The church hierarchy speaks with a single voice. Priests, bishops, archbishops and
cardinals are in fact prohibited from publicly expressing views contrary to the church's
current official viewpoints on theological matters. They are even prohibited from suggesting that any church policies
need to be changed. This assures that it is mainly official church
pronouncements, and statements that are in agreement with the church's beliefs,
that reach the public.
Comparing Catholic homosexual beliefs with those of other faith groups:
Catholic beliefs are grounded in their concept of natural law. The church once
taught that the sole purpose of sex -- and marriage -- was procreation. They
have modified this stance in recent decades by admitting that also has a unitive
function -- it bonds married couples closer together and strengthens their
relationship. But, since the Church still regards the main purpose of sex to be
procreation, they insist that any sexual act must be open to conception in order
to be ethical.
On this basis, they forbid the use of artificial methods of birth control, and
consider sexual intercourse other than that between a husband and wife
to be
a grave mortal sin. Forbidden practices include
masturbation, pre-marital sex, post-marital sex, extra-marital sex and all
same-sex behaviors.
Most conservative religious institutions teach that
homosexuality is a chosen, and changeable addictive behavior.
However, the Roman Catholic church accepts the findings of almost all human
sexuality researchers and mental health therapists that a minority of humans have a homosexual orientation
that is discovered -- often after puberty. It is not chosen, and is generally
not changeable.
In other matters related to homosexuality, the
Church agrees with other conservative religious groups:
They regard homosexual
orientation to be unnatural and abnormal. They refer to it as 'objectively disordered.
They view homosexual practices
as very serious mortal 'sins gravely contrary to chastity'.
They also advocate that sexually active homosexuals -- and by
extension bisexuals who are sexually active in same-sex relationships -- be
discriminated against in various ways. 3
Advocacy of discrimination against homosexuals:
They teach that
"...men and women with homosexual tendencies 'must be
accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust
discrimination in their regard should be avoided'." (Our emphasis) 3
The church teaches that there are some forms of discrimination against gays
and lesbians which are just. Access to marriage and the formation of
sexually active committed non-marital relationships are not options that they
believe should be open
to gays and lesbians. The church teaches that persons
with a homosexual orientation "are called, like other Christians, to
live the virtue of chastity." To gays and lesbians, this means a lack
of sexual intimacy and a life of loneliness. 3
The church made an official statement barring ordination "to those who are
afflicted with evil tendencies to homosexuality or pederasty, since for them the
common life and the priestly ministry would constitute serious dangers." 7 Unfortunately, it is not clear whether the term
"homosexuality" refers to a candidate's orientation or behavior. The wording
would seem to imply the latter. Apparently most North American seminaries
consider the applicant's ability to live a life of celibacy to be of prime
importance. The candidate's actual sexual orientation (homosexual, homosexual or
bisexual) is of lesser concern.
More details.
A single homosexual who confessed to a priest the instances of promiscuity could
receive absolution and be allowed to receive communion. However, if she/he had become
involved in a permanent, committed, loving partnership with a person of the same sex, they would be denied both absolution and the sacraments unless the relationship
is terminated.
In early 2002, the media started to publish reports of children having been sexually abused by priests.
The abuse often happened
two to three decades in the past. The initial stories originated in the Boston,
MA area. However, reports soon spread nation-wide. Past cover-ups by diocesan
officials became public knowledge. Although much of the public thought in terms
of pedophile priests molesting and sexually abusing small children, it appears that 90 to
95% of the mistreatment involved hebephile priests with a homosexual orientation who
abused post-pubescent boys. The victims were often 16 or 17 years of age.
Lost in the barrage of media reports was the fact that the vast majority of priests are
totally innocent of child abuse.
"Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual
Persons,", written by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1986)
"Some Considerations Concerning the Catholic Response to Legislative Proposals
on the Non-Discrimination of Homosexual Persons,", written by the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith and secretly distributed to US bishops. (1992-JUL-23) It
was made public by "New Ways Ministry.
"Careful Selection And Training Of Candidates For The States Of
Perfection And Sacred Orders: (S. C. Rel., 2 Feb., 1961)." Online
at: http://www.rcf.org/
Extraordinary Synod of Bishops 1985, Final Report II B a, 4.
