"The Homosexuality and the Catholic Church."

"Homosexuality and the Catholic Church." By Fr. Richard M. Samour - Chaplain of Courage and EnCourage Apostolate-San Antonio Chapter Courage is a group of [ men and women] who experience same-sex attraction and who are committed to helping one another to live chaste lives marked by prayer, fellowship and mutual support. "Many in our culture have difficulty understanding Catholic moral teaching because they do not understand that morality has an objective basis." (USCCB) It is my intention to clarify some misunderstandings regarding the view of the Catholic Church on the topic of homosexuality and some secular statements.

Christianity has celebrated June as the Month of The Sacred Heart of Jesus and July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. As Christian Catholics, we can easily determine that both solemnities and/or monthly devotions involve the Most Sacred Blood of Jesus. "To understand the meaning of the Precious Blood we must get some comprehension of the gravity of sin, of the awfulness of offending God, because it required the Blood of the Son of God to forgive that sin. We are living in an age in which to sin has become fashionable," said, Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

Today, Catholics are misinformed with secular points of view regarding homosexuality and same-sex attraction. Much of these misunderstandings are not founded in biblical principles and is not consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. For example, first, “there is a homosexual gene.” According to Jeffrey Satinover, MD, Founder and former Director of the Sterling Institute for Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, “[T]here is not any evidence that shows that homosexuality is 'genetic,' and none of the research itself claims there is...Not everything that is familial is innate or genetic.” Second, “the Catholic Church rejects homosexuals.” According to the CCC, the Church “refuses to consider the person as a ‘heterosexual’ or a ‘homosexual’ and insists that every person has a fundamental identity: the creature of God and, by grace, His child and heir to eternal life. The Church teaches that persons with a homosexual inclination “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity." Third, "The Church needs to move on regarding sexuality and open minded accepting same sex unions." The Church does not have the authority to change what God established since the beginning of Creation. "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man separate." (Matt. 19:4-6) We can understand this saying, what God has established let not man change.

Many psychologists have agreed that the practice of homosexuality is based on low self esteem and conflicts not resolved in the childhood. As a child of God, our call and path are to holiness. Life is a constant surrendering and offering of our lives to Jesus Christ. “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness [and holiness]."—Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. Jesus himself said "remain in my love" (Jn. 15:9) which means remaining under the merciful gaze of God. This gaze transforms our entire lives and makes even what we feel is the darkest corner of our hearts a place of luminous strength. God's logic is the Holy Cross and therefore we go to the Cross to learn how He wants to gaze upon us. We remain in His love by staying close to the Church and the Sacraments and drawing life from this font.

For the secular world June was the pride month, the month that individuals who claim are gay[1] and who celebrate lifestyle with pride. Let us recall that “pride” was the first sin that entered into the world; it was the pride of Adam and Eve that disobeyed God. I will say, be proud when you are in line for the sacrament of reconciliation. This is a humble and courageous act.

There is popularized a book called, "Building a Bridge" by Fr. James Martin, S.J. He claims that it is necessary for Catholics and the "LGBT" community to enter into a relationship of respect, compassion and sensitivity. I agree with the title but not with the content and his point of view. As Archbishop Chaput says regarding Fr. Martin book, “What the text regrettably lacks is an engagement with the substance of what divides faithful Christians from those who see no sin in active same-sex relationships " In an age of sexual confusion and disorder, calls to chastity are not just unwelcome”. There is no other and perfect bridge for salvation that is made up of the love, mercy, and compassion Jesus established in the sacrament of reconciliation – a choice and decision made freely of each person. This is a respectful desire of Jesus. We all need God’s joy, God’s life, God’s peace. God's mercy.

Let’s take a moment to become profoundly grateful to the Lord. We are here because God wants us here. We are living miracles. Our breath. Our vision. Our heart. We are all called into life. We are all called into fullness of life, fullness of joy, fullness of peace - the peace that the world cannot give! Do not be confused and/or lied by the secular world. Our feelings and actions do not define who we are.

The Church through the Courage Apostolate offers hope, charity and a way of living to be safe of any sexual desires contrary to Chastity with unique feeling: same sex attraction, homosexuality, pornography, etc. You do not have to climb this mountain alone,the Church and Courage walk with you. All information through Courage is totally confidential. If you are interested - please call Fr. Richard Samour: (210) 996-1371; www.couragesatx.org; couragesa@gmail.com

[1] The original meaning of the word “gay” derived from when elder men had sexual relationships with male boys in exchange for receiving money from the elder men.