Is same sex attraction a sin?

[theCardinalbird]

I’m aware that Homosexuality is a disordered desire but is it a sin? Or is it just a sin to commit Homosexual acts?

 

[Duckling]

The act is, I think same sex attraction is a temptation, not a sin.

 

[JamalChristophr]

The attraction in and of itself, as long as it is not cultivated and fostered, is not a sin. It is both a cross and a temptation.

Homosexuality when it is practiced, then becomes a sin. A sin must involve an act of the will.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

In and of itself, having same sex attraction is not a sin. Engaging in same sex sex is sin, as is any sexual activity outside of a valid marriage.

 

[ChunkMonk]

If the disorder is ever accepted, for even one instant, than it is sinful.

 

[Prodigal_Son]

If the disorder is ever accepted, for even one instant, than it is sinful.

What does it mean to accept a disorder?

If you had autism, wouldn’t you accept that? And wouldn’t you still want to act normally, and be able to not have your life be hampered by the autism? Do you mean that one shouldn’t accept that one is same-sex attracted, or do you mean that one should not encourage fantasies about same-sex activity?

 

[josh987654321]

I’m aware that Homosexuality is a disordered desire but is it a sin?

No, It’s a temptation, and the Catechism reiterates this I believe.

Or is it just a sin to commit Homosexual acts?

Yes, only homosexual acts are sinful.

God Bless You Joe1

Thank you for reading

 

[ChunkMonk]

I am attracted to women (an ordered attraction), but if I engage in a single willing lustful thought, I have sinned. If a lustful thought enters my mind and I a hesitate for even one instant before rejecting it, I have sinned.

Homosexual attraction is disordered, so in my (limited) understanding, even the attraction itself must be rejected. The Catholic Church has yet to totally clarify this, so other interpretations are potentially valid. It would be wrong for me to claim the Church has authoritatively spoken for my opinion on this, but equally wrong for the other side to suggest the Catechisms rather vague explanation authoritatively speaks for their opinion.

“This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.”

This does not, contrary to popular opinion, rule out the possibility that the attraction itself must be rejected. Especially since the Church has not spoken with authority on the cause of homosexual attraction:

“Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained.”

It remains a distinct possibility that the psychological genesis is the effect of prior sin, and not a naturally occuring phenomenon.

 

[Prodigal_Son]

Homosexual attraction is disordered, so in my (limited) understanding, even the attraction itself must be rejected.

That was not what I was asking. I was asking whether one should accept THAT one has the condition? You seemed to deny that you should. I assure you that many, many men – myself included – have spent years denying THAT we were same-sex attracted. Such a denial, I assure you, leads to sin, not righteousness.

I do not claim that one should believe that SSA is good; I think that it should be considered a thorn in the flesh. Paul shows us the right attitude: “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Paul would never reach that point if he had not accepted THAT there was a thorn.

 

[Sir2v4]

perhaps the challenge is not to deny the SSA but to transcend it through consecration to Christ. “Christ is the answer” is a program by EWTN radio and Fr John Riccardo. Perhaps the idea is to “order” the personality to Christ and to be “dead” to self in this specific way, as the Bible advises to all, whatever orients us away from Christ. We are all advised to reform our life, to be living sacrifices of ourselves, to be united with Christ, in his suffering on the cross. A strong commitment to individual Bible study might be a good activity to pursue.

Christ is the answer. All other answers – aren’t. We are advised to help support others’ burdens and assisting everybody to find Christ is our calling as a baptized person. What if you were to die today? What would you say to Christ? We all need to focus on our eternal destiny, hopefully with God.

 

[josh987654321]

even the attraction itself must be rejected.

IMO that doesn’t make sense, since if we reverse the scenario, and say even the heterosexual attraction itself must be rejected, then what is one saying? You already mentioned lustful thoughts, so what’s left that needs rejecting?

God Bless

Thank you for reading

 

[ChunkMonk]

That was not what I was asking. I was asking whether one should accept THAT one has the condition? You seemed to deny that you should.

Rather, I think one should treat this “condition” the same way one treats any sinful thought that comes unbidden. Reject it.

IMO that doesn’t make sense, since if we reverse the scenario, and say even the heterosexual attraction itself must be rejected

Heterosexual attraction is rightly ordered. To reject that would be a disorder in and of itself. Homosexuality and heterosexuality are not comparable. Especially since the cause of the one is still undetermined.

 

[josh987654321]

Heterosexual attraction is rightly ordered. To reject that would be a disorder in and of itself.

Not when it’s a married man toward other women or vice versa.

Homosexuality and heterosexuality are not comparable.

Then how can we offer any advice?

Especially since the cause of the one is still undetermined.

I agree, so I think it’s just best to stick to what has been revealed, which is that marriage is between a man and a woman and that the sexual acts of homosexuality are sinful.

God Bless You

Thank you for reading.

 

[ChunkMonk]

And I would say a married man does need to reject any sexual attraction he feels for other women. Despite that, however, the base-line fact of heterosexuality is still rightly ordered.

 

[josh987654321]

And I would say a married man does need to reject any sexual attraction he feels for other women.

EDIT: My bad I misread this, I agree.

Despite that, however, the base-line fact of heterosexuality is still rightly ordered.

But due to the fall, it has become corrupted, which is why there exists unfaithfulness, adultery, polygamy, rape etc. and why some individuals experience same sex attraction, which is a temptation no different to the other corrupt temptations.

God Bless You

Thank you for reading

 

[anikins]

The short answer is no.

 

[Prodigal_Son]

Heterosexual attraction is rightly ordered. To reject that would be a disorder in and of itself. Homosexuality and heterosexuality are not comparable. Especially since the cause of the one is still undetermined.

This makes sense. But with all due respect, I have a lot more experience combating homosexual temptation than you do. When I see an attractive man, “rejecting it” straight out will make it more likely I will go home and fantasize. The most successful approach I’ve found is to look at him and recognize his beauty (briefly, not by staring), and remember that his beauty is FOR a woman, not for me.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

When I see an attractive man, “rejecting it” straight out will make it more likely I will go home and fantasize. The most successful approach I’ve found is to look at him and recognize his beauty (briefly, not by staring), and remember that his beauty is FOR a woman, not for me.

Good for you! As a woman I often deal with attraction to a man the same way, recognize his attractiveness and realize that he is not for me at this time in my life.

As with any disorder you should probably accept yourself as you are and move on in life, chastely and celibately. Though I wish I could be married I know that my mental disorders would make it extremely difficult for me to be a good partner to anyone and so I have remained single. It has been a difficult and lonely cross to bear. Your situation is more serious than mine but I do empathize. You will be in my prayers.

Be at peace.

 

[theCardinalbird]

This makes sense. But with all due respect, I have a lot more experience combating homosexual temptation than you do. When I see an attractive man, “rejecting it” straight out will make it more likely I will go home and fantasize. The most successful approach I’ve found is to look at him and recognize his beauty (briefly, not by staring), and remember that his beauty is FOR a woman, not for me.

That’s good advice. Thanks!

 

[Prodigal_Son]

Your situation is more serious than mine but I do empathize. You will be in my prayers.

Well thank you so much for the kind post, but I feel like my situation is hardly harder than yours. You may be surprised when I say that I’m married and have five kids. So that makes my life pretty full, and it’s a pretty good antidote to loneliness. It doesn’t make me any less attracted to guys, or make it so that I don’t experience pain and loss regarding my SSA, but overall I’m not unhappy with my lot. Thank you for the prayers, and I will pray for you too!