jacob, i’m totally envious of your wisdom and stability. i know you posted here in a state of confusion, but it seems to me your feet are firmly on the ground and you’re open to learning more. we should all be so “confused”.
the church does teach that homosexuality (the feeling, desire, identity) is disordered. it’s not sinful in and of itself, though indulgence in lustful fantasies or pornography is sinful for the gay person as well as the straight person. homosexual sex is a mortal sin, but so is heterosexual sex outside of marriage. you might be interested in
this letter, “to the bishops of the catholic church on the pastoral care of homosexual persons”:
“The human person, made in the image and likeness of God, can hardly be adequately described by a reductionist reference to his or her sexual orientation. Every one living on the face of the earth has personal problems and difficulties, but challenges to growth, strengths, talents and gifts as well. Today, the Church provides a badly needed context for the care of the human person when she refuses to consider the person as a “heterosexual” or a “homosexual” and insists that every person has a fundamental Identity: the creature of God, and by grace, his child and heir to eternal life.”
you may also be interested in
this passionate debate about civil unions in new hampshire.
you said that you’re able to abstain from sex without difficulty, and that too is something of which i am TOTALLY ENVIOUS! i’ve identified as bi-sexual for all of my adult life, and have been pretty promiscuous with both men and women. as i’m turning away from my former life, i’m seeing that my sexual activity
as a whole – not just the gay or straight, but the promiscuity, the kink, the multiple, casual or otherwise unhealthy relationships – has been damaging for me. it’s got a powerful momentum, and it isn’t at all easy for me to disengage.
blessings for you,
emily