Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder. – Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
They [those with same-sex attraction] are called, like other Christians, to live the virtue of chastity. The homosexual inclination is however “objectively disordered” and homosexual practices are “sins gravely contrary to chastity.” – Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons
Recently, a man posted a sincere observation to the Most Holy Redeemer (MHR) Facebook post concerning the Parish’s “Reconnecting” program for Catholics who have been away from the Church; according to MHR, this program is suited for “those wanting to feel connected to an inclusive spiritual community.” The man wrote:
Apparently your version of “inclusion” does not include LGBTQ people, our relationships or our families. The Catholic catechism currently calls us “intrinsically disordered.” Who would want to “feel connected” to that nonsense?
Within a few hours, someone from MHR responded:
Hi [the man’s name], MHR is located in the Castro District of SF. Our congregation is 65 – 75% LGBTQ. Many of our parishioners are married to their same-sex partners and have adopted children which are baptized at our parish. BTW, none of the parishioners feel that we are “intrinsically disordered” and we have told that to the Archbishop. Come visit us some Sunday.
In a sense, MHR is correct, in that the Church never reduces someone to “disordered,” “gay,” or even heterosexual:
Today, the Church provides a badly needed context for the care of the human person when she refuses to consider the person as a “heterosexual” or a “homosexual” and insists that every person has a fundamental Identity: the creature of God, and by grace, his child and heir to eternal life.
Only, when one actively participates in the homosexual lifestyle, for instance, by entering into a same-sex marriage, then – the person could be regarded as “intrinsically disordered;” “…but when they [persons with same-sex attraction] engage in homosexual activity they confirm within themselves a disordered sexual inclination.” – Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
The man who wrote the comment on the MHR Facebook page is a “gay” rights advocate with GetEQUAL; the stated Mission of this support group is:
To empower the LGBTQ community and our allies to take action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way.
All “gay” men and women deserve to have their questions answered with honesty and with the Truth; more so, men and women such as this, who are socially conscious and politically active, they clearly know something about what the Catholic Church teaches on the subject, but are either confused or obstinate. Regardless, answers need to be concise, clear, and compassionate. Yet, that is not what MHR did. Instead they offered platitudes. In other words, it really doesn’t matter what the Catholic Church teaches, MHR is doing things differently – “…and we told that to the Archbishop.”
But, what should they have done? The patron Saint of San Francisco is traditionally given attribution for this proverb: “Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.” The best advocates for the Church’s teachings on homosexuality are those striving on a daily basis to incorporate those Truths into their lives: the men and women who have moved beyond homosexual activity and the “gay” identity. As decent and generous as those couples who have entered into same-sex marriages may be, they are not the exemplars. Only, unfortunately, the voices of those brave men and women who are no longer “gay,” have often been ignored or silenced.
Why did MHR in their answer only mention those who are “married;” what about those who are embracing chastity? – Like such inconvenient words as “intrinsically disordered” – we are irrelevant.
