How Can A Homosexual Relate Positively To Sexuality?

[James_Miller]

www.uic.edu/depts/quic/history/dag_hammerskjold.html

 

[maria_teresa]

Hello everybody.

I would just like to add a few details I find interesting and maybe shed light on some matters.
In fact there are no “homosexual” models inside the Catholic Church just because the Catholic Church believes it is possible to change a person’s gender attraction.

Some one already mentioned this article from NARTH:
narth.com/docs/hope.html

Where we can see that the Catholic Church explains according to medical tests that homosexuality cannot be solely due to genetic or pre-natal conditions.

In fact I believe that even if some one is born with such characteristics a good education and nourishment can go a long way towards that person not developing as a homosexual.
Even heterosexual people can feel atracted towards people from the same sex.

I would also like to add that I have witnessed (in the television) an interview to a man that testified that he was no longer a homosexual:

davidmacd.com/catholic/personal_testimony.htm

David MacDonald’s testimony is very interesting and I think we should all read it carefully. Some people argue that he might have not been really a homosexual, but the question I ask is, if a heterosexual can have “positive” (according to homosexuals) homosexual relations why wouldn’t a homosexual be able to have “positive” heterosexual experiences?

I think that most homosexual people could have been not homosexual if they had a positive nourishment during their youth. I know personally 3 homosexual guys, one of which was a close friend for over 15 years (I’m 24) and I came across deep relationship problems between them and their family. I may be over simplifying because I’m not a psychologist, but the Catholic church works with many psychologists to establish these doctrines.

I hope this was usefull.
Take care,
Daniel

Daniel,

Please read the CCC on homosexuality.

2357 … Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained.

NARTH is not the Catholic Church and does not speak for the Catholic Church and has no authority to speak for the Catholic Church. NARTH is a for-profit, non-Catholic, secular, small group. The Catholic Church has never said it is possible to change one’s gender attraction. NARTH claims that, not the Catholic Church. The Church has never mixed the secular world, especially the recent Freudian psychotherapy science, in Her Doctrines. Catholic Church does not work with many psychologists to establish any of Her Doctrines: that is the sole job of Theologians.

The ‘change’ stories concerning anyone’s orientation need to be carefully evaluated. Has there been true orientation changes? Surely. Is it common? No. Additionally, one must be very careful as to the definition of ‘change’, and how it is being used. Often, ‘change’ does not mean a change in orientation, but choosing to live chastely; to remove oneself from the ‘lifestyle’. This whole ‘change therapy’ science is emotionally-charged, and fraught with difficulties in definitions, outcomes, lack of long-term study, lack of precision in terminology.

Homosexuals may certainly opt to pursue therapy to assist themselves in coping and working through issues, as any other individual may also do so. Anyone seeking assistance with any difficulty through the use of therapy would be well advised to leave the outcome in Our Lord’s Hands, and not ‘expect’ any particular result.

maria_teresa

 

[dskysmine]

Daniel,

Please read the CCC on homosexuality. NARTH is not the Catholic Church and does not speak for the Catholic Church and has no authority to speak for the Catholic Church. NARTH is a for-profit, non-Catholic, secular, small group. The Catholic Church has never said it is possible to change one’s gender attraction. NARTH claims that, not the Catholic Church. The Church has never mixed the secular world, especially the recent Freudian psychotherapy science, in Her Doctrines. Catholic Church does not work with many psychologists to establish any of Her Doctrines: that is the sole job of Theologians.

First of all, I didn’t say that NARTH was the Catholic Church. I said that NARTH posted an article in their site that was emmited by the Catholic medical Association.
Second, yes, I have to admit that the Catholic medical association isn’t the Catholic Church, but you are wrong in assuming that the Magisterium teaches any doctrine without the help of any scientists. Check for example in the internet (or even the vatican site) for the Pontifical Academy of Sciences or the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences.

