Same-Sex Attraction: Sin, Disorder, Gift?

[meltzerboy]

What is the official Church teaching about same-sex attraction? Is there any allowance for discussion and disagreement about this teaching within the Church? In other words, is the belief about SSA in the form of a doctrine, a custom, or a practice? According to my understanding, SSA is not regarded as sinful, however acting on it via sexual behavior is considered sinful. Now, my other questions are: first of all, is acting on same-sex attraction in a non-sexual way by means of (non-sexual) cohabitation with another person who has the same SSA also regarded as sinful, because one is placing oneself in a compromising situation by opening oneself up to temptation? Secondly, is SSA regarded by the Church as a disorder even though it is not regarded as sinful? If so, what kind of disorder: natural disorder, mental disorder, social disorder? Is there any inconsistency in labeling SSA as a disorder but not sinful? Finally, does the Church view SSA as a gift, in the sense that one is being given the privilege of bearing a cross of suffering and thereby becoming closer to Jesus?
After posting, I realized perhaps this topic fits better under Moral Theology.

 

[joclucsylv]

My opinion is that it is a cross they have to carry.

 

[meltzerboy]

Thank you very much for the comprehensive and detailed information.

 

[Barbkw]

See also:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ON THE PASTORAL CARE OF HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

(During an audience granted to the undersigned Prefect, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, approved this Letter, adopted in an ordinary session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and ordered it to be published.)

Given at Rome, 1 October 1986.

JOSEPH CARDINAL RATZINGER
Prefect

 

[meltzerboy]

See also:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ON THE PASTORAL CARE OF HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

(During an audience granted to the undersigned Prefect, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, approved this Letter, adopted in an ordinary session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and ordered it to be published.)

Given at Rome, 1 October 1986.

JOSEPH CARDINAL RATZINGER
Prefect

Thanks, Barb, for this important additional information. One note, however: while the Hebrew Bible explicitly condemns male homosexuality (and I’ve come across Biblical arguments against this interpretation), female homosexuality is only obliquely touched on, mainly in not practicing the customs of foreign lands. But I understand the more general argument against homosexual behavior in Genesis and elsewhere.

 

[santamonica]

Now, my other questions are: first of all, is acting on same-sex attraction in a non-sexual way by means of (non-sexual) cohabitation with another person who has the same SSA also regarded as sinful, because one is placing oneself in a compromising situation by opening oneself up to temptation?

The honest and hard answer is that it is generally considered very unwise for two people who experience SSA, and are attracted to each other, to enter a living arrangement. To knowingly put oneself in a situation that is a proximate occasion of mortal sin is in itself a mortal sin. Nevertheless, there are some other questions that should be asked, such as: is there little or no likelihood of sexual activity between the two persons because of reasons particular to them? Is there a danger of scandal to others? Is there some other overriding reason why the two persons are living together, such as economic or health reasons, etc.? There might be some circumstances that would make the likelihood of temptation to sin very remote, and that would be a different case. These are very sensitive issues that should ideally be discussed with an orthodox but gentle confessor.

Secondly, is SSA regarded by the Church as a disorder even though it is not regarded as sinful? If so, what kind of disorder: natural disorder, mental disorder, social disorder? Is there any inconsistency in labeling SSA as a disorder but not sinful?

In Catholic moral theology, the term “disorder” just means that something is not tending towards its proper or natural end for some reason (in this case, the sexual faculty not being inclined to the marriage of man and woman and the procreation of children). It isn’t meant to be a psychological or medical term. The Church has no official teaching on whatever the causes of SSA may be. Does that help?

Finally, does the Church view SSA as a gift, in the sense that one is being given the privilege of bearing a cross of suffering and thereby becoming closer to Jesus?

Yes, I think it can be viewed that way, so long as there is an acceptance of the truth that one’s situation requires continence. The situation itself then becomes a call to become closer to Jesus.

God bless!

 

[meltzerboy]

The honest and hard answer is that it is generally considered very unwise for two people who experience SSA, and are attracted to each other, to enter a living arrangement. To knowingly put oneself in a situation that is a proximate occasion of mortal sin is in itself a mortal sin. Nevertheless, there are some other questions that should be asked, such as: is there little or no likelihood of sexual activity between the two persons because of reasons particular to them? Is there a danger of scandal to others? Is there some other overriding reason why the two persons are living together, such as economic or health reasons, etc.? There might be some circumstances that would make the likelihood of temptation to sin very remote, and that would be a different case. These are very sensitive issues that should ideally be discussed with an orthodox but gentle confessor.

