Pastoral Care Of Homosexual Persons:
In addition, the Catechism says the following:
Chastity and homosexuality
2357 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. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, (cf. Genesis 19:1-29; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Timothy 1:10) tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." (Congregation for the Doctrine of the faith, 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.
2358 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. 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.
2359 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. |
Hope this helps,
Mike
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