Are homosexuals called to celibacy?

[ssancho]

Is there any official Church teaching that people with SSA must remain celibate? I know the church teaches they should remain chaste, but does chastity in their case mean celibacy, or can they attempt a straight relationship that might lead to marriage (real marriage, not the legal fiction of “gay marriage”)?

 

[Lapey]

Is there any official Church teaching that people with SSA must remain celibate? I know the church teaches they should remain chaste, but does chastity in their case mean celibacy, or can they attempt a straight relationship that might lead to marriage (real marriage, not the legal fiction of “gay marriage”)?

There is no rule against a person you speak of to be married and lead a perfectly normal life and remain chaste with the SSA. I am a sufferrer of opposite sex attraction, I am attracted to all women! God made them beautiful. But I am called to only love and be with one in matrimony. I am called to chastity as everyone is.

If a person cannot see themselves in a relationship with a member of the opposite sex then they will probably remain celibate, but by choice.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Is there any official Church teaching that people with SSA must remain celibate? I know the church teaches they should remain chaste, but does chastity in their case mean celibacy, or can they attempt a straight relationship that might lead to marriage (real marriage, not the legal fiction of “gay marriage”)?

Certainly. Why shouldn’t they get married (with the opposite sex) if they can? I’ve listened to one commentary when it is suggested that they can develop a close friendship with one of the opposite sex which eventually could lead to marriage. Even though the person is sexually attracted to the same gender, the friendship and genuine love with the person of the opposite sex can make marriage possible. Marriage and love isn’t just about sexual attraction.

 

[CaptFun]

Unless they are married. Yes.

Same as single heterosexuals. Or unmarried heterosexuals.

 

[eamonnroma]

Certainly. Why shouldn’t they get married (with the opposite sex) if they can? I’ve listened to one commentary when it is suggested that they can develop a close friendship with one of the opposite sex which eventually could lead to marriage. Even though the person is sexually attracted to the same gender, the friendship and genuine love with the person of the opposite sex can make marriage possible. Marriage and love isn’t just about sexual attraction.

So therefore it is fine to get married for friendship and love (I presume you mean affection here) when there is no intention of sexual relations or procreation?

 

[GangGreen]

So therefore it is fine to get married for friendship and love (I presume you mean affection here) when there is no intention of sexual relations or procreation?

I believe in order for a marriage to take place the intention of procreation must be present. Even for heterosexual couples, I don’t believe the Church will marry them if they have no intention of attempting to have children or one or both are knowingly infertile. Someone could correct me if I’m wrong.

Does that mean the couple have to have sex all the time? No, if they’re both getting into it knowing and agreeing that there won’t be much sex (meaning the knowledge that one person is homosexual isn’t hidden from the spouse and they are accepting of it)… but that still means that there has to be an attempt at having children. How the person with SSA manages that is another story.

 

[DittosMommy]

Infertility has nothing to do with making a valid marriage. A couple must be physically capable of the “marital embrace” and be open to the possibility of children. Look at Abraham and Sarah. God worked a miracle in their lives and Sarah bore a son in her old age. A person who is not physically capable of consummating a marriage cannot enter into a valid marriage.

 

[Peter12rb]

Ideally, a healthy marriage is one based on love, children, and life-long support. But, realistically, sexual compatibility is still very important to most marriages. Sexual incompatibility is one of the top 3 reasons for divorce (the other 2 being money and infidelity). Because of this, I would never recommend a gay person to enter a heterosexual marriage. To me, it wouldn’t matter that the other spouse had full knowledge going into the marriage, or that both people understood that sex would be an issue. The fact that they are sexually incompatible will cause much frustration for both of them. The gay partner will not get the kind of sex that he/she desires, and the straight partner will know that the other one is unhappy (and who can be happy with such a relationship)? This kind of marriage has been practiced many, many times in our society, and there are a lot of divorces caused by it.

Theoretically, it works and could be considered a good marriage by Catholic standards. But it is my opinion that this kind of marriage will seldom work in the long run.

 

[Peter12rb]

I believe in order for a marriage to take place the intention of procreation must be present. Even for heterosexual couples, I don’t believe the Church will marry them if they have no intention of attempting to have children or one or both are knowingly infertile. Someone could correct me if I’m wrong.

According to other posts on this site, the Catholic church will still perform a marriage if one of the members is infertile (couples thought to be infertile have conceived in the past, after all). However, according to this site, if the guy is impotent (and incurably so), the church will not perform the marriage. Thank goodness for viagra!

 

[GangGreen]

So then I guess as long as none of the pieces of the puzzle are missing it’s alright ?

 

[liberationtheor]

According to other posts on this site, the Catholic church will still perform a marriage if one of the members is infertile (couples thought to be infertile have conceived in the past, after all). However, according to this site, if the guy is impotent (and incurably so), the church will not perform the marriage. Thank goodness for viagra!

What about if the couple that want to marry choose to adopt.

 

[Peter12rb]

What about if the couple that want to marry choose to adopt.

Sorry, I’m no expert on this. As a Presbyterian I say the couple should marry and adopt to their hearts’ content. I found the Catholic viewpoint on other posts on this website, though I wonder how strongly the viewpoint is held and teached.