Catholicism and the Gay Gene

[AgnosticBoy]

take

What does having a ‘gay gene’ mean to you? Sexual orientation is a complex trait and these types of traits are only influenced (not solely determined) by genes and i say that because environment plays a role. Otherwise everyone who has the discovered gene that your article brings up should be gay which is not the case based off of your article…

Are all men who have the “gay” variants of these genes gay?
No, says Sanders, because many other factors play a role, including the environment. “There are probably multiple genes involved, each with a fairly low effect,” he says. “There will be men who have the form of gene that increases the chance of being gay, but they won’t be gay.”

Because many genes and other factors seem likely to play a role in sexual orientation, this may explain why some people are bisexual or see sexual orientation as a spectrum.

 

[stupidisasstupiddoes]

I just found a new article from December ‘17 that says otherwise

No you didn’t. You aren’t representing what the article says properly. Nothing in the article is new or shocking. There is a genetic component to same sex attraction, that is not the same as a ‘gay gene’ that means you were born with same sex attraction.

 

[thistle]

I’m not so sure. This sounds like new information. For the sake of argument, let’s say there is one. Can you answer my questions?

It would make absolutely no difference to the Church teaching on same sex attraction and homosexuality. Sexual relations are only permitted within marriage between a man and a woman.
Such people are required to live chaste lives.

 

[JanSobieskiIII]

There’s not a gay gene.

There’s no “born this way”

It’s corrupted sexual desire. Nurture, not nature, is responsible for the disordered desire.

 

[AmbroseSJ]

That would be like if scientists declared they had found the “chauffeur” gene. People with this gene are going to be chauffeurs! It is TOO ludicrous to even credit. It is totally unscientific for there to be a gene that basically makes people adopt a certain way of life. It is just another attempt by the world’s agenda to nullify morality because there is no free will.

Are there genes that pre-dispose people toward certain inclinations etc? Yes, I believe that is possible. But free will will always determine the final result. What is the scientific meaning of “pre-dispose” even? Makes it easy? Forces one?

For example a person might have genes that bestow a very good appearance on their body. Does that mean all people with such a body will automatically become one way or another? No. Free will determines what a person does with either his gifts or his impediments.

 

[Joe_5859]

Yes. The Church takes no position on the cause of homosexual inclinations. It is a question for the sciences.

 

[vsedriver]

Does the Catholic Church teach the gay gene doesn’t exist, or does She not take a position on it?

the church doesn’t make infallible declarations on scientific issues. The church deals only with moral issues. Whether or not there is a gay gene doesn’t affect the moral issue of SS sexual activity.

 

[Augustinian]

Well, now I just found a new article from December ‘17 that says otherwise.

There is no such thing as a “gay gene”. If it had ever existed, it would have died out centuries ago.

A gene which reduces the chance of reproduction stands no chance of long term survival

 

[Elf01]

Given that the majority of SSA people married and presumably had children I wouldn’t assume that the gene would die out.

I wonder if there is research on that.

 

[Hope1960]

Thank you Joe 5859!

 

[catholic1seeks]

Does it matter?

If there were either a singular gay gene or a genetic basis in general, we still have to admit there is in SOME sense a biological predisposition to homosexuality. It’s not chosen. But this wouldn’t contradict the faith: After all, does God will people to have genetic predisposition to serious or life-debilitating illnesses?

So if there is a genetic basis, it doesn’t mean either way that God approves of homosexuality (as a lifestyle or whatever).

That being said, I do think it would help with the Church’s pastoral approach.

 

[jlhargus]

Long story short, It wouldn’t matter either way same sex acts would still be mortal sin.

 

[Hope1960]

I know the acts would be a sin but what I wanted to know is if the Church says there is no gay gene; there is a gay gene; or if She doesn’t have an opinion on that one way or another.

 

[Rau]

So that’s been answered definitively, right? The Church is not and does not claim to be an authority on science

 

[Hope1960]

Definitively? I hope so. Has it ? Or is it an opinion that the Church doesn’t take a position on whether there is a gay gene or not?

 

[stupidisasstupiddoes]

There’s no such concept as a gay gene so the question doesn’t make sense for the Church to have a position on it. I know the media dumb things down for the public but try and hold yourself to a higher standard. It’s exactly the same kind of stupid remark people make when they say “oh that’s the part of your brain that does x”, horribly simplistic to the point of being untrue.

 

[thistle]

Definitively? I hope so. Has it ? Or is it an opinion that the Church doesn’t take a position on whether there is a gay gene or not?

Your question has been answered but you don’t seem to want to accept the answer. Let this be clear.
THE CHURCH HAS NO POSITION ON A GAY GENE.

You don’t seem to get it. Whether is or is not a gay gene is completely irrelevant to the Church teaching on same sex attraction and homosexuality.
For the sake of argument, let’s say tomorrow all scientists can prove there is a gay gene. So what? It does not change the Church teaching one iota.
You are focused, almost obsessed, with something that has no affect on Church doctrine.

 

[Kei]

I wouldn’t say only moral issues.

But I don’t think those who try to say there’s a gay gene understands genetics.

 

[Hope1960]

I know the Church wouldn’t change its teaching on homosexual acts. I just wanted to know if the Church believes homosexuality is a lifestyle choice or if it is genetic/biological/something that happened in utero etc.

 

[thistle]

I know the Church wouldn’t change its teaching on homosexual acts. I just wanted to know if the Church believes homosexuality is a lifestyle choice or if it is genetic/biological/something that happened in utero etc.

How many times do you want to hear the same answer??

THE CHURCH HAS NO POSITION ON A GAY GENE.