Homosexuality is not a sin?

[latin_rite]

Chatting online and came across this in a discussion.

Catholicism teaches that homosexuality is not a sin. It is a trial for people, and they should be treated with respect and not discriminated against. The sin is the act of homosexual intercourse, just as fornication is a sin. What makes homosexual intercourse sinful is that the two men can not be married, so all intercourse would be fornication.

What he is saying is that homosexuality isn’t a sin because of homosexuality, but because it is fornication

 

[Dempsey1919]

Chastity and homosexuality

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,141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 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.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them 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.

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.

That is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about homosexuality.

My interpretation of this teaching is that homosexual desires are the result of some kind of psychological disorder. It is not a sin to suffer from same-sex attraction. However, it is a sin to act on these disordered desires because homosexual acts are depraved.

 

[Phil_Marinus]

Oh no… Not again…

 

[Dempsey1919]

Oh no… Not again…

Homosexuality is one of the major sins of our day. That’s why there are a lot of homosexuality threads on the forums. Many people believe homosexuality is a healthy alternative lifestyle. Catholics have a duty to tell people that homosexuality is not a natural, normal, healthy lifestyle choice.

 

[Phil_Marinus]

Homosexuality is not a healthy alternative lifestyle…
yes I agree with you on that, I could never get involved in it because I think it is revolting, but there have always been people that are part of that lifestyle …
But… One would think that having had so many threads on this issue on this site that it could have a rest for a week or so !
I personally would like to see a thread on something more interesting or informing like youth homelessness…

 

[SMHW]

I

Chatting online and came across this in a discussion.

What he is saying is that homosexuality isn’t a sin because of homosexuality, but because it is fornication

Once again we run afoul of definitions.

What definition of homosexuality is being used? What definition of sin is being used?

Are we using “homosexuality” to refer to tendencies, desires, or acts?

Are we using “sin” to mean anything that is contrary to perfection or to an act for for which an individual is personally accountable?

 

[LegoGE1947]

Homosexuality is not a healthy alternative lifestyle…
yes I agree with you on that, I could never get involved in it because I think it is revolting, but there have always been people that are part of that lifestyle …
But… One would think that having had so many threads on this issue on this site that it could have a rest for a week or so !
I personally would like to see a thread on something more interesting or informing like youth homelessness…

Okay. I’ll start one. Phil: I have started a thread on that subject. I personaly have a son in his 30s who by his own choice is homeless.

 

[Lucky7]

Being homosexual is not a sin; acting on one’s desires is a sin.

 

[agnes_therese]

Homosexuality is one of the major sins of our day.

The Church does NOT teach that homosexuality – being sexually attracted to persons of the same gender – is a sin. That is false.
The sin is in acting on those desires – any sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful.

 

[Dempsey1919]

The Church does NOT teach that homosexuality – being sexually attracted to persons of the same gender – is a sin. That is false.
The sin is in acting on those desires – any sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful.

Agnes,

You should read my first post on this thread.

 

[agnes_therese]

Agnes,

You should read my first post on this thread.

I did, but it doesn’t say the same thing as the one I responded to.

 

[Brendan_64]

Why do people insist on asking this question when the teaching of our Church is very clear on this?

It is NOT a sin for a person to be a homosexual. The Church teaches that homosexuals should remain chaste, just as it teaches that unmarried heterosexuals should remain chaste. It is acting upon sexual urges, outside of marriage, that is considered a sin.

The Church accepts and recognises the great difficulties homosexuals will experience trying to remain chaste despite their urges, and does not blame the individuals for their urges. It is a trial for them, and one that they will be rewarded for their efforts. The Catholic Church does not teach that homosexuality is a sin in itself.

We are called to welcome and homosexuals into our Church with compassion and understanding. To discriminate against is against the teaching of our Church.

 

[Dempsey1919]

agnes therese:

I did, but it doesn’t say the same thing as the one I responded to.

