| April 2004
When intellectualizing about homosexuality gets too hard, just sell snake oil
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In A Catholic history of marriage,
Jesuit Prof Schloesser pointed out that in 1930, the papal encyclical
Casti Connubii, made a novel argument that broke with nearly two millennia
of doctrine: emotional unity was one of the purposes of marriage, albeit a
secondary one. Marriage was not for procreation alone.
Then in 1951, Pope Pius XII said that couples, as long as they did not use "artificial" contraception, could arrive at a moral decision to be sexually active in a way that did not lead to procreation. In other words, procreation was not a necessary condition for sexual relationships. In 1968, Pope Paul VI wiped out the distinction between primary and secondary purposes. Marriage could be justified by emotional unity alone. This was reiterated in 1969, with the ruling that when two people consent to a lifelong union in marriage, what they are consenting to is not merely the "right to the body" (ius in corpus) for sexual acts, but rather "the right to the community of the whole life." At the Second Vatican Council, 1965, the philosophy of "personalism" gained influence, and one of its major proponents was Karol Wojtyla, now Pope John Paul II. In line with the earlier Pope Pius XII's condemnation of anti-miscegenation laws, the emphasis was not on the bodily traits - e.g., race - but rather on the fact that the person was, first and foremost, a "person" endowed with dignity. What all this is leading to is that whether you are male or female (i.e. whatever your biological trait), you're a person endowed with dignity, and that you can partake of emotional unity (i.e. marriage, or conjugal relationships) simply because you're a person, regardless of your biology. This gradual re-positioning of Roman Catholic doctrine towards human dignity should be borne in mind when we review how the Church has (mis)handled homosexuality. For millennia, the Church only saw sexual acts, almost forms of which it labeled sodomy. It was only in the late 19th century that Western civilization began to discern the idea of homosexuality as sexual orientation. It wasn't until 1975 before the Church mentioned homosexuality for the first time, declaring it as "intrinsically disordered." Yet while people see the condemnatory headline, "intrinsically disordered", they miss a far more important but underlying point: that from 1975 on, the Catholic Church accepted that there was such a thing as homosexual orientation. In other words, it agreed that it was a biological trait. It's a very recent innovation in Catholic thinking. This innovation has not yet been thoroughly thought through. Thus, it has put the Church in a logical no-man's land. On the one hand, it accepts that people can be constitutionally homosexual, and going by the logic expounded about how conjugal relationships are based on emotional unity between two persons regardless of their biology, it leads likewise to the idea that as persons of dignity, homosexual people too should be able to form loving sexual relationships with each other, of equal worth to opposite-sex relationships. On the other hand, the Church is still stuck in its sodomy mindset, saying that some kinds of sex just cannot be allowed. If you're constitutionally homosexual, you must NOT act in accordance with your being. Your biology overrides your dignity. * * * * * I don't know where I ever got the idea, but I have always thought that Catholicism had a lot more respect for intellectual rigour than the more literal Protestant sects. (Catholicism also had a lot more mysticism, but that's beside the point for now.) However, you can hardly discern any intellectual tradition in our local Catholic Church. Quite the contrary. On the matter of homosexuality, they're as paranoid as the bible-thumping charismatic churches. They have just put out a flyer that has the same flavour, and the same unintellectual idiocy as Choices, a local ex-gay ministry. The flyer's full text is reproduced below for the record. But I'd like to draw your attention to some key points:
The flyer was published by the Catholic
Medical Guild of Singapore. Clearly the doctors have abandoned their
professional objectivity, as surely as the Catholic clergy have abandoned
the tough process called thought. © Yawning Bread |
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Cover: Handy reading for parents, teenagers and adults Homosexuality or same sex attraction (SSA) is an issue that we continue to face today. Let us examine the issue more closely to see how we as Christians should respond. Are people born with same sex attraction (SSA)? Studies on identical twins (who share the same genes) brought up in different environments have cast serious doubt on the theory that homosexuality is caused by a gene. The “gay” or “lesbian” gene has not been identified to date, and science has shown that there is as yet no proof that same sex attraction is inherited. Then what causes one to have SSA? Same sex attraction is more likely the result of circumstances, of the environment that those who are in the state grow up in. Case studies of many of those with homosexual tendencies have shown various traumatic events in the lives of these individuals that would likely have influenced their orientation. When these hurts were resolved later, many of them were able to re-orientate their sexual inclinations. There is this no question of ‘once a gay (or lesbian), forever a gay (or lesbian)’! What does the Catholic Church say? From the Old Testament to the New, the Bible has always regarded homosexual acts as unnatural and wrong. “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that’s detestable.” (Leviticus 8:22) “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to natural law… Under no circumstances can they be approved” (CCC 2357). While the Church does not condone acts of homosexuality, she reminds us not to condemn the individual with homosexual orientation (CCC 2358). The Church continues to call all its members to communion and reconciliation. We, as fellow brethren on the pilgrimage of life, need to journey in compassion and prayer with these persons. They, like us, are called to chastity, which can be made possible through our support of friendship, and sacramental grace (CCC 2358-2359). They are loved unconditionally by God, and we are called to do the same. As parents, as friends, we need to listen, to love. Can those with SSA change their sexual orientation or behaviour? There are numerous success stories of people with same sex attraction who have been able to change their orientation and get on with living a new and fruitful life. Many have married members of the opposite sex and started wonderful families. Yet others who stayed single have chosen to remain chaste without engaging in homosexual acts. With God’s help, all things are possible. Where can those with SSA who want help or a listening ear turn to? There are avenues available for those who want to change. The Family Life Society (FLS) has qualified counselors who, with w listening ear and through therapy, are able to help them deal with these problems. Medical professionals are available when needed to deal with more delicate and complicated issues, including the areas of venereal diseases and AIDS. Support groups are available too. Just call the FLS helpline for a referral. Can I help my child avoid becoming “gay” or “lesbian”? The answer is “yes”! Nothing is foolproof, but the chances are much higher if you try the following: Build on your love as husband and wife. Communicate deeply and lovingly with each other and with your children. Do not shy away from giving you kids the love, affirmation and attention they yearn for and deserve. Deepen you love for Jesus and His Church in your family. Kids who grow up in such families where their parents’ marriages are strong, faith is cultivated and unconditional love is abundant are much, much less likely to develop same sex attraction. What if my kid tells me he or she is “gay” or “lesbian”? Understand that it has taken a lot of courage for them to tell you that. And that they have a deep fear of being rejected. Do not reject them. Communicate with them your unconditional love for them., Listen to them, and try to understand their feelings, your own, and the condition itself. Journey with them. Seek professional help. For example, you can call the counselors at Family Life Society. And don’t forget to pray with them and for them. It is an opportunity to grow closer to your child, and to God. Be patient. St Monica prayed for years before her philandering son Augustine converted and later even became a bishop and yes, a saint! Useful references: Craving for love by Briar Whitehead. Useful websites: www.couragerc.net FLS counsellors’ number: 64880278 An information leaflet from the Catholic Medical Guild of Singapore and The Family Life Society Approved by the Archdiocesan Bioethics Committee “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that’s detestable.” (Leviticus 8:22) “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 6:13) “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?… Therefore honour God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture… tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered….Under no circumstances can they be approved” (CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church 2357) Those with homosexual tendencies “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” (CCC 2358) “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.” (CCC 2359)
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Footnotes None Addenda None
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