From my understanding, they’re encouraged not to go into the priesthood (I’m assuming not into the religious life either), obviously the Church teaches they can’t get married or have sex, and they can’t adopt either… So I wonder, what are they supposed to do? Are they just condemned to a sexless and lonely existence until death? They are discouraged from making any kind of family??
In so far as the priesthood is concerned:
"the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called “gay culture.” vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20051104_istruzione_en.html
There is no doubt that for many, the finding that they do not experience sexual inclinations consistent with their bodies (ie. man to woman, and woman to man), may be devastating and may present great fears for the future. While the single (heterosexual) may also experience loneliness and the fear of not finding a partner, they may at least have the opportunity to socialise more freely, date and so on. But at the end of the day, the requirements of chastity are, nevertheless, the same.
We may ask the question: “How could this situation be different?” Should the Church reconsider the meaning of marriage and broaden it as some States seek to do? This may be welcomed by a proportion of homosexual persons, but (in addition to facing massive theological hurdles), would seem to do nothing for the sad and lonely single heterosexuals. Would it thus be appropriate to consider reviewing the teaching concerning sex outside marriage?
In connection with “families” - how are families formed other than through marriage? Now, I’m not aware of the current situation with regard to single people adopting - it may be possible though I’d question how the adoption authorities would go about allocating a child to a single person as opposed to a couple (assuming the latter are available). In an objective sense, one would think that a married couple would more likely present as the more suitable candidate - offering the child a mother and father figures, the potential to spend more time with the child, etc. [Of course, every situation is unique.]
The “right” to have a child is often raised, and often underpins the argument for IVR to be accepted as licit by the Church. If fact (IMHO), there is no particular “right” to have a child, and achieving that result (by any means) is often impossible for many. We understand that a child is a gift, not a right, and children come into this world by the acts of their parents.
Your post above, and the subsequent posts, reflect what I am sure is a genuine compassion for those that life has dealt a difficult hand. I’m sure you feel equally compassionate for persons beset with other difficulties - poverty, intellectual or physical disability, infertility, serious illness, single and lonely and so on. We should equally ask - what are these people to do?
