2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: U.S. Bishops' argument against homosexuality well founded
Issue date: 12/1/06 Section: Opinion
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To the editor:
In response to your November 17th editorial, the statement of the U.S. Catholic bishops on homosexuality needs to be represented rightly and fairly. The most recent document, issued last week, is only another expression of the constant Catholic teaching.
As your editorial says, "it is commendable that the bishops emphasized the fact that gay men and women are welcome in the Church as people who possess the human dignity given to everyone by God." Indeed, every man, woman, and child is created with the tremendous dignity of a human person (cf., Gen. 1:27). This worth is ours not by personal merit, but rather by the gratuitous generosity of God. From those to whom much has been given, however, much is expected (cf., Luke 12:48). Part of the price of human dignity is the responsibility to love God in return and to keep His commands. In addition to the Divine Law, we must follow the natural law. Hence, it is fair for our bishops to encourage us to follow standards both natural and divine, inasmuch as the origin of both is ultimately God.
As our bishops instruct us, the sexual act has a twofold purpose: union and procreation. Most obviously, homosexual relations cannot procreate. Because the reason for homosexuals engaging in sexual relations cannot be to bring forth new life, they thereby distort conjugal love from the ultimate self-giving to an immature selfishness. It is for this reason, also, that contraception and masturbation are contrary to moral living. Sex becomes a toy for fleeting pleasure, rather than a gift for participating in God's creative power. Good sex is a reflection of God, Who is love itself (cf., 1 John 4:8). Since God is a Trinitarian relationship, so sexual relations should include a man, a woman, and the potential for a child.
Homosexuality does not satisfy the unitive purpose of sexual intercourse, either. You say that "homosexuals deserve just as much as everyone else to experience that kind of intimacy and unity that is possible through intercourse." The surpassing splendor of sex must not be reduced to a right, or something "deserved." It is purely the gift of God, bestowed for use in the context of marriage-the union of one man and one woman in holy love.
In response to your November 17th editorial, the statement of the U.S. Catholic bishops on homosexuality needs to be represented rightly and fairly. The most recent document, issued last week, is only another expression of the constant Catholic teaching.
As your editorial says, "it is commendable that the bishops emphasized the fact that gay men and women are welcome in the Church as people who possess the human dignity given to everyone by God." Indeed, every man, woman, and child is created with the tremendous dignity of a human person (cf., Gen. 1:27). This worth is ours not by personal merit, but rather by the gratuitous generosity of God. From those to whom much has been given, however, much is expected (cf., Luke 12:48). Part of the price of human dignity is the responsibility to love God in return and to keep His commands. In addition to the Divine Law, we must follow the natural law. Hence, it is fair for our bishops to encourage us to follow standards both natural and divine, inasmuch as the origin of both is ultimately God.
As our bishops instruct us, the sexual act has a twofold purpose: union and procreation. Most obviously, homosexual relations cannot procreate. Because the reason for homosexuals engaging in sexual relations cannot be to bring forth new life, they thereby distort conjugal love from the ultimate self-giving to an immature selfishness. It is for this reason, also, that contraception and masturbation are contrary to moral living. Sex becomes a toy for fleeting pleasure, rather than a gift for participating in God's creative power. Good sex is a reflection of God, Who is love itself (cf., 1 John 4:8). Since God is a Trinitarian relationship, so sexual relations should include a man, a woman, and the potential for a child.
Homosexuality does not satisfy the unitive purpose of sexual intercourse, either. You say that "homosexuals deserve just as much as everyone else to experience that kind of intimacy and unity that is possible through intercourse." The surpassing splendor of sex must not be reduced to a right, or something "deserved." It is purely the gift of God, bestowed for use in the context of marriage-the union of one man and one woman in holy love.
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