Catholic Church and homosexuality

The Catholic Church condemns same-sex sexual activity and denies the validity of same-sex marriage. While the Church opposes "unjust" discrimination against homosexual persons, it supports what it considers "just" discrimination in the employment of teachers or athletic coaches, in adoption, in the military and in housing.^[1]^[2] The Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated by Pope John Paul II considers sexual activity between members of the same sex to be a grave sin against chastity and sees homosexual attraction as objectively disordered.^[3]^[4] However, the Catechism also states that homosexuals "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity".^[1]^[5] This teaching has developed through papal interventions, and influenced by theologians, including the Church Fathers.

In March 2021, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said that the church cannot bless same-sex relationships because "God cannot bless sin".^[6] On 18 December 2023, it published Fiducia supplicans, a declaration allowing Catholic priests to bless people who are not considered to be married by the Church, including same-sex couples.^[7]

The church provides pastoral care for LGBT Catholics through a variety of official and unofficial channels that vary from diocese to diocese, and senior clergy and popes have recently begun to call for the church to do more. In many parts of the world, the Church is active politically on issues of LGBT rights. The relationship between the Catholic Church and the LGBT community has been a difficult one, especially during the height of the AIDS crisis, and World War II Nazi Germany.^[8]

There have been notable Catholics who were gay or bisexual, including priests and bishops. Catholic dissenters from the official teaching say that love between people of the same sex is as spiritually valuable as love between people of the opposite sex and that LGBT Catholics are as much members of the body of Christ as heterosexuals are. Catholic organizations that support the teaching often campaign against gay rights, and argue that gay people should be celibate.

Pope Francis was the first pope to support same-sex civil unions as legal protections for same-sex couples.^[9]^[10] He has denounced laws criminalising homosexuality.^[11]^[12]^[13]

^ ^a ^b "Catechism of the Catholic Church". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^ Cite error: The named reference Homosexual Persons - July 1992 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Vatican News: The Church cannot bless same-sex unions
^ Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recogniztion to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, 4 The homosexual inclination is however “objectively disordered”(9) and homosexual practices are “sins gravely contrary to chastity”.(10)
^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Catholic Church 'cannot bless same-sex unions'". BBC News. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
^ "Fiducia supplicans". Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
^ Cite error: The named reference zgUFs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Pope Francis calls for civil union law for same-sex couples, in shift from Vatican stance". Catholic News Agency. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
^ "Same-sex civil unions 'good and helpful to many', says Pope Francis". Euronews. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
^ "The AP Interview: Pope says homosexuality not a crime". Associated Press. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
^ Pullella, Philip (6 February 2023). "Pope Francis says laws criminalising LGBT people are a 'sin' and an injustice". Reuters. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
^ "Pope Francis clarifies comments on homosexuality: "One must consider the circumstances."". Outreach. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.

[:0-1] "Catechism of the Catholic Church". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 23 December 2022.

[Homosexual_Persons_-_July_1992-2] Cite error: The named reference Homosexual Persons - July 1992 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[3] Vatican News: The Church cannot bless same-sex unions

[4] Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recogniztion to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, 4 The homosexual inclination is however “objectively disordered”(9) and homosexual practices are “sins gravely contrary to chastity”.(10)

[:1-5] Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:2-6] "Catholic Church 'cannot bless same-sex unions'". BBC News. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2023.

[:53-7] "Fiducia supplicans". Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.

[zgUFs-8] Cite error: The named reference zgUFs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:12-9] "Pope Francis calls for civil union law for same-sex couples, in shift from Vatican stance". Catholic News Agency. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2024.

[:37-10] "Same-sex civil unions 'good and helpful to many', says Pope Francis". Euronews. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2024.

[:33-11] "The AP Interview: Pope says homosexuality not a crime". Associated Press. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.

[:11-12] Pullella, Philip (6 February 2023). "Pope Francis says laws criminalising LGBT people are a 'sin' and an injustice". Reuters. Retrieved 16 January 2024.

[:34-13] "Pope Francis clarifies comments on homosexuality: "One must consider the circumstances."". Outreach. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.

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