Ales Rarus

Read Part I of "An Exchange on Gay Christians"
Read Annie’s response to Part I.
Read Part II of "An Exchange on Gay Christians"
Read Annie’s response to Part II.
Read Part III of "An Exchange on Gay Christians"
Read Annie's response to Part III.

Well, either you've been lucky or careful!

I'd say it's sort of both. I don't know of any homosexuals in my family, so that's the "lucky" part. The types of folks I generally make friends with share my religious convictions, so odds are that even if any them have homosexual tendencies (and I strongly suspect a couple do), they would never act on them.

But really, that explains a lot. Knowing people firsthand really de-demonizes them and forces you to struggle with the issue in a different way (or else break off all contact, I guess).

I disagree. Personal contact can and should impact one's pastoral approach, but not necessarily one's convictions.

I mean I get the sense that you have strong feelings on the issue, that it is deeply emotional first.

Heresy makes me mad. Inside or outside of the Church, I think active homosexuality is sinful. However, when nominal Catholics advocate for its acceptance by the Church, I am particularly annoyed. BTW, such annoyance is certainly not limited to homosexuality.

For the record, here's what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about homosexuality.

Chastity and homosexuality

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.

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.

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141 Cf. Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10.
142 CDF, Persona humana 8.

Pax Christi,
Eric

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