Sunday, July 07, 2019

Homosexuality and celibacy

The Catholic Church teaches that there is nothing wrong with being a homosexual, but if you are homosexual, you ought to live a celibate life. But some within the Church don't really understand the church's teaching. What the Church rejects is the idea that sexual relationships are essential to human happiness and human identity. If one has to have a sexual relationship with someone you love in order to be who you are, then wouldn't it follow that Jesus and Paul were not who they truly were, since both lived celibate lives?

I realize that the Catholic Church, on this issue, is asking people of gay orientation to suppress a powerful human instinct, and instinct supported very strongly by our Valentine's Day culture.  Still, it would be a mistake to say that the Catholic Church's teaching oppose that person's identity. It may oppose how that person may want to express that identity, but does not oppose the identity itself. 

That said, sometimes the people who teach in Catholic schools don't get anything right when it comes to Catholic teaching. 

15 comments:

bmiller said...

That said, sometimes the people who teach in Catholic schools don't get anything right when it comes to Catholic teaching.

You've been peeking! And it's more than just "sometimes" :-(

Starhopper said...

The idea that an active sexual life is required to be a fulfilled human being is utter nonsense, and I have first hand experience that this is so. I have lived a celibate existence since the death of my wife more than 10 years ago, and I do not in the least feel that my life is any less meaningful now than it was for the 34 years of our marriage.

Nothing like the real world to beat theory any day. It's what I was alway trying to get Stardusty to see.

Anonymous said...

You don't need regular sex to be happy, but I don't believe that premarital sex is a sin, either:

Liberated Christians: The Bible & Sex Contents Page

One Brow said...

In addition to LGTBQ+, ace (asexual) activism is a part of many progressive outlets.

Kevin said...

I'm trying to guess without the Internet what asexual activism would actually be targeting, and I'm coming up completely blank.

Starhopper said...

"I'm coming up completely blank."

Perhaps that's the point?

(God will surely punish me for that...)

bmiller said...

According to Thomism, asexual reproduction is morally acceptable (as long as it is natural). 😂

Kevin said...

Boy I walked into that one.

One Brow said...

Legion of Logic said...
I'm trying to guess without the Internet what asexual activism would actually be targeting, and I'm coming up completely blank.

It' mostly about awareness and fighting societal pressure, the separation of romance from sex, etc.

Kevin said...

I guess I don't understand. I've been single for many years now (37 years old), and whenever anyone comments about it or asks why I don't date, I'll tell them why I don't. I don't grab a sign and start marching because someone was curious.

Kevin said...

Forgot to add, vast majority of people my age around here are married or at least in a long-term relationship, so I'm an oddity for sure.

Starhopper said...

"so I'm an oddity for sure"

At last, we agree on something!

Kevin said...

I lied MUAHAHAHA

Starhopper said...

Bastardo!

One Brow said...

Legion of Logic said...
I don't grab a sign and start marching because someone was curious.

There is a lot of activism that is not protest.