What specifically does the Church teach about homosexuality?

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I think you have received quite a few good answers here. The rule here is to live chastely which is a virtue and which we can and ought to grow in. We can also meditate and keep in mind Jesus’ words ‘But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart’ (Matt. 5:28). Homosexuality is an unnatural disordered sexual desire or inclination but not a sin in itself unless acted upon. Most heterosexual people probably also experience disordered sexual desires (not of the SSA type) such as myself possibly all the time and even daily such as fornicating, adultery, masturbation, looking at porn, etc. And sometimes or possibly oftentimes we may fall but that is what the sacrament of confession is for. We need to keep up the effort and struggle, pray, and rely on God’s grace.
For example, if my friend is attracted to someone of the same gender, is she gravely sinning when she thinks about that person (presuming her thoughts aren’t lustful)?
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I would think if her thoughts aren’t lustful, than no. Lustful thoughts would be thinking about illicit sexual acts and that cause arousal. Just because some person experiences SSA doesn’t mean they can’t have a chaste friendship with people of the same sex. Even heterosexual people have friends with people of the same sex and very close friendships. The second greatest commandment as Jesus taught us is to love thy neighbor as thyself. Through charity we love all people male or female.
If she remains friends with a woman she is attracted to, is that sinful?
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Not if it is a chaste friendship. But I would counsel to avoid anything that might cause scandal to others which would probably involve unchaste acts anyhow. SSA people should not try to rationalize the SSA desire as something natural and thus that they can legitimately engage in sex acts in the same manner a man and woman legitimately can. They can turn this cross to good with the help and grace of God and love chastely and purely everyone as we all should. Just because some person experiences SSA doesn’t mean they can’t love chastely a person of the same sex and be close friends with them. It is not a sin if they experience lustful thoughts arising in them to people of the same sex. It becomes a sin to dwell and consent to these thoughts and act on them. The christian practice of the virtue of chastity whether single or married is probably a struggle for most people. We are not angels.
 
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TrumpTrain said:
It is easy to fool oneself. She may think she can handle it but maybe she can’t. Sexual desire is the strongest of all temptations. She would be advised to let it go
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With all due respect, this is nonsense. I’ve lived in friendships (some of them close friendships) with men and women I’m attracted to all my life. I’ve never once fallen into sin with any of these people.

Never. Once.

The OP’s friend should relax and be friends with whoever she wants to be friends with.
 
Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
-Romans 12:2
There are no impure thoughts in Heaven, since nothing defiled enters therein.
The Holy Spirit gives the power to stop having them.
" 20 He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. 21 For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,h 22 greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. 23 All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.” Matthew 7:20-23
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" 20 But this is not the way you came to know Christ. 21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him, in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus, 22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:20-24
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Lustful thoughts are a sin, they are graphic in nature.
Natural attraction thoughts are not a sin, unless it is some kind of obsession.
The Good News is; that cooperating with God’s Grace, His Power in a person,
overcomes these things. Just like a drug addict can overcome addiction.
God gears a mind toward positive thoughts, and using those thoughts for prayer,
words and actions.
God has Perfect Covenant Love for each of us; trust God. The more we trust God,
the greater the inner peace, and the easier the struggle. Keep up the good fight.
 
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Being homosexual isn’t a sin, acting on it is. Love the sinner but hate the sin. Here are two Bible verses for you to reflect on:

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.””
  • Galatians 5:14 (love them as human beings)
“‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.’”
  • Leviticus 18:22 (Sexual acts of homosexuality are wrong, this means marriage between two men or two women is wrong)
Therefore we can read this Bible verse with more understanding: “But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.“ - 1 Corinthians 7:2

This verse mentions a husband with a wife or a wife with a husband and since marriage between two of the same sex is restricted due to Leviticus mentioned above, this verse in Corinthians expands upon this
 
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