STATEMENTS FROM CHURCH TEACHING ON HOMOSEXUALITY RELATED TO
SEXUAL IDENTITY AND HUMAN DIGNITY, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

*     TO LIVE IN CHRIST JESUS, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1976:

“Homosexuals, like everyone else, should not suffer from prejudice against their basic.
human rights. They have a right to respect, friendship and justice. They should have an
active role in the Christian community.”

*     THE PREJUDICE A GAINST HOMOSEXUALS AND THE MINISTRY OF THE
CHURCH, Washington State Catholic Conference, 1983:

“Church teaching is positive with regard to homosexual persons considered in the totality
of their beings…Church teaching does not morally condemn homosexual orientation…,Nor .
are homosexual persons to be blamed for not changing their orientations…Church teaching
. indicates that even with regard to homogenital activity no one except Almighty God can .
make certain judgments about the personal sinfulness of acts. ..the prejudice against
homosexuals is a greater infringement of the norm of Christian morality than is:
homosexual orientation or activity.”

*     LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE-PASTORAL
CARE OF HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS, Congregation of the Doctrine of the
Faith, 1986:

“It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the objects of violent malice
in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church’s pastors
wherever it occurs…The particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin.”

*     THE MANY FACES OF AIDS: A GOSPEL RESPONSE, United States Catholic
Conference, 1987:

“Those who are gay or lesbian…should not be objects of discrimination, injustice or
violence. All of God’s sons and daughters, all members of our society, are entitled to the
recognition of their full human dignity.”

*     HUMAN SEXUALITY: A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE FOR EDUCATION AND
LIFELONG LEARNING, United States Catholic Conference, 1990:

“Sexuality..,is a fundamental dimension of every human being. It is reflected physiologically,
Psychologically, and relationally in a person’s gender identity as well as in one’s primary
sexual orientation and behavior. For some young men and women, this means a discovery
that one is homosexual, i.e., that one’s ‘sexual inclinations are orientated predominately
toward persons of the same sex.’”

“We call on all Christians and citizens of good will to confront their own fears about

homosexuality and to curb the humor and discrimination that offend homosexual persons.
We understand that having a homosexual orientation brings with it enough anxiety, pain
and issue related to self-acceptance without society adding additional prejudicial,
treatment,”

“Educationally, homosexuality cannot and ought not be skirted or ignored. The topic
must be faced in all objectivity by the pupil and the educator when the case presents itself.
First and foremost, we support modeling and teaching respect for every human person,
regardless of sexual orientation. Second, a parent or teacher must also present clearly and
delicately the unambiguous moral norms of the Christian tradition regarding homosexual
genital activity, appropriately geared to the age level and maturity of the learner, Finally,
parents and educators must remain open to the possibility that a particular person, whether
adolescent or adult, may be struggling to accept his or her own homosexual orientation.
The distinction between being homosexual and doing homosexual genital actions, while.
not always clear and convincing, is a helpful and important one when dealing with the
complex issue of homosexuality, particularly in the educational and pastoral arena.”

*     CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1994

“(Homosexual persons) must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every
sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”

“Homosexual persons are called to chastity.” “Chastity means the successful integration of
sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being.”

*     NOTE ON CHURCH TEACHING CONCERNING HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE,
Cardinal Basil Hume, London, 1995:

“Friendship is a gift from God. Friendship is a way of loving. Friendship is necessary for
every person. To equate friendship and full sexual involvement with another is to distort
the very concept of friendship. Sexual loving presupposes friendship, but friendship does
not require full sexual involvement. It is a mistake to say or think or presume that if two
persons of the same or different sexes enjoy a deep and lasting friendship then they must be
sexually involved.”

*     AL WA YS OUR CHILDREN: A PASTORAL MESSAGE TO PARENTS OF
HOMOSEXUAL CHILDREN AND SUGGESTIONS FOR PASTORAL
MINISTERS, NCCB Bishops’ Committee on Marriage and Family, 1998;

“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…It seems appropriate to
understand sexual orientation (heterosexual or homosexual) as a deep seated dimension of
one’s personality and to recognize its relative stability in a person…Generally, homosexual
orientation is experienced as a given, not as something freely chosen. By itself, therefore,
a homosexual orientation cannot be considered sinful, for morality presumes the freedom to

choose….God loves every person as a unique individual. Sexual identity helps to define the
unique persons we are. One component of our sexual identity is sexual orientation..,All
homosexual persons have a right to be welcomed into the community, to hear the word of
God, and to receive pastoral care. Homosexual persons who are living chaste lives should
have opportunities to lead and serve the community.”

“You are always my child, nothing can ever change that, You are also a child of God,,
gifted and called for a purpose in God’s design,..In you God’s love is revealed.”

* MINISTRY TO PERSONS WITH A HOMOSEXUAL INCLINATION: GUIDELINES FOR.
PASTORAL CARE, USCCB, 2006:

“It is important that Church ministers listen to the experiences, needs and hopes of the persons
with a homosexual inclination to whom and with whom they minister. Dialogue provides an
exchange of information, and also communicates a respect for the innate dignity of other -
persons and a respect for their consciences.”