Views on homosexuality between Catholics and Protestants?

[Dndspoon]

I am an Evangelical Baptist (had the best of both worlds, lol) who is coming home to the RCC soon, and I wanted to know what the Churche’s position was on this issue.

I was taught that homosexuality was more of a mental/spiritual problem, rather then a physical problem, like genetics for instance. Also that not only was the homosexual act wrong, but also the homosexual orientation was wrong, and that with prayer, fasting, and therapy, you could be (well I don’t want to use the word “cured” because I was taught it was more of a spiritual darkness rather then something like a disease) freed from the attraction for the same-sex.

What is the Catholic position on this, and how does it differ from the Protestant (well at least my branch) position?

 

[Corki]

The Catholic position is that, although no one knows for sure the origin of homosexual orientation, it is still gravely disordered. Homosexual acts are immoral and sinful.

Some people can overcome SSA (same sex attraction) but for others, it is a life-long cross to bear. We can support their struggle but not condone any sinful behavior.

For reference

scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Type “homosexuality” into the search box to get the Catechism summary of Church teaching.

Welcome home!

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Here’s a distinction to make. Homosexual acts are wrong in a moral sense since they are voluntarily chosen (obviously excepting instances of rape or child abuse or such things, which should go without saying but you never know how people may take statements on such a controversial subject).

Homosexual orientation itself is “wrong” in a sense, but not in a moral sense, because it is not voluntarily chosen (or at the very least past voluntary choices are only one part in the development of deep-seated homosexual orientation). Instead we say it is disordered. It is an inclination that does not prompt a person to any rational/moral kind of behavior, but instead to the reverse. A homosexual person can still live a moral life and go to heaven even if they never overcome their attraction to people of the same sex, they just have a particular moral struggle to deal with that most other people do not.

Many Catholics advocate organizations to help homosexuals control their homosexual desires and even become heterosexuals. There have been many anecdotes of the attempted reversal of sexual orientation working, and many of it not working. My intuition is that homosexuality is a diverse phenomenon, something which in some people can be overcome by vigorous methods and by other people cannot.

Most faithful Catholics would reject the idea that not acting on one’s homosexual inclinations and even seeking to change one’s sexual orientation is somehow “denying who you are.” Instead we would generally take a somewhat more existential view of moral life and identity, with what we choose to do defining us more than our innate tendencies. We view human nature as fundamentally good but nevertheless fallen, which can lead to any number of disorders, including homosexuality. Human dignity is not served by pretending that such disorders are good, but by encouraging those suffering from them to strive for holiness.

The range of potential states of life which a Catholic with a deeply-rooted homosexual orientation may enter will likely be narrower than if they were heterosexual. The most obvious example is marriage (which of course is only between one man and one woman), which for obvious reasons is not something an exclusively homosexually-oriented person should enter into. Additionally the priesthood (in the Latin Rite Church anyway, which is about 98% of the Catholic Church) is closed to men with deep-seated homosexual tendencies, though this rule is often interpreted as having some wiggle room, whether rightly or wrongly. Religious orders seem to differ in their policies.

Even if limited to the single life though, a homosexual person can live a moral and fruitful Christian life.

 

[Dndspoon]

The Catholic position is that, although no one knows for sure the origin of homosexual orientation, it is still gravely disordered. Homosexual acts are immoral and sinful.

Some people can overcome SSA (same sex attraction) but for others, it is a life-long cross to bear. We can support their struggle but not condone any sinful behavior.

For reference

scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Type “homosexuality” into the search box to get the Catechism summary of Church teaching.

Welcome home!

Thanks! I am glad to be home

 

[Dndspoon]

Here’s a distinction to make. Homosexual acts are wrong in a moral sense since they are voluntarily chosen (obviously excepting instances of rape or child abuse or such things, which should go without saying but you never know how people may take statements on such a controversial subject).

Homosexual orientation itself is “wrong” in a sense, but not in a moral sense, because it is not voluntarily chosen (or at the very least past voluntary choices are only one part in the development of deep-seated homosexual orientation). Instead we say it is disordered. It is an inclination that does not prompt a person to any rational/moral kind of behavior, but instead to the reverse. A homosexual person can still live a moral life and go to heaven even if they never overcome their attraction to people of the same sex, they just have a particular moral struggle to deal with that most other people do not.

Many Catholics advocate organizations to help homosexuals control their homosexual desires and even become heterosexuals. There have been many anecdotes of the attempted reversal of sexual orientation working, and many of it not working. My intuition is that homosexuality is a diverse phenomenon, something which in some people can be overcome by vigorous methods and by other people cannot.

Most faithful Catholics would reject the idea that not acting on one’s homosexual inclinations and even seeking to change one’s sexual orientation is somehow “denying who you are.” Instead we would generally take a somewhat more existential view of moral life and identity, with what we choose to do defining us more than our innate tendencies. We view human nature as fundamentally good but nevertheless fallen, which can lead to any number of disorders, including homosexuality. Human dignity is not served by pretending that such disorders are good, but by encouraging those suffering from them to strive for holiness.

The range of potential states of life which a Catholic with a deeply-rooted homosexual orientation may enter will likely be narrower than if they were heterosexual. The most obvious example is marriage (which of course is only between one man and one woman), which for obvious reasons is not something an exclusively homosexually-oriented person should enter into. Additionally the priesthood (in the Latin Rite Church anyway, which is about 98% of the Catholic Church) is closed to men with deep-seated homosexual tendencies, though this rule is often interpreted as having some wiggle room, whether rightly or wrongly. Religious orders seem to differ in their policies.

Even if limited to the single life though, a homosexual person can live a moral and fruitful Christian life.

Very interesting, thank you!

 

[wmscott]

From the CCC

Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 6, SubSection 2, Heading 5

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, 141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” 142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 6, SubSection 2, Heading 5

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 6, SubSection 2, Heading 5

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

This is the teaching of the Catholic Church

 

[liturgyluver]

I love the words of the current Archbishop of England and Wales, Vincent Nichols:

"Is Homosexualility a sin? Homosexuality is not a sin.

“A person who is of a homosexual orientation is as worthy and as dignified as anybody else and one of the things I regret about our society is that it tends to identify people by their sexual orientation and that is a diminishing of a person.”

 

[KathleenGee]

Yes…a homosexual person is number one, a human being.

All human beings deserve respect.

However, a person may have inclinations but that doesn’t mean you act on them. Psychologists know that.

And sex outside of a committed marriage is wrong, whether you are straight or gay.

Now we are seeing movements to allow homosexual marriage while heterosexual couples refuse to marry and prefer to co-habitate without commitment.