The only reason why I’m writing this is because I’m sick and tired of being called ‘evil’ just because of my sexual orientation.
Hi johnny,
I appreciate your frustration on this subject.
But please realise the Church doesn’t say gay people are “evil”. It is explicitly stated in the Catholic Catechism that gay people are of the exact same dignity and equal worth as anyone else. It is stated that gay people deserve to be treated with the same respect and decency as anyone else, and that it is wrong to seek to harm or harass them in any way.
The Church’s teaching has no beef with gay
people at all. So if anyone is saying otherwise, then they are wrong. Also, the media frequently twists and exaggerates the Church’s stance to make it seem as though it actively persecutes* gay people - it does not.
(*Quite the opposite actually, the Church is on record at the UN speaking out against nations which do persecute gay people. Additionally, Uganda recently tried to introduce a law subjecting gay people to the death penalty, purely for who they are. The Catholic Church was the only indigenous religious group to openly oppose the proposed brutal law, calling.it “fundamentally unChristian”. But of course, this is not reported - bad news about the Church sells more papers, and the media and society don’t want to lose their favourite bogeyman)
When it comes to actual homosexual activity - sexual acts with a person of the same gender - the Church’s teaching is that these acts are disordered.
People often claim that “disordered” is an offensive term, but it is not. It is a simple descriptor for an object, (in this case, the human body), being used for something other than it’s inherent purpose, which is clear via its physical form and functions.
For example, a square peg in a round hole in disordered. A square peg in a square hole is ordered.
Other sexual things which the Church teaches are disordered include masturbation and anal sex between heterosexual couples. You get the idea.
The Catholic Church’s opinion on homosexual acts is based primarily on logical conclusions from an understanding of natural law (biological science), not Old Testament references like the Protestants (traditionally anyway; some have since dropped this).
This is the extent of the Catholic Church’s position. It does not teach that gay people are evil and even has a specific policy not to use offensive Old Testament language to describe gay people, in the same way that some Protestants still do (mainly the word “abomination”).
So, if someone is familiar with human biology, and so understands the structure, features and functions of our sexual organs, then they have no option but to affirm the Church’s opinion that homosexual acts are indeed disordered. Ultimately this is logic and science, not scripture and faith.
However, the Church does acknowledge that there are many homosexual orientated people and tries to be compassionate towards them.
So, never let anyone tell you that you are “evil” because of the people you are physically attracted to. You are not.
I appreciate the above explanation of the Church’s position may offer little comfort.
I understand that you likely feel torn between your faith and what you see as your sexual orientation, which must be very difficult. The Church says gay people are called to chastity, which I guess must seem like something from another dimension in today’s western societies.
How do you feel about that - called to chastity - realistic or not? What do you say of the many gay Catholics (and likely of other religions too) who do endeavour to live faithfully like this?
What in your eyes could the Church do or say different on this matter?
Good to talk to you, and remember you are not evil!
Take care,
Cheers.
Very well said. It would be an act of hate and selfishness. But a lot of people are not aware or don’t understand that they are being selfish and hateful to themselves.
