Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Prime Minster...

...has made some offensive - and frankly stupid - comments about the Church's teachings on same-sex unions. It is worrying to see him assuming that he can attack the Church in this way. From time to time, as an assertion of my freedom to do so, I publish the teaching of the Church, taken directly from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, on this topic. If there comes a time when I am told by some public authority that I may not state this teaching, or affirm my commitment to it, publicly in Britain, we will know that something terrible has come to pass. Note this: I am publishing this because I affirm my full commitment to this teaching and my right to do so as a Catholic in Britain. Here it is. Starts at section 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.

1 comment:

Chris said...

Agreed. Thanks for posting this.