The current pope (Benedict XIV formerly known as Cardinal Ratzinger) when he still was a cardinal pretty much wrote the "book" on what the Catholic church considers religious "doctrine"/"policy" when it comes to homosexuality.
The document is called "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons" (written 1985 released 1986).
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html
Now this letter references (as a source of logic) the 1975 Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics which deals with many things that the Church considers sins relating to sex
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19751229_persona-humana_en.html
Now in the document it recognizes that Homosexuality is probably innate, and it recognizes a difference between being homosexual (aka having homosexual desires) and actively "sinning" (having homosexual relations.) If being a homosexual is innate you can't be excommunicated. Furthermore having homosexual desires itself is not sinful since it is innate, homosexual desires are "disordered" since it "tempts" you to sin, the actual acting on these desires is sinful. Being "disordered" is not the same as sinful, being "disordered" means more likely to sin.
The catholic church also (as doctrine, reality is sometimes a different matter) encourages love and respect for all homosexual people. Furthermore it is very much against persecution and violence of homosexual people. Finally in theory (but sometimes not in reality) the Catholic Church is against the criminalization of homosexuality.
Also if you have had homosexual feelings in the last 3 years, you are "supposed" to enter seminary and thus won't be able to become a priest, "in theory"
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On another note, while this is a taboo subject, Benedict XIV (Ratzinger) is very much a closeted gay man. Now I ain't saying he is having sex, I very much believe he is a chaste man, but that doesn't change the fact he is probably a very gay man who is in the closet.
The document is called "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons" (written 1985 released 1986).
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html
Now this letter references (as a source of logic) the 1975 Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics which deals with many things that the Church considers sins relating to sex
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19751229_persona-humana_en.html
Now in the document it recognizes that Homosexuality is probably innate, and it recognizes a difference between being homosexual (aka having homosexual desires) and actively "sinning" (having homosexual relations.) If being a homosexual is innate you can't be excommunicated. Furthermore having homosexual desires itself is not sinful since it is innate, homosexual desires are "disordered" since it "tempts" you to sin, the actual acting on these desires is sinful. Being "disordered" is not the same as sinful, being "disordered" means more likely to sin.
The catholic church also (as doctrine, reality is sometimes a different matter) encourages love and respect for all homosexual people. Furthermore it is very much against persecution and violence of homosexual people. Finally in theory (but sometimes not in reality) the Catholic Church is against the criminalization of homosexuality.
Also if you have had homosexual feelings in the last 3 years, you are "supposed" to enter seminary and thus won't be able to become a priest, "in theory"
------------------------------------------------
On another note, while this is a taboo subject, Benedict XIV (Ratzinger) is very much a closeted gay man. Now I ain't saying he is having sex, I very much believe he is a chaste man, but that doesn't change the fact he is probably a very gay man who is in the closet.
Gay Marriage and Religious Institutions
- 04/09/2010 11:36:14 PM
1451 Views
Religion 100% aside, it's"okay" because she breached her contract
- 05/09/2010 12:18:36 AM
1031 Views
Well, my tripes with it are a little in line with that
- 05/09/2010 01:26:56 AM
1049 Views
Re: Well, my tripes with it are a little in line with that
- 05/09/2010 01:41:34 AM
1009 Views
goodness knows that the military sign their rights away ALL THE TIME
- 05/09/2010 02:44:58 AM
854 Views
There is a difference in the degree of the transgressions and the public nature of them as well.
- 05/09/2010 02:30:06 AM
948 Views
agreed. There may be some hypocrisy in the church employment practices...
- 05/09/2010 02:49:44 AM
914 Views
Re: There is a difference in the degree of the transgressions and the public nature of them as well.
- 09/09/2010 06:43:23 AM
1228 Views
She chose to work for a Catholic institution.
- 05/09/2010 05:54:23 PM
858 Views
what a stupid thing to say
- 05/09/2010 07:38:16 PM
992 Views
Um... no? One can be excommunicated for any number of things. *NM*
- 05/09/2010 08:22:29 PM
347 Views
yeah back in the time when there was no electricity *NM*
- 05/09/2010 08:25:17 PM
389 Views
...um, no. I'm not sure where you're getting that from, but it's completely wrong.
- 06/09/2010 01:06:49 AM
903 Views
You can't be excommunicated for being gay
- 06/09/2010 02:51:21 AM
986 Views
This is a classic example of me inadvertently coming to complete agreement with the Vatican.
- 07/09/2010 12:05:52 PM
966 Views
Wow! What an underwhelming argument.
- 06/09/2010 04:24:32 AM
966 Views
Remember that NC Baptist church kicking out non-Bush supporters in '04?
- 07/09/2010 11:46:18 AM
1041 Views
Actually, the Pope has the right to say "sorry, you're not a Catholic anymore".
- 05/09/2010 08:43:34 PM
1108 Views
See above post
- 06/09/2010 02:52:25 AM
841 Views
What?
- 06/09/2010 02:56:59 AM
849 Views
Nope
- 06/09/2010 03:03:48 AM
893 Views
Inaction, like, for example, not saving lives where you could have is also grounds for expulsion.
- 06/09/2010 06:35:31 PM
761 Views
Hmm, but I think that's a different type of inaction than the kind he's discussing
- 06/09/2010 08:02:50 PM
1077 Views
I never infered that that was the case.
- 06/09/2010 08:24:30 PM
778 Views
mmm, but your example isn't inaction ALONE
- 06/09/2010 08:46:56 PM
876 Views
Hmm interesting question.
- 06/09/2010 10:35:19 PM
963 Views
is excommunication about "use" though?
- 06/09/2010 10:36:55 PM
996 Views
Well thank god you aren't the pope
- 07/09/2010 03:29:00 AM
963 Views
Dismas is a Saint?
- 07/09/2010 12:08:45 PM
988 Views
*NM*
You are purposefully trying to split hairs
- 07/09/2010 03:15:08 AM
881 Views
does excommunication mean you are no longer Catholic?
- 06/09/2010 08:52:58 PM
777 Views
i'm pretty sure we have this conversation on a weekly basis. *NM*
- 06/09/2010 09:05:33 PM
370 Views
Yeah.
- 06/09/2010 10:34:10 PM
765 Views
is being Catholic a belief system or a club?
- 06/09/2010 11:03:00 PM
864 Views
It's both.
- 07/09/2010 05:54:13 AM
974 Views
I'm unsure about that. It doesn't invalidate baptism.
- 07/09/2010 08:23:33 AM
839 Views
I thought conformation is what made you a member of the church *NM*
- 07/09/2010 06:42:36 PM
336 Views
You're correct.
- 08/09/2010 02:33:45 AM
894 Views
Either way, it's a sacramental character, and so my point stands. You can't erase the seal of either *NM*
- 08/09/2010 04:18:12 AM
345 Views
My god people that cheat or divorce shouldn't be Catholic
- 06/09/2010 02:26:23 AM
785 Views