My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

At their general meeting in Baltimore last month, the U.S. Catholic bishops issued the document, “Guidelines for Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination.” Its purpose is to provide a theological and moral basis for ministry to persons with a homosexual inclination.  The guidelines are provided for your review in The Tablet this week. 

Perhaps the first issue is to clarify the use of terminology.  The document uses the term “homosexual inclination” in deliberate distinction from the term “homosexual orientation.”  This is the language used by the Church and appears in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” and other documents issued by the Holy See. 

Many who insist on the term “orientation” use it to mean virtually the same as “identity.”  They see homosexual orientation as an intrinsic part of someone’s personality.   It is intrinsically tied to one’s personal identity and, thus, is absolutely fixed.  Those who ascribe to this view often hold that a homosexual inclination is a result of nature.  There are others, however, who would consider a homosexual inclination as something that results from the nurture or the environment in which a person lives.  It seems that modern-day analysis sees both the biological and the social as the factors that influence the human personality.

Accommodation of both nature and nurture perhaps is the best way to define a sexual inclination.   All people are heirs to certain predispositions and inclinations, some of which are good and some of which are not so good.  These natural tendencies do not preclude the ability of a person to make responsible choices in his or her life.  It is this frame of reference that the Church uses to describe the person with a homosexual inclination. 

To use the term “gay” or “lesbian” to describe a person is as limiting for a homosexual person as if we were to use the word “straight” to define a heterosexual person.  The human person is much more than his or her sexual tendency.  It is only one part of a person’s personality and we should see it in that context. 

The pastoral concern that has prompted these guidelines follows a 1997 statement by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops entitled, “Always Our Children, a Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers.” This earlier statement was not issued by the whole bishops’ conference but rather by the Administrative Committee of the conference.  In many ways, there was a need for further clarification. Hence, this second instruction is a successor to the first attempt on the part of the bishops to define ministry to homosexual persons.

As you read the document, you will see that it is positive and pastoral.  It provides a starting point to understand the intrinsic dignity of every human person and that God loves everyone.  Everyone who ministers in the name of the Church must respect this intrinsic dignity.  The discussion of homosexuality is placed within the greater context of God’s plan for sexuality.  The inclination toward homosexual acts is disordered, since it is an inclination toward sexual acts that do not accord with the natural purpose of sexuality.  Simply experiencing a homosexual inclination, however, is not itself a sin.  The document is careful to point out that having an inclination that is disordered does not in any way diminish one’s dignity as a human person.  Nor does it mean that the person himself or herself is disordered.  It is only the inclination that is disordered, not the person. 

Other inclinations of the human person can also be disordered, such as those that can lead to selfishness, malice or greed.  All of us have been damaged by the effects of original sin.  The Church offers hope to those who suffer from many types of disordered inclinations. 

Our own Diocese has supported the apostolate called Courage. It seeks to assist those with same-sex attraction and their loved ones. