The Church’s Teaching on Sexuality

The Church’s Teaching on Sexuality Ray Campbell Queensland Bioethics Centre

Context • Church’s teaching on homosexuality and homosexual acts cannot be understood without the context of the Church’s teaching on the human person, sexuality in general and on marriage in particular.

Sexuality and the human person • Genesis 1:27 – human beings are made “in the image and likeness of God” • Each individual AND male and female in their complementariness (see John Paul II)

Our common vocation • “Creating the human race in his own image and continually keeping it in being, God inscribed in the humanity of man and woman the vocation, and thus the capacity and responsibility, of love and communion. Love is therefore the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being.” (Familiaris Consortio, n. 11)

Living our vocation • Unique for everyone • Sexual expression of love – two specific ways to realise the vocation to love • Marriage • Celibacy

Sexual intercourse • Sexual intercourse between a man and a woman is a procreative kind of act which expresses the gift of each person to the other. • “The only place in which this self-giving in its whole truth is made possible is marriage, …” (FC n.11)

Marriage • Communion of persons • Trinitarian language • “the communion of persons is drawn in a certain sense from the mystery of the Trinitarian ‘We’ …” (Letter to Families, n.8) • Sexual intercourse is appropriate when it reflects the Trinity

Church’s teaching applies to all • All freely chosen non-marital use of our sexual capacities are incapable of being ordered to goods of the human person and their ultimate end, communion with God, and are incapable of reflecting the reality of our Triune God.

Homosexual acts • Such acts are objectively immoral – consistent with the Church’s positive teaching on sexuality • Problem with dissenting from a part of Church’s teaching • Rational consistency would lead to dissent from wide range of church teaching

Homosexual orientation • Not chosen, therefore not a sin • “A disorder”? • All are called to live a life of integrated sexuality – a life of chastity • Virtue by which we exercise self-possession of ourselves in the area of sexuality

Redeemed in Jesus Christ • The power of Christ’s spirit – a spirit of power, of love and self control (2 Tim 1:7) • Child of God deserving respect

Pastoral Care • Do not jump to conclusions • Do not encourage self-labelling

Scenario A • Distressed, bullied, called ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ • First problem = bullying • Second step – try to identify why students refer to him/her as gay or lesbian

Scenario B • Student believes he or she may be homosexual • Do not confirm • Possibility of confusion regarding sexuality

Scenario C • Student presents saying they are definitely homosexual although they haven’t had any experience of homosexual intercourse • Accept the reality of the belief, but still do not confirm • Reassurance, referral

Scenario D • Student proclaims their homosexuality and their homosexual activity • Wanting to change behaviour or not? • Positive and encouraging • Referral to support group

Scenario E • Student is active and does not want to change. • On the contrary wants everyone to know • Help them to reflect upon the significance of their activity.

Pastoral Care • Concerned with the individual • Educational Guidance in Human Love (Nov. 1983, Sacred Congregation for Education) • The Truth and Meaning of Sexuality (Dec 1995, Pontifical Council for the Family) • Hope and support

The Church’s Teaching on Sexuality