In Catholic moral theology, the term “disorder” just means that something is not tending towards its proper or natural end for some reason (in this case, the sexual faculty not being inclined to the marriage of man and woman and the procreation of children). It isn’t meant to be a psychological or medical term. The Church has no official teaching on whatever the causes of SSA may be. Does that help?

Yes, I think it can be viewed that way, so long as there is an acceptance of the truth that one’s situation requires continence. The situation itself then becomes a call to become closer to Jesus.

God bless!

Thank you for your apparently informed responses. I agree the cohabitation issue is a sensitive one and the circumstances involved must be taken into account.

 

[meltzerboy]

My opinion is that it is a cross they have to carry.

Your viewpoint is much appreciated!

 

[Eugenius]

Some religions reduce the subject to quoting a handful of Bible verses out of context and then ignoring similar verses that condemn other behaviors.

The Catholic explanation on this topic makes more sense.

 

[meltzerboy]

Some religions reduce the subject to quoting a handful of Bible verses out of context and then ignoring similar verses that condemn other behaviors.

The Catholic explanation on this topic makes more sense.

Which religions do you mean? Are you referring to my comment? As I stated, the overall condemnation of homosexual behavior can be found in Genesis and other parts of the Bible. Thanks for your viewpoint.

 

[Mens_Integra]

Finally, does the Church view SSA as a gift, in the sense that one is being given the privilege of bearing a cross of suffering and thereby becoming closer to Jesus?

I would tend to disagree with where this line of thinking can lead to. Catholics, as shown by (name removed by moderator)'s post, ought to (as does the Church) regard homosexual tendencies as a disorder and therefore contrary to nature. By definition, it is an objective evil. It seems important to me that people who experience this difficulty ought to remember that it is evil (not morally evil per se) according to human nature. When they begin to identify themselves publicly as homosexuals, they are seemingly resigning themselves to an evil thing rather than striving against it. I have known of people who, with patience and guidance from spiritual directors, have overcome such tendencies. They probably did not do it by turning a blind eye to the disorder.

But certainly Our Lord enables such people to turn such a terrible thing (what an unimaginable pain it must be!) to an occasion for grace. The difficulty is obviously not the thing to be sought after, however, and so I would hesitate to call it a gift. Like with a physical illness, a person should try to be free of it.

 

[meltzerboy]

I would tend to disagree with where this line of thinking can lead to. Catholics, as shown by (name removed by moderator)'s post, ought to (as does the Church) regard homosexual tendencies as a disorder and therefore contrary to nature. By definition, it is an objective evil. It seems important to me that people who experience this difficulty ought to remember that it is evil (not morally evil per se) according to human nature. When they begin to identify themselves publicly as homosexuals, they are seemingly resigning themselves to an evil thing rather than striving against it. I have known of people who, with patience and guidance from spiritual directors, have overcome such tendencies. They probably did not do it by turning a blind eye to the disorder.

But certainly Our Lord enables such people to turn such a terrible thing (what an unimaginable pain it must be!) to an occasion for grace. The difficulty is obviously not the thing to be sought after, however, and so I would hesitate to call it a gift. Like with a physical illness, a person should try to be free of it.

I’m not sure about the success rate of conversion from same-sex attraction, based on the research and reports from gay people. Regardless, thank you for your comment and analogy regarding the idea of homosexuality as a gift.

 

[Eugenius]

Which religions do you mean? Are you referring to my comment? As I stated, the overall condemnation of homosexual behavior can be found in Genesis and other parts of the Bible. Thanks for your viewpoint.

For this discussion I mean Christian, but non-Catholic, such as Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, etc.

Yes, parts of the Bible condemn homosexuality, but it also describes many other prohibitions to which the church no longer pays any attention. This gives the impression that the church picks and chooses which individual Bible verses it is going to enforce.

However, the church does not make decisions based on ‘sola scriptura’ and I’ve always appreciated that the church ties some of these issues together into a philosophy about why such and such behavior is sinful.

 

[Eugenius]

But certainly Our Lord enables such people to turn such a terrible thing (what an unimaginable pain it must be!) to an occasion for grace. The difficulty is obviously not the thing to be sought after, however, and so I would hesitate to call it a gift. Like with a physical illness, a person should try to be free of it.

In response to the original post, I have never really understood the idea that sexuality of any kind is a ‘gift.’ Even animals have sexual urges. Perhaps my view is influenced by having grown up on a farm where these urges were on animal display more than what we normally see in human society. Sex is just a part of life.

