CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER- "NAVIGATING THE TENSION: CHURCH TEACHING, HUMAN EXPERIENCE, AND PASTORAL PRESENCE IN THE LGBTQ CONTEXT" Catholic Teaching & Tradition In A Morally Complex World Presented by James T. Bretzke, S.J., S.T.D.

Theory or Theories?

Catechism of the Catholic Church on Sexuality  Personalist and Physicalist Paradigms are both in evidence in the Catechism  Much of the material on homosexuality comes from the 1975 CDF Declaration on Sexual Ethics Persona humana (which reproduces a chapter of Cardinal Palazzini’s book Vita e virtù cristiane)

Sexuality as Human Modality  2332 Sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others.  2333 Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity.

The Vocation of Chastity  2337 Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being.  Sexuality, in which man's belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman.

Personal Integrity of Sexuality  2338 The chaste person maintains the integrity of the powers of life and love placed in him. This integrity ensures the unity of the person; it is opposed to any behavior that would impair it. It tolerates neither a double life nor duplicity in speech.

Homosexuality NOT Chosen  2358 “They do not choose their condition. For most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every form of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”  This has been official Church teaching since the 1975 CDF Persona humana  Thus, “reparative therapy” is NOT mandated by the Magisterium

Traditional Moral Concepts in the Physicalist Paradigm  Fonts of Moral Theology  Contra naturam  Ex toto genere suo  In re venerea  Parvitas materiae in Sexto  Deus impossibilia non iubet

Catechism & Homosexuality 2357 “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexuality as a grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”

A Gloss on Contra Naturam & “Intrinsically Disordered”  Against the “nature” or end/purpose of a faculty of the human person  Faculty of sex ordered to procreation so every non- procreative sexual activity is “intrinsically disordered” since by blocking procreation it frustrates the primary “nature” of sexual relations.  Persons are not in themselves “disordered” but Adultery, Bestiality, Fornication, Homogenital acts, Masturbation, Rape, etc. are all “disordered” acts.  Some recent Vatican documents and the Synod Final Report have begun to employ the terminology “homosexual tendencies” (though the precise “meaning” of this term is unclear and open to a variety of interpretations)

Homosexuals Called to Chastity  2359 “Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self- mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.”

Who Am I To Judge? What Exactly Does This Mean, and NOT Mean?

The Pirolas & Cardinal Burke Cardinal Burke’s Interview after the Pirola’s Synod PresentationCardinal Burke’s Interview after the Pirola’s Synod Presentation: The Pirolas’ Synod Presentation on Acceptance of Gay Children Friends of ours were planning their Christmas family gathering when their gay son said he wanted to bring his partner home too. They fully believed in the Church’s teachings and they knew their grandchildren would see them welcome the son and his partner into the family. Their response could be summed up in three words, ‘He is our son’. “If homosexual relations are intrinsically disordered, which indeed they are — reason teaches us that and also our faith — then, what would it mean to grandchildren to have present at a family gathering a family member who is living [in] a disordered relationship with another person?”

US Bishops 1997 Pastoral Letter Always Our Children Advice to Parents  “ First, don't break off contact; don't reject your child.”  “This child, who has always been God's gift to you, may now be the cause of another gift: your family becoming more honest, respectful, and supportive.”  “God loves every person as a unique individual. Sexual identity helps to define the unique persons we are, and one component of our sexual identity is sexual orientation.”

Mid-Synod “Relatio”: Accogliere Welcoming homosexual persons  Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community: are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a fraternal space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a Church that offers them a welcoming home. Are our communities capable of providing that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?  Dispute over the English translation of the Italian original (Translator Traditor “The Translator is the Traitor”)

Formal Correspondence or Dynamic Un-Equivalence?  Accogliere le persone omosessuali  Welcoming homosexual persons  Providing for homosexual persons  …si prende atto che vi sono casi in cui il mutuo sostegno fino al sacrificio costituisce un appoggio prezioso per la vita dei partners  it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners  there are instances where mutual assistance to the point of sacrifice is a valuable support in the life of these persons.

Final Synod Relatio Vote on Treat Homosexuals with Respect  #55: Placet 118; Non placet 62: Total 180 with 65.5% YES and 34.5% NO  Probably the “key” sentence was Nevertheless, men and women with homosexual tendencies ought to be treated with respect and delicacy  Some probably voted «NO» believing this whole paragraph too watered down; others might have voted «NO» fearing it would signal tacit acceptance of an «intrinsically disordered» orientation

Tensions within Church Teaching Sexuality Is a God-Given Good  2332 Sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others.  2333 Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. Same-Sex Orientation Is Seriously Disordered  2357 “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexuality as a grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”

Two Contrasting Basic Views  One basic human sexual nature which is designed by God to be heterosexual, ordered to procreation in the context of marital complementarity  Any other expression is intrinsically disordered  There are more than one sexual nature created by God  Each of which is good since it is God- given  The key is to live out authentically one’s sexual identity in committed love or chosen celibacy

View 1: The Disease Model  Thus, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church the model of understanding homosexuality is analogous to a disease like diabetes or alcoholism. The diabetic or alcoholic is not considered sinful because of the condition, but is called upon to live a healthy life (e.g., watch diet, or no alcohol consumption). But….

Some Ask Though: Is the Analogy Completely Accurate?  Those who would dispute this line of reasoning and conclusion would argue along these lines:  If an alcoholic drinks the bad effects are clear  But if a gay person establishes a loving, committed, stable, and monogamous relationship, where exactly is the analogous harm?

The Counter-Argument  Sexuality is a gift from God and the basic modality of human being; every person is to live authentically his or her sexual identity  Homosexuality is a basic orientation not freely chosen  If a gay person were to marry someone of the opposite sex, this would be contra naturam

The Counter-Conclusion  Therefore gay people are called to live authentically their sexual identity in ways that correspond to the human spiritual values of love and commitment  And that for them this would be best done in a stable, committed, loving monogamous relationship  And that this relationship would be a positive good

A Final Word as Antidote to Odium theologicum…  In fide, unitas: in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas  "In faith, unity; in doubt, liberty; in all things, charity."  Attributed to St. Augustine, this is an important principle of Christian discernment: unity in faith is important, but in cases of doubt a plurality of opinions and practices should be allowed, and the over-riding principle must always be charity towards each other.

For Further Reflection  USCCB “Always Our Children” 1997  Bretzke’s Decoding 1 Corinthians 6:9  Todd A. Salzman, and Michael G. Lawler. The Sexual Person: Toward A Renewed Catholic Anthropology. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press,  Jeffrey Siker, ed. Homosexuality in the Church: Both Sides of the Debate. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press,  Jeannine Grammick and Pat Furey, eds. The Vatican and Homosexuality: Reactions to the "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons". New York: Crossroad,  John Harvey, OSFS. Homosexuality and the Catholic Church. Westchester PA: Ascension Press, 2007.