I know some gay people. They are loved by God because they are his children and are welcomed by the church… However, homosexual acts, as Christus Rex & 1ke said, are gravely disordered. Any sexual act that occurs between people, has to be open to life (i.e., kids) and be unitive in the way God intended - love giving between a married man and woman. A homosexual act will not have both of these properties, and they BOTH need to be present for it to be God’s will.
This has more to do with the Natural Law than anything uniquely Catholic.
This is a very good point. The original question was, “What do *you * think of homosexuality?” It doesn’t matter what any of us think. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus didn’t care about the opinions of men. This thread seems like an attempt to make the Church into a democracy.
That’s great. Good for you. But the Church teaches that it is objectively disordered and contrary to the Natural Law even if homosexual desires are not acted upon.
Well then I have the slightest disagreement with the Church. It won’t cause me to go to Hell. I see those who only experience the attraction and because of views like this cause them to attempt or commit suicide. I think we can show a little more compassion than some do.
Having the attraction is more like admiring some males in the same way a perfectly straight male would find certain females attractive. I would hesitate to call it “gay minded” because this gives the impression of desiring a sexual relationship.I think JSmitty, that you’re a little off on that. As long as the person doesn’t act upon his/her ‘desires,’ it’s not deemed a sin. I believe that Pope Benedict recently came out with a new ‘rule’ for men interested in entering the priesthood. It goes something like this…if you have desires, as long as you remain celibate, God will not judge your thoughts as sin. (and you can enter the priesthood) Thinking of sinning, and actually sinning are two different things. But thoughts tend to lead to sinning, but the thing is…a priest needs to abstain from ALL TYPES OF SEXUAL RELATIONS, so I would imagine men who are heterosexual think about women, just like perhaps a ‘gay minded’ man, might think about men. Thinking and doing are separate, and are not sins.
Didn’t mean to get off topic–but I’m just trying to paint a point.
I never said that the attraction is sinful. I merely said it was objectively disordered. See here.I think JSmitty, that you’re a little off on that. As long as the person doesn’t act upon his/her ‘desires,’ it’s not deemed a sin. I believe that Pope Benedict recently came out with a new ‘rule’ for men interested in entering the priesthood. It goes something like this…if you have desires, as long as you remain celibate, God will not judge your thoughts as sin. (and you can enter the priesthood) Thinking of sinning, and actually sinning are two different things. But thoughts tend to lead to sinning, but the thing is…a priest needs to abstain from ALL TYPES OF SEXUAL RELATIONS, so I would imagine men who are heterosexual think about women, just like perhaps a ‘gay minded’ man, might think about men. Thinking and doing are separate, and are not sins.
Didn’t mean to get off topic–but I’m just trying to paint a point.
Wow well said. I think it’s an easy sin to condemn because it’s not a temptation of most. It seems to be treated like the worst possible sin you can commit while other sins are ignored. I agree, treat them the same. And I agree about the Church “getting with it.” It makes no sense to me that God would change his mind with the times…I would lose respect for the Church if it changed it’s position on gay marriage or abortion. Women priests and ABC I guess there’s some gray area on ,but not the former issues.