The disordered tendencies of homosexuality date back to the early times of the Bible, and this issue is addressed much more than many people realize. Oftentimes, during conversations, I have found that people do not know about the Bible's condemnations of homosexuality and are quite surprised to hear of and read them. These people need look no further than Gn 19: 1-29, Rom 1: 24-27, 1 Cor 6:10, and 1 Tm 1:10 to find the "proof" that they seek regarding this matter. Considering these clear-cut, concise statements realistically can lead one to no other conclusion than that which the Catholic Church holds.
In today's society, as in so many other societies throughout the course of history, people seem to have forgotten the purpose of human sexuality. At the most fundamental level, its two purposes are unitive and procreative, as discussed in the CCC 2366. Human sexuality was created to be used in the bonds of Holy Matrimony, and is most certainly a topic to treat with a great deal of respect.
Advocates of homosexuality contend that human sexuality is to be used for other reasons than those listed above. They focus on the "unitive" aspect of homosexual actions and ignore the other, equally important procreative aspect for which God created sexuality. When one aspect is present but separate from the other, it is then that sinful actions occur. Artificial insemination is considered wrong for this reason; the procreative aspect is represented, but the unity that comes when two people join together in marital love cannot happen at the same time. Sexual relations within marriage require simultaneous unity and procreativity, for it is only then that the perfect use of our sexuality is fulfilled.
The reason that homosexuality is greatly disordered is that it ignores the procreative aspect, concentrating more on physical pleasure than on God's will. Of course, there is no doubt that homosexual people have an equally great capacity to love (at least, regarding agape and philia). Unity can be achieved between any two people, but true unity comes without sin, and because of the sinful nature of the homosexual act discussed above, this true and beautiful Godly unity cannot happen between two people of the same gender.
It can be exceedingly difficult to portray these points to others, or to convince others to accept them, if one does not approach the issue correctly. Putting aside any possible emotional attachment to homosexual accquaintences or friends and looking at truth with a clear mind guided by the Holy Spirit, we can all see homosexuality for what it is; "the expression of unresolved conflictive tension in a tendency that is separate from sexual identity."
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3 comments:
I must respectfully question / disagree with some of the points in your post...
Can homosexual acts be truly unitive? I think not, because there is no way for two persons of the same sex to physically complement each other. Such acts may bring a sort of parallel physical pleasure, but there is no real possibility of unity because it is a disordered nature, a disordered love.
Homosexuality denies both the unitive and procreative aspects of the act, and because of this is a rejection and denial of love. As the soul is broken down by that rejection of love, I think that many people lose the ability to even love friends properly. Love takes effort to maintain--and if you do nothing to go against the disorders of your nature, you gradually lose your capacity to love. Much the same as if you were a weight lifter and decided that it was enough to pick up a pea now and then with your fork, and expect to keep the same strength as those who work out consistently.
Hopefully this makes sense...God bless. :)
I'm sorry I was not more clear in my post... I did not mean to imply that homosexual acts themselves were unitive; rather, I meant to say that, in other ways (such as disinterested friendship), homosexual people were equally capable of love. Thank you for pointing out the lack of clarity!
Very good post Daniel.
A great book on the homosexuality issue is written by Robert Gagnon, The Bible and Homosexual Practice (Nashville: Abingdon, 2001).
I just want to highlight that book for anyone who might disagree with the use of the texts you cited here.
God bless...
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