Christianity and Homosexuality

 

by CAPP-USA

 

What Does Christianity say about Homosexuality?

Contrary to arguments that the Bible doesn’t comment on homosexuality or that it supports homosexual behaviors or lifestyles, there are many bible verses about homosexuality, condemning it as “serious depravities”. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2357)

Learn more about Bible verses about homosexuality

And “[a] significant number of men and women exhibit fundamental homosexual tendencies. It takes very variable forms across centuries and cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2357)

History of Christianity and Homosexuality

Yet, throughout those millennia the Christian response has remained the same.

“Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, [Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10] tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’ (see Persona Humana, VIII) They are contrary to the natural law…Under no circumstances can they be approved.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2357)

The Early Centuries

From the first century (The Didache) through the fifth century (Augustine) the early Church consistently thought that homosexual behavior was intrinsically wrong.

The Didache, in AD 70, taught simply that “you shall not commit pederasty (sodomy)”.

Clement of Alexandria (2nd Century) even reproached “conversation about deeds of wickedness” saying it “is appropriately termed filthy [shameful] speaking, as talk about adultery and pederasty and the like” (The Instructor, 6).

Tertullian (3rd Century) said “all other frenzies of the lusts which exceed the laws of nature and are impious toward both [human] bodies and the sexes, we banish, not only from the threshold but also from all shelter of the Church, for they are not sins so much as monstrosities” (Modesty, 4).

Eusebius (early 4th Century) said “[H]aving forbidden all unlawful marriage, and all unseemly practice, and the union of women with women and men with men, he [God] adds: ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for in all these things the nations were defiled”. (Proof of the Gospel 4:10)

John Chrysostom (late 4th Century) wrote “[The men] have done an insult to nature itself. And a yet more disgraceful thing than these is it, when even the women seek after these intercourses, who ought to have more shame than men”. (Homilies on Romans 4)

Augustine (5th Century) found “those shameful acts against nature, such as were committed in Sodom, ought everywhere and always to be detested and punished. If all nations were to do such things, they would be held guilty of the same crime by the law of God, which has not made men so that they should use one another in this way” (Confessions 3:8:15 [A.D. 400]).

All of these quotes and more, from Justin Martyr, Novatian, Cyprian of Carthage, Arnobius and Basil the Great may be found at Catholic.com.

Early Middle Ages

Under Charlemagne’s “reign, church councils and synods issued at least seven ordinances condemning homosexuality. In 789, in a ‘General Admonition’ to his subjects, Charlemagne specifically endorsed heavy sanctions…’for those who sin against nature with animals or with men’.” (História Medieval, Pg 156, 157) 

Middle Ages

In the 11th century, St. Peter Damien railed against an epidemic of the vice of sodomy “raging like a cruel beast within the sheepfold of Christ”. In a letter to Pope Leo IX and subsequent book (The Book of Gomorrah) he denounced the rampant homosexuality within and without the Church.” (See: Charlette Allen, Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Carl Sundell, Tom Bethell). For his part Pope Leo IX (11th century) called love between men “obscene,” “filthy,” and “an execrable vice.” (História Medieval, Pg 113)

St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury denounced “that most shameful of crime of sodomy” in the 12th century both in his writings and at the Council of London in 1102. (História Medieval, Pg 36)

The Third Lateran Council, in 1179, referring to homosexual behavior, called for clerics to “be expelled from the clergy or confined in monasteries to do penance; if they are laymen they are to incur excommunication and be completely separated from the society of the faithful”. (Third Lateran Council, Canon 11)

St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century, pointed out that not all things to which a person is inclined are “natural”. Rather, only dispositions oriented toward the proper expression of human nature are natural. Contrary inclinations, he said, are perversions and destructive of the good.  (Summa Theologiae, Prima Secundae Partis, Q. 94)

He subsequently called homosexuality an “unnatural vice” and “contrary to the natural order” as well as “contrary to right reason”. He found it to be “the greatest sin of lust“.  (Summa Theologiae, Secunda Secundae Partis, Q. 154)

The Renaissance

The Council of Trent, 16th century, produced a Catechism which sated “sodomites shall not possess the kingdom of God.” (Catechism of the Council of Trent, pg. 259)

Modern Times

In the early 20th century the Catechism of Pope St. Pius X stated “The sins that are said to cry to God for vengeance are these four: (1) Willful murder; (2) The sin of sodomy; (3) Oppression of the poor; (4) Defrauding laborers of their wages.” (Catechism of Pope Pius X, 1908) 

In 1975 Pope St. Paul VI had published a Declaration saying, “At the present time there are those who…have begun to…excuse completely, homosexual relation…This they do in opposition to the constant teaching of the Magisterium and to the moral sense of the Christian people.” (Persona Humana, VIII)

In 1986 Pope St. John Paul II had published a Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons. Written by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) the Letter removed any ambiguity regarding the Church’s tolerance of homosexual behavior.

It also affirmed homosexual orientation is not a sin. However, it is representative of an inclination towards the “moral evil” of homosexual behavior and must be considered “an objective disorder”.

In 1993 homosexuality was referenced in an encyclical, Pope St. John Paul II’s Veritatis Splendor where he confirms that the Apostle Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians is “formally expressed by the Council of Trent (16th century), [and] places among the ‘mortal sins’, or ‘infamous practices’, certain specific behaviors whose voluntary acceptance prevents believers from sharing in the promised inheritance.” (49)

Pope Francis has clearly reiterated Church teaching on homosexual behavior. However, reflecting the pastoral approach which has marked his papacy, he emphasizes God’s love and infinite capacity for forgiveness: “God is Father and he does not disown any of his children. And ‘the style’ of God is ‘closeness, mercy, and tenderness. In this way (or along this path) you will find God.” (Pope Francis) 

With this approach Pope Francis seeks to draw close to the Church homosexuals to experience God’s love and become aware of the truth.

Homosexual Behavior, not Individuals, is Condemned

Tradition has always declared that “acts of homosexuality are intrinsically disordered…They cannot receive approval under any circumstances.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2357)

The Church is clear; the “acts” are disordered. They must not be accepted or normalized. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2358)

However, the Church’s teaching is not meant to curtail love but to enable it. For those troubled with their identity, patience is called for. When a person is on a path seeking wholeness, their search must be encouraged and respected – in friendship.

So, the Church is just as clear that individuals “must be welcomed with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Any form of unfair discrimination will be avoided against them. These people are called to carry out the will of God in their lives”. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2358)

The Church points to the peace and life-giving path of Christ’s commandments. We owe it to God, our brothers and sisters and ourselves to offer what is true – and why we believe it is true. “Although she constantly holds up the call to perfection and asks for a fuller response to God, ‘the Church must accompany with attention and care the weakest of her children, who show signs of a wounded and troubled love, by restoring in them hope and confidence’”. (Pope Francis, 291)