This is what I said in my first post:

Dempsey1919:

My interpretation of this teaching is that homosexual desires are the result of some kind of psychological disorder.** It is not a sin to suffer from same-sex attraction**. However, it is a sin to act on these disordered desires because homosexual acts are depraved.

When I said homosexuality is a sin, I should have said active homosexuality, which is a sin. Generally, I refer to active homosexuality simply as homosexuality. I refer to homosexual inclinations as same-sex attraction.

 

[CopticChristian]

Chatting online and came across this in a discussion.

What he is saying is that homosexuality isn’t a sin because of homosexuality, but because it is fornication

Why do people insist on asking this question when the teaching of our Church is very clear on this?

Help everyone out here…you are people…you started this thread…why did you insist on asking this question knowing what the Church teaching is and the teaching is clear?

 

[Jessie5000]

Time for the church to revisit their understanding of sexuality in general. I am not alone in this perspective as many theologians agree. Many priests and Bishops also agree that we need to make changes but they must do this secretly or be punished. Most of the laity also want changes but they have no say as the church is run like a monarchy.

 

[Big_Feet]

Time for the church to revisit their understanding of sexuality in general. I am not alone in this perspective as many theologians agree. Many priests and Bishops also agree that we need to make changes but they must do this secretly or be punished. Most of the laity also want changes but they have no say as the church is run like a monarchy.

I hear that you are not alone in this as many do disagree with what the Church teaches. This disagreement does not make them right, either. You say, “many” authentic Catholic “theologians agree” that the Church needs to change? Who?

What exactly needs to change in the Church’s understanding of sexuality? And what makes you or anyone else the athority to command that change?

Sexuality is a gift from God, pre-ordained to provide the unitive and pro-creative bond within a natural and sacramental marriage. Any other use of this gift would be tantamount to a desecration of the gift, including the heterosexual use of the marital act outside of marriage.

 

[edwest2]

Chatting online and came across this in a discussion.

What he is saying is that homosexuality isn’t a sin because of homosexuality, but because it is fornication

Here is what the Church teaches:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html

Peace,
Ed

 

[edwest2]

Time for the church to revisit their understanding of sexuality in general. I am not alone in this perspective as many theologians agree. Many priests and Bishops also agree that we need to make changes but they must do this secretly or be punished. Most of the laity also want changes but they have no say as the church is run like a monarchy.

Name the theologians. Name the priests and Bishops. If you can’t, you’ve just got a baseless, non-factual conspiracy.

Peace,
Ed

 

[Dempsey1919]

Time for the church to revisit their understanding of sexuality in general. I am not alone in this perspective as many theologians agree. Many priests and Bishops also agree that we need to make changes but they must do this secretly or be punished. Most of the laity also want changes but they have no say as the church is run like a monarchy.

The Catholic faith is a revealed religion. God revealed the full truth. We cannot change truth. We cannot change the faith to suit the times. The faith is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The theologians you speak of sound like modernist heretics.

The Church doesn’t have to “revisit” her understanding of sexuality. You have to “revisit” and adjust your understanding of sexuality. As a Catholic, you must accept with docility all that the Church teaches. The Catholic faith is not a buffet in which you can pick or choose what to believe.

 

[Brendan_64]

Time for the church to revisit their understanding of sexuality in general. I am not alone in this perspective as many theologians agree. Many priests and Bishops also agree that we need to make changes but they must do this secretly or be punished. Most of the laity also want changes but they have no say as the church is run like a monarchy.

So where do you get your information that many priests and bishops want the Church’s view changed? Have they spoken to you in person expressing their concerns? Because if they hold this view in secret how do you know unless they have confided personally in you?

And where do you get the idea that most of the laity want a change? Has there been a survey with published results?

And yes, the Catholic Church is not a democracy with every member having the right to cast a vote to change doctrine. That is not how the Church operates. Doctrine is not decided based on what the laity think it ought to be. We are called to be loyal and obedient to the Magisterium, they are not called to be loyal and obedient to the laity.