Homosexuality and the Catechism

Abstract

In this brief essay the author considers Catholic teaching on homosexuality as found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He uses that formulation to clarify his own position as this was expressed in an earlier essay published in NTR. I n 1998 I published an article with the title “Homosexuality and Chastity: An Alternative Moral Criterion” in the New Theology Review (Selling). One of the reasons for writing the article in the first place was a moral reflection upon the text of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (hereafter, CCC) in its treatment of homosexuality which is titled “Chastity and Homosexuality” (n. 2357‐59). This reflection was accompanied by a review of the literature about homosexuality, particularly the relevant documents of the Church, both those emanating from Rome that tend to address the issues globally and those of various bishops and bishops’ conferences which tend to utilize a more pastoral approach. In the summer of 1999 I became aware that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had made some observations about my article in NTR and had asked for a clarification on those matters. Having responded to these observations as soon as I found the opportunity, I received a positive reply with respect to my clarification. In a subsequent communication, however, I have been asked to write a more extensive clarification for publication so that possible misunderstandings would not persist in the public forum. The principal point made in the observations about which I have been asked to provide a clarification consists in the fact that I refer to the possible “unavoid