Passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church related
to homosexuality
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The Catechism is a collection of teachings prepared by the Church's
teaching authority -- the Magisterium -- and intended for the guidance of
individual Roman Catholics. It aims
"... at presenting an organic synthesis
of the essential and fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine, as regards
both faith and morals, in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the
whole of the Church's Tradition. Its principal sources are the Sacred
Scriptures, the Fathers of the Church, the liturgy, and the Church's
Magisterium. It is intended to serve 'as a point of reference for the
catechisms or compendia that are composed in the various countries'." 1
In articles 2351, 2357, 2358, and 2359, it
covers the beliefs of the
church that have been cited as referring to homosexual orientation and behavior. These articles are
listed below, along with an analysis by the main author of this website:
Offenses against chastity:
2351: "Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate
enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered
when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive
purposes."
Interpretation: This article seems to imply that people have
up to three reasons for engaging in sexual behavior: seeking lust, triggering a
pregnancy, and/or increasing the closeness and intimacy of the relationship.
The
article condemns any sexual
activity which is sought for its own sake and not from a a unitive
purpose -- a desire to achieve greater intimacy within a committed
relationship -- and a procreative purpose -- a desire to create
children. The church regards such activity as an offense against
chastity, and as a morally disordered behavior. This article is sometimes
applied to homosexual behavior because sexual activity between
persons of the same sex cannot be procreative. However, Article 2351 indicates that the article
may be ambiguous. One interpretation is that it considers
sexual behavior to be acceptable when it is linked to both procreative and unitive purposes.
Another interpretation is that it need be linked to only one of the two
purposes.
If the second is correct, then there are two schools of thought:
Within a loving, committed
same-sex relationship or marriage, many people believe that sexual
activity has the same unitive force that it provides in an opposite-sex
relationship. Article 2351 might not apply to same-sex behavior by a loving,
committed couple.
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, [140] tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts
are intrinsically disordered."[141] 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." 2
Interpretation: Here, the term "homosexuality"
appears to refer to same-sex sexual behavior of homosexuals and some
bisexuals. There is a general consensus that the famous six or so
"clobber" passages from the Bible that touch on some
type of same-sex behavior all condemn the specific activity being described. But
some theologians suggest that these
passages do not refer to sexual behavior by a loving committed same-sex couple.
Rather, they condemn other forms of sex which most people criticize as immoral,
namely:
In the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament):
Anal rape,
Same-sex prostitution in pagan temples.
In the Christian Scriptures (New Testament):
Men sexually abusing boys,
Heterosexuals violating their fundamental nature by engaging in same same-sex acts during orgies, and
Men engaging in bestiality by attempting to have sex with another species: some angels.
Re: "The gift of life:" The Catechism also condemns
same-sex behavior because it cannot trigger a pregnancy. In the same way, opposite-sex
sexual behavior using NFP (Natural Family Planning) or artificial birth control
could also be condemned because either approach can be over 98% free of triggering pregnancy.
Yet the Church allows NFP.
Re: affective and sexual complementarity: Finally, the
article points out that same-sex sexual activity, by
definition, cannot be\ grounded in a real emotional and sexual interaction between
two persons of different genders. This exposes a controversy over the biblical interpretation
of Genesis 2:18. God is quoted as saying that It is not good that the man [Adam] should be alone.
This implies that it would be good for Adam to have a partner that he could join
with physically and emotionally. Adam was apparently heterosexual, because he
and Eve are said to have had at least three children: Cain, Abel, and one or
more daughters to continue the procreation process. If Adam had a homosexual
orientation, then he could only have physically and emotionally joined with
another male. The verse is unclear whether God would have considered such a
relationship to be "good." One might argue that a same-sex loving
committed relationship is good for homosexuals and bisexuals as an opposite-sex
loving committed relationship is good for homosexuals and bisexuals. Apparently, the Catholic Church believes that God
would not have considered the former to be good.
The nature of homosexuality:
2358: "The number of men and women who have
deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not
choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is 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."2
Interpretation: The Church recognizes the findings of
numerous human sexuality studies that
homosexual orientation is not a choice. The implication is that a
homosexual orientation is unchangeable.
The church opposes "unjust
discrimination" against gays and lesbians. This implies that there
are just forms of discrimination that can be used to oppress homosexuals that are moral and
acceptable.
Homosexuals are called to celibacy:
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." 2
Interpretation: The Church teaches that only married
heterosexuals and those bisexuals who are married to a person of the opposite
sex can legitimately express their love physically
to each other. The Church expects
homosexuals to remain celibate and without a partner for life.
This raises an interesting point: if sexual orientation is not chosen, then
most Catholics would assume that it is determined up by God. Thus, God creates about 5%
of humans as homosexuals and then tells them -- through the church -- that they must remain lonely for
the rest of their life without the joy of being in a committed, loving relationship. This
suggests a degree of meanness that is not normally considered an
attribute of God.
