“God made them male and female”
The word “Gay” itself points to a culture. A person with homosexual tendencies / same sex-attraction is not necessarily Gay. The identity of a person is not based on their sexuality or their sexual attraction, it is based on the fact that they are a human being, with dignity, created in the image and likeness of God. Gay may identify a culture, political movement, or agenda, but it does not identify a person. There are many people with same sex-attraction / homosexual tendencies that are completely against the “gay” culture, politics, and agenda. To have homosexual tendencies does not imply that a person is “gay” just as much as listing to rap or being a part of the hip hop culture makes a person a “gangster”.
Gay Marriage is often centered on the question of Gay Rights.
What rights do those with same sex-attraction, homosexual tendencies not have? A person with same sex-attraction has the rights of any other person. They can eat at any restaurant, go to any restroom, and gain employment at any job. All people have a right to do these things.
Does every person have a right to marriage? No! Those who are impotent (unable to perform a complete conjugal act – marital sexual intercourse) are unable to marry. Those who have a prior bond (first spouse is living) are unable to marry. One also cannot marry in the direct line any ancestor and descendant, both legitimate and natural or in the second degree of the collateral line (brother and sister). Other people such as those who have made a perpetual vow of chastity or are under Sacred Orders do not have the right to marriage unless they are dispensed. [1]
Why does a man not have the right to marry a man? Why does a woman not have the right to marry a woman? Marriage is a covenant or partnership of life between a man and woman, which is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children. [2] Regarding persons with same sex-attraction, marriage is not a matter of rights but of definition. Marriage is not a covenant or partnership between man and man or woman and woman. The Church will not and more importantly cannot change the view when it comes to homosexual marriage because the definition of Marriage is from God who only speaks Truth and His Truth never changes. Marriage, no matter how it is defined by the State or individuals, will never be a covenant or partnership between man and man or woman and woman.
Is marriage necessary in order to love? Many will say that not letting homosexuals marry is not allowing them to love. Our Lord was not married, yet He was the perfect example of love. Marriage is not necessary in order to love. Just because a person does not have the right to marry, does not deny them the right to love. Priests and religious are called to the vocation of holiness and love, and yet they do not marry. Their love in fact is able to be directed to many, rather than just spouse and children. Priest are also pro-creative in the sense that they, through the Sacraments, perpetuate the Spiritual Life. Religious as well as priests and those that are single give life to others in a spiritual sense, this is why we call a Priest “father” or sometimes a sister or nun “mother”.
“Love is the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being” [3] and Marriage is not necessary in order to love.
VIDEO – Yes to You || Spoken Word
The topic of homosexuality and the issues around same sex marriage are very charged in our culture right now. The goal of this video is to communicate what the Church teaches about this topic. However, as the title would suggest, the underlying sentiment throughout the whole presentation is that the Church is a refuge of love for all of humanity. Those that would say that the Church is "anti-gay" are either misinformed or deliberately distorting the truth to push their own agenda. For all those who watch this video please understand that the lasting message of "Yes To You" is to let you know that right where you are, with all of your questions, challenges and struggles that the Church indeed says yes to you. You are welcomed and you are loved. We are all in this together. If you would like more information on this topic please visit:
http://couragerc.net/
What is Homosexuality and why does it violate God’s purpose of sexual activity? – Sexual attraction or orientation toward persons of the same sex and / or sexual acts between persons of the same sex. Homosexual acts are morally wrong because they violate God’s purpose for human sexual activity. [4] Marriage is free, full, faithful, and fruitful. The homosexual act is neither fruitful (it is not pro-creative) nor is it full. Man does not complement man, woman does not complement woman in regards to the sexual act.
Is the Church judging or calling those with same sex-attraction evil or bad? The Church makes a distinction between the object (homosexual acts) and the subject (the person with homosexual tendencies). Homosexuality is disordered and homosexual acts are sinful. The person (subject), who has same sex-attraction, is not sinful unless they of course enter into the sinful activity. Although the tendency (homosexuality) that they have is disordered, it is not sinful unless acted upon. A heterosexual person may have the tendency to fornicate or commit adultery, this too is disordered, but the heterosexual person is not called a sinner unless they act upon the disorder. Concupiscence is the desire to want to do the wrong thing. Concupiscence in and of itself is not sinful until acted upon. What is meant by “acted upon” is summed by in the Confiteor in the Mass, when we say, “in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do”. [5] We sin through thoughts, words, and by doing evil or omitting good.
“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, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” 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.” [6]
What should a person who has homosexual tendencies do? How should they live? “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.” [7] “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.” [8]
[1] See Code of Cannon Law (1084, 1085, 1091, 1078, 1087, 1078, 1088)
[2] Catechism of the Catholic Church - Glossary
[3] Catechism of the Catholic Church - 2392
[4] Catechism of the Catholic Church - Glossary
[5] The Order of the Mass
[6] Catechism of the Catholic Church - 2357
[7] Catechism of the Catholic Church - 2358
[8] Catechism of the Catholic Church - 2359