However I also don’t see sexuality as an illness and something to be free of, it is just a part of life. Homosexuals are required to abstain from sexual activity just as are singles, the unwed, the divorced, priests, teenagers, etc, but we don’t see sexual desire in these people as an illness, merely as something to be contained.

 

[meltzerboy]

In response to the original post, I have never really understood the idea that sexuality of any kind is a ‘gift.’ Even animals have sexual urges. Perhaps my view is influenced by having grown up on a farm where these urges were on animal display more than what we normally see in human society. Sex is just a part of life.

However I also don’t see sexuality as an illness and something to be free of, it is just a part of life. Homosexuals are required to abstain from sexual activity just as are singles, the unwed, the divorced, priests, teenagers, etc, but we don’t see sexual desire in these people as an illness, merely as something to be contained.

Thanks for your perspective on the issue of sexuality as a gift or an illness.

 

[meltzerboy]

For this discussion I mean Christian, but non-Catholic, such as Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, etc.

Yes, parts of the Bible condemn homosexuality, but it also describes many other prohibitions to which the church no longer pays any attention. This gives the impression that the church picks and chooses which individual Bible verses it is going to enforce.

However, the church does not make decisions based on ‘sola scriptura’ and I’ve always appreciated that the church ties some of these issues together into a philosophy about why such and such behavior is sinful.

I know that some Protestant denominations are sola scriptura (and sola fide); but I don't believe all of the mainstream ones are. Regardless, thank you for your explanation.

 

[manualman]

1. Is acting on same-sex attraction in a non-sexual way by means of (non-sexual) cohabitation with another person who has the same SSA also regarded as sinful, because one is placing oneself in a compromising situation by opening oneself up to temptation?
2. Is SSA regarded by the Church as a disorder even though it is not regarded as sinful?
3. If so, what kind of disorder: natural disorder, mental disorder, social disorder?
4. Is there any inconsistency in labeling SSA as a disorder but not sinful?
5. Finally, does the Church view SSA as a gift, in the sense that one is being given the privilege of bearing a cross of suffering and thereby becoming closer to Jesus?
   After posting, I realized perhaps this topic fits better under Moral Theology.

1. This is called an ocassion of sin. My favorite way of summarizing it is: Not every bad idea is, itself a sin.
2. SSA is a moral disorder not terribly dissimilar to the kind of moral disorder that causes the average heterosexual man to have trouble walking past a Sport Illustrated swimsuit edition without having lustful thoughts.
3. Moral disorder, ultimately sourced from Original Sin (the origin of all our disordered inclinations).
4. Uh, no? Humans have disordered attractions to all kinds of sins, but the mere inclination to any of them is not, itself sinful. But those with SSA should consider it the same way a hetersexual man should look forward to the day he can be handed a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition and have his first thought be “Wow, those are great earrings!” Most of us will take longer than just this lifetime to get there (purgatory).
5. Having a disordered inclination isn’t a gift and can’t be considered one. However, one CAN make lemonade out of lemons. All of us are called to discern, recognize, repent of and offer up our moral failings and weaknesses along with our potential and our will as part of the Eucharistic sacrifice. God promises to take those offerings and transubstantiate them into something wonderful. Thats one of God’s greatest miracles: to take our weaknesses and shortcomings and do amazing things in spite of them!

 

[meltzerboy]

1. This is called an ocassion of sin. My favorite way of summarizing it is: Not every bad idea is, itself a sin.
2. SSA is a moral disorder not terribly dissimilar to the kind of moral disorder that causes the average heterosexual man to have trouble walking past a Sport Illustrated swimsuit edition without having lustful thoughts.
3. Moral disorder, ultimately sourced from Original Sin (the origin of all our disordered inclinations).
4. Uh, no? Humans have disordered attractions to all kinds of sins, but the mere inclination to any of them is not, itself sinful. But those with SSA should consider it the same way a hetersexual man should look forward to the day he can be handed a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition and have his first thought be “Wow, those are great earrings!” Most of us will take longer than just this lifetime to get there (purgatory).
5. Having a disordered inclination isn’t a gift and can’t be considered one. However, one CAN make lemonade out of lemons. All of us are called to discern, recognize, repent of and offer up our moral failings and weaknesses along with our potential and our will as part of the Eucharistic sacrifice. God promises to take those offerings and transubstantiate them into something wonderful. Thats one of God’s greatest miracles: to take our weaknesses and shortcomings and do amazing things in spite of them!

Thanks so much for your careful and thoughtful responses to all my questions!