The Catechism and Homosexuality

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Homosexual inclination (or same-sex attraction) is not a lifestyle choice (choice implies one actively wills something to happen), and the Church does not state what the cause is, probably because the cause is irrelevant to the fact that actively engaging in homosexual behavior is a lifestyle choice to sin.

When someone says “The Church believes being gay is a sin”, that depends on what the person means by gay: being attracted to the same sex or actively living the lifestyle? This ambiguity plays to the advantage of secular activists that try to portray the Church as bigoted.

Can’t answer your second question because I’m not sure 🤔
 
But does the Church abstain from stating what the cause is, or does it or has it had an opinion or Teaching?
 
That’s probably a good way of putting it. The Church abstains from stating what the cause is.

The Church deals with religious truths, not speculating on what may be the scientific cause.
 
So Stephie, the Church doesn’t have an opinion or teaching on how one becomes gay?
 
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Hope1960 said:
It says the psychological genesis remains largely unexplained.
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Yes. That was correct in the 1980’s when the Catechism was written and remains correct today. We do not know why a small number of persons have same sex attraction.
 
Hope1960 said:
So is the Catechism infallible or Not?
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Documents are not the things to which infallibility can attach. Teachings are. And only teachings on matters of faith and morals. The factors influencing a persons sexual interests is not the subject of such teaching.
 
The scientists quoted in New Scientist seem to have some knowledge about this.
 
What do you mean, “documents are not the things to which infallibility can attach”.
 
Hope1960 said:
What I want to know, (and this is getting confusing), is this, does the Church believe that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice or caused by psychological reasons OR does She believe there could be genetic reasons, biological reasons or caused by something that happened in utero?
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The Church has no expertise to speak authoritatively on the sciences. The church teaches authoritatively that persons who choose homosexual acts make a choice which is immoral. As to why they were the slightest bit interested in forming a same sex relationship rather than an opposite sex one - the Church along with modern science cannot say with any clarity.
 
Hope1960 said:
But does the Church abstain from stating what the cause is, or does it or has it had an opinion or Teaching?
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How could the Church teach why you like the opposite sex, and another person prefers the same sex? The Church has no more idea on that than you or I.
 
Hope1960 said:
This article was written in December 2017. They suggest that homosexuality has a genetic component and is biological.
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A “genetic component” does no equate to “homosexuality is bioligical”. Depression can have a genetic component. Innumerable behavioural issues may have a genetic component.

In 50 years, there might be greater clarity. Or there might be a bunch of studies with different findings.
 
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Hope1960 said:
The scientists quoted in New Scientist seem to have some knowledge about this.
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Many do. But none have a good handle on why some people experience attractions to persons of the same sex. But we do know why they enter into sexual relationships. Because they make that choice.
 
They (the OP) know this, they have been told many times on another thread. They are just asking the same question a thousand different ways until they get the answer they want.
 
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I think you’re using a much narrower definition of psychological than many people.

My impression of the term “psychological” there would be simply to mean that homosexual attraction - and indeed all attraction - is experienced in the mind. There’s never been a neat division between the physical and the mental anyway. For example, right now I’m experiencing various psychological symptoms related to the entirely physical cause of not having nearly enough sleep lately. They’re still psychological effects, even if they’re caused by my perfectly normal human biology.
 
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
 
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