FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does the Catholic Church teach about homosexuality?

The first two teachings are fundamental, and they apply to all human beings. First, sexuality is a gift from God. Secondly, we are all created in God’s image and likeness. These two teachings are “non-negotiable” for all human beings regardless of sexual orientation.

The next two teachings are complementary. One says that sexual intercourse should be reserved for marriage, and the other states that sexual intercourse should be both unitive and procreative. It is noteworthy that the teaching calls everyone—regardless of sexual orientation—to the same standard, namely: to reserve sex for marriage. In other words, the sexual ethic claims that sexual intercourse is about marriage, babies and bonding and should not be used otherwise.

Additionally, the church says sexual activity between same-sex persons cannot be procreative (meaning quite simply that it cannot produce children) and that it is therefore “objectively disordered”—which literally means not ordered to the end of procreation. If objectively disordered is understood as not ordered to the end of procreation, then it is clearly stating the obvious, namely: that short of a miracle, sexual activity between same-sex persons cannot result in babies. This statement is merely a factual one about human biology and natural law.

However, the language of objectively disordered is often misinterpreted and wrongly reduced to “homosexuals have a disorder”—as if one’s sexual orientation were a disease or somehow wrong. However, the Church does not say that the homosexual orientation is wrong; rather, it is sexual activity between same sex persons that is “objectively disordered” and therefore sinful. Consequently, the Church says that homosexuals are called to life-long celibacy.

What are the concerns about the language of “objectively disordered”?

Like sexual activity between same-sex persons, the Church also says that masturbation is “objectively disordered” (meaning not ordered to the end of procreation). Although these two cases are similar, the same language is often heard very differently in each case. When the language of “objectively disordered” refers to sexuality (which is such an intimate aspect of one’s own identity), the language has the potential to feel more charged and personal than in the case of masturbation.

Additionally, when the language of “objectively disordered” is wrongly reduced to the idea that the homosexual person or the homosexual orientation is sinful, the effects can be dangerous and damaging. In particular, homosexual people might experience self hate, alienation and disconnection which lead to negative effects in greater numbers relative to their heterosexual peers, namely: eating disorders (particularly among gay men), addictions to alcohol and other drugs, depression, cutting, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts—all of which ought be serious concerns to all people who are trying to build up a Christian community.

What else does the Church tell us about homosexuality?

In addition to specific teachings, the spirit of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishop’s pastoral letter, Always Our Children, suggests two additional insights worth considering, namely: that sexual orientation is discovered and not chosen and that homosexual people are not bad people. If sexual orientation is discovered and not chosen, that possibility calls everyone in the Body of Christ to compassion and charity for all members of the community. Moreover, because it is neither true nor a Church teaching that homosexual people are bad people, it would be a gross injustice to misconstrue the actual teaching as such.

“What would Jesus do?”

Finally, what the church teaches is also grounded in Scripture in the ethic of Jesus. Throughout the whole of the New Testament, Jesus welcomes the marginalized people of the day which included: prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors, the imprisoned, widows, orphans, the poor, children and women, among others. What if Jesus were to come into the world today and again align himself with the people on the margins? Who might that include? Perhaps it would include some of the same groups such as widows, orphans, the poor, children and women, for example, but also might it include people who are discriminated against based on intimate aspects of their identity that cannot be changed—such as race, gender and sexual orientation? Ultimately, all of us—regardless of race, ethnicity, class, gender, ability, sexual orientation or religious affiliation —are called to build up the Kingdom of God. Like Jesus, we are called to begin in part by making a home in the margins of society.

If we take that call seriously, we all must consider what each of us can do to encourage all members of our community to love themselves and our neighbor, thereby giving and receiving love with all people regardless of sexual orientation. Ideally, all human beings might experience self love that honors our human dignity as well as true connection with each other and with God. Anything that prevents us from giving and receiving love with all people thwarts our true call to Christian wholeness and holiness.