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
1462 Views
Religion 100% aside, it's"okay" because she breached her contract
- 05/09/2010 12:18:36 AM
1039 Views
Well, my tripes with it are a little in line with that
- 05/09/2010 01:26:56 AM
1062 Views
Re: Well, my tripes with it are a little in line with that
- 05/09/2010 01:41:34 AM
1019 Views
goodness knows that the military sign their rights away ALL THE TIME
- 05/09/2010 02:44:58 AM
864 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
958 Views
agreed. There may be some hypocrisy in the church employment practices...
- 05/09/2010 02:49:44 AM
926 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
1234 Views
She chose to work for a Catholic institution.
- 05/09/2010 05:54:23 PM
867 Views
what a stupid thing to say
- 05/09/2010 07:38:16 PM
999 Views
Um... no? One can be excommunicated for any number of things. *NM*
- 05/09/2010 08:22:29 PM
351 Views
yeah back in the time when there was no electricity *NM*
- 05/09/2010 08:25:17 PM
393 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
916 Views
You can't be excommunicated for being gay
- 06/09/2010 02:51:21 AM
997 Views
This is a classic example of me inadvertently coming to complete agreement with the Vatican.
- 07/09/2010 12:05:52 PM
974 Views
Wow! What an underwhelming argument.
- 06/09/2010 04:24:32 AM
975 Views
Remember that NC Baptist church kicking out non-Bush supporters in '04?
- 07/09/2010 11:46:18 AM
1050 Views
Actually, the Pope has the right to say "sorry, you're not a Catholic anymore".
- 05/09/2010 08:43:34 PM
1119 Views
See above post
- 06/09/2010 02:52:25 AM
849 Views
What?
- 06/09/2010 02:56:59 AM
861 Views
Nope
- 06/09/2010 03:03:48 AM
904 Views
Inaction, like, for example, not saving lives where you could have is also grounds for expulsion.
- 06/09/2010 06:35:31 PM
772 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
1088 Views
I never infered that that was the case.
- 06/09/2010 08:24:30 PM
783 Views
mmm, but your example isn't inaction ALONE
- 06/09/2010 08:46:56 PM
887 Views
Hmm interesting question.
- 06/09/2010 10:35:19 PM
972 Views
is excommunication about "use" though?
- 06/09/2010 10:36:55 PM
1006 Views
Well thank god you aren't the pope
- 07/09/2010 03:29:00 AM
971 Views
Dismas is a Saint?
- 07/09/2010 12:08:45 PM
999 Views
*NM*
You are purposefully trying to split hairs
- 07/09/2010 03:15:08 AM
893 Views
does excommunication mean you are no longer Catholic?
- 06/09/2010 08:52:58 PM
789 Views
i'm pretty sure we have this conversation on a weekly basis. *NM*
- 06/09/2010 09:05:33 PM
374 Views
Yeah.
- 06/09/2010 10:34:10 PM
771 Views
is being Catholic a belief system or a club?
- 06/09/2010 11:03:00 PM
874 Views
It's both.
- 07/09/2010 05:54:13 AM
986 Views
I'm unsure about that. It doesn't invalidate baptism.
- 07/09/2010 08:23:33 AM
852 Views
I thought conformation is what made you a member of the church *NM*
- 07/09/2010 06:42:36 PM
341 Views
You're correct.
- 08/09/2010 02:33:45 AM
906 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
350 Views
My god people that cheat or divorce shouldn't be Catholic
- 06/09/2010 02:26:23 AM
797 Views