Professional Documents
Culture Documents
6 – HOMOSEXUALITY
Talk Handout
2) Homosexual Acts - It is not sinful to experience same-sex attractions or inclinations. Homosexual acts are sinful.
“Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has
always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’ (CDF, Persona humana, 8)
- 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.” (CCC 2357)
4) Persons with homosexual tendencies are to be treated with respect and are called to chastity.
“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. 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. “ (CCC 2358-2359)
Objection: Expecting Christians with same-sex attraction to not have sex is unrealistic…
“Chastity is the universal call on all Christians, married and single, a universal virtue and aspiration.
Married Christians are called to express chastity in their marriages by refraining from artificial
contraception and remaining faithful to their spouses. Unmarried Christians are called to express
chastity through refraining from sex outside of marriage. In calling me to chastity the Church is not
calling me to path any harder than the paths of the many Christians who remain unmarried by
circumstance rather than choice… If seeking to live in sexual purity and chastity is part of following
Christ for me, so it is also part of following Christ for all those men and women who don't live with
Same Sex Attraction and who yet have as little chance of being married as I have. Why should the
requirements of following Christ be different in my life than in theirs?...
One important part of the bottom line for all of us, whether with live with same-sex attraction or not, is
in the last line of paragraph 2359 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where with participation in
the sacraments, the support and love of friends, prayer and grace, we are told that people living with
same-sex attraction ‘can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.’
Objection: But if two people are in love with each other, they should be able to express that love!
“I stopped having sex with my lover of seven years over a decade ago when I became convinced that
genuine and authentic love wants what is BEST for the beloved. Despite how ‘great’ our sex before
was, there was no way I, as someone trained in biology and familiar with the human body, could make
myself believe that gay sex is best for anybody or that having it reflected genuine love. I understand
that other people have different impressions and have come to different conclusions, but I am
responsible for living as best I can within the grace Christ has given me.
Since then, again over a decade later, my former lover is still my best friend and our relationship is
more intimate and loving now than it was then. Nothing in the Church’s teaching precludes genuine
love and intimacy, merely sex outside of marriage.”
(David Morrison, Sed Contra blog comments, December 17, 2003)
“For me it boiled down to love. How I could I claim to love someone if I didn't sincerely wish, through
my prayers and my actions, his good? And given Christianity’s objection to homosexual activity as
serious sin (on scriptural, traditional and natural law grounds), how could I claim to love Dan if I was
willing to act toward him in a way that was objectively wrong?
So I opted for genuine love instead of fears (that if we didn't have sex we would no longer love each
other) or pleasure (but I like sex!) or convenience (why rock the boat?). As Christ noted, no greater
love has anyone than that lay down their life for their friends. Did I love Dan enough that I wanted his
friendship forever in heaven? Absolutely...so I went to him and asked if we could stop having sex.
And while it has taken us a while to work out where we are with our lives and with each other, we are
still together, still love one another and, if anything, much closer now than we ever were when we were
having sex (even as we both enjoyed the sex).
Love in any friendship is a good - why not seek to take the good even higher? If you were to stop
having sex and he stopped loving you (or vice versa) how much of a claim to love would there be?”
(David Morrison, Sed Contra blog comments, August 9, 2004)
Homosexuality and the Catholic Church by John F. Harvey, OSFS 2007, www.ascensionpress.com
“As the founder and director of the Courage and Encourage support groups, Fr. John Harvey is aware of the
sensitive nature of homosexuality. With his extensive experience ministering to those with same-sex
attraction, Fr. Harvey presents the Church’s teaching in an objective and pastorally-sensitive manner. Priests,
religious, and laity alike will benefit from the many questions considered here including:
- What is the basis of the Church’s teaching regarding homosexuality?
- What do many consider to be the cause of same-sex attraction?
- Can a person overcome same-sex attraction?
- Why is it important for civil law to limit marriage to one man and one woman?
- How can a person live the virtue of chastity joyfully?” (Blurb on website)
Courage www.couragerc.net NYCourage@aol.com Phone: 212-268-1010.
Portraits of Courage - Video set produced by the Courage movement
“For the first time, the members of Courage step from the shadows of anonymity to face the camera. They
reveal their struggles with homosexuality and the amazing grace of chastity within Courage. Regardless of
your own sexual orientation, whether you are an adolescent, a parent, a religious, a single man or woman,
this remarkable glimpse into these aspiring lives will forever change the way you regard your faith and value
your own chastity. Understand the Catholic Church’s controversial teaching on homosexuality from the first
person singular. With unsparing honesty, the men and women of Courage bring together the truth and
compassion of the Church’s timeless wisdom.
Part 1: Into the Light – Witness seven inspiring stories including Peter, whose therapist labeled him “gay”
and encouraged him into the homosexual lifestyle; Vera, a self-professed “child of the 60s;” and Angelo,
whose seemingly idyllic “West Hollywood” lifestyle led him to an emotional breakdown and a spiritual
epiphany. Hear Fr. John Harvey, OSFS, share how he became the founding director of Courage.
Part 2: The Cry of the Faithful – David, a former “gay” activist takes a spiritual journey that inspires him to
become an activist for chastity. Richard saves his marriage by dealing with issues beneath his homosexual
feelings. Joe finds transformation in Christ. EnCourage parents deal with their son’s revelation that he is
“gay.” Also, Psychiatrist Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons explores the genetic and environmental factors involved in
same-sex attraction…