What does the Church teach about Same-sex attractions, if not acted upon?

[followingtheway]

What does the Church teaching about non-active Homosexuals?

 

[SteveGC]

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

**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.

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.**

 

[Lutgardis]

In Pastoral Guidelines To Assist Students of Same Sex Orientation the teaching of the Church is clearly articulated. The document has been approved by the Education Commission of the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in Ontario Catholic schools. It expresses the deep love and concern for those experiencing same sex attraction with sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and the love of Christ. Part of what is written is as follows:

"The Church’s general teaching on homosexuality is summed up in the Catechism of the Catholic church. An irreversible homosexual orientation is not sinful, since it is not sought by homosexual persons. A tendency, desire or inclination are not choices and are there not wrong in themselves. There is a real difference between sexual desire and the decision to act on it. The Church makes a critical distinction between orientation, and conduct or behavior. The Church clearly teaches that homosexual acts are immoral. Included under homsexual acts are genital sexual activity and erotic relational behavior with a person of the same sex. thus, romantic behavior between homosexual persons is morally unacceptable, because it points toward futrue sexual relationships that are non-marital. Romantic behavior is no confined to a set of defined activities. It is a description of one-to-one relational behavior which involves sexual attraction. Romantic behavior is quite different from the behavior of simple friendship.

“Catholic schools and those teaching in Catholic schools should be careful to present the Church’s teaching fully. This does not mean that questions should not be explored, but always with the intention of understanding and accepting the teaching. Students experiencing same-sex attraction should be treated with sensitivity and compassion. Homosexual students, in particular, often have a difficult period of adjustment in recognizing their sexual orientation and its consequences for their lives. Empirical studies show that they are often the victims of verbal, physical and more subtleformsof abuse. Suicide rates amonghomosexual students are higher than those of their heterosexual peers. Teachers, counsellors andchaplains should be aware of the particular challenges facing homosexual students and should reach out to them with pastoral care.”

If your interest in the subject includes why the Church believes homosexual acts are wrong, I recommend (if you are a serious reader) the Theology of the Body, by John Paul II. If you want the gist of Theology of the Body–but in a “nutshell”–so to speak, you might try Theology of the Body for Beginners.

God Bless