The ‘change’ stories concerning anyone’s orientation need to be carefully evaluated. Has there been true orientation changes? Surely. Is it common? No. Additionally, one must be very careful as to the definition of ‘change’, and how it is being used. Often, ‘change’ does not mean a change in orientation, but choosing to live chastely; to remove oneself from the ‘lifestyle’. This whole ‘change therapy’ science is emotionally-charged, and fraught with difficulties in definitions, outcomes, lack of long-term study, lack of precision in terminology.

Homosexuals may certainly opt to pursue therapy to assist themselves in coping and working through issues, as any other individual may also do so. Anyone seeking assistance with any difficulty through the use of therapy would be well advised to leave the outcome in Our Lord’s Hands, and not ‘expect’ any particular result.

maria_teresa

As for the orientation changes I would just like to add that even if therapy cannot help everyone they should be free to try it if they want a happy and fulfilled sexual life. If they simply want to be in accordance with the Church’s teachings then it is by no means necessary.

Take care,
Daniel

 

[Treese]

Months have passed since I began this thread, and the variety of comments submitted as replies provided quite an interesting spectrum of the positive, the negative, and views that were somewhere in the middle. Today, I am adding a link to an interesting NEW Blog for persons with homosexual inclinations that wish to live chaste lives, but without the shame. The Blog offers loving support and guidelines for homosexual persons to live healthy and spiritual, sexually-integrated lives. Please share it with anyone you know that may appreciate it. Thank you.

thechastityring.wordpress.com

 

[markomalley]

There are many organizations that offer support to persons who struggle against same-sex attraction. There are programs that provide them psychological counselling to either assist them to live chaste lives, or to help re-orient their sexuality. The Church has the Apostolate of COURAGE, where persons with same-sex attraction can learn to lead chaste and spiritually disciplined lives of prayer and frequent reception of the sacraments.

But… how does a person with same-sex attraction relate to sexuality-in-general in a Positive light if their are no role models on tv, in the news, or in their neighborhoods and Churches to model themselves and their behavior on?
Why are Chaste persons with same-sex attraction so in the closet?
Is there any current movement for them to become a more visible presence, so as to inspire others, and dispel the shame over something they did not cause?

One thing to consider is that most people do not define themselves by their sexuality.

For example, I don’t ever feel a need to walk around to people and say, “Hi, I’m Mark and I’m straight.” And, for the record, I don’t have the walls in my office plastered with pictures of my wife (and, out of 50 people in my office, I have only seen one person who does). I don’t feel obliged to walk around and publicly display my affection and so on and so forth.

(Having said that, I know of several people who have homosexual tendencies who basically treat it as “their business” and keep personal stuff personal and work stuff work)

Did you ever consider that a person with homosexual tendencies but who wishes to live chastely may not be “in the closet” but may just wish to keep his/her personal life to him/herself? And maybe because of how negative society is toward the subject with particular regard to those with homosexual tendencies, perhaps the individual just finds it easier and simpler to do so? (By negative toward the subject, I mean trying to push the individual into living an unchaste and sexually sinful life)

Over in another thread I posted the doctrinal documents that explain exactly what the Church teaches about persons with homosexual tendencies.One thing that is a common thread throughout those documents is that persons who have homosexual tendencies bear a cross if they choose to live in accord with God’s will as expressed in Sacred Scripture and by the Church. Really and truly, I would classify it as heroic virtue, particularly in this day and time.

You are absolutely right that it is particularly difficult these days. The culture seems to scream at them to live for today and to embrace an attitude of hedonism.

As for positive role models, I would think that the lives of the saints, particularly those who were consecrated virgins or those who embraced a celibate lifestyle without being ordained would be ideal role models for a homosexual who wished to live chastely. Why? Because part of the life of the saint in question would be a voluntary sacrifice of sexual intimacy and rearing a family. In this case, the fact that the saint may have dealt with heterosexual tendencies vice homosexual tendencies would be irrelevant, wouldn’t it? Homosexual tendencies are disordered, but the desire to have a help-meet is a perfectly normal desire. Sacrificing the fulfillment of that desire is an extremely noble thing to do.

Likewise, modern day people who voluntarily live a celibate life, regardless of their personal sexuality, should provide a valuable role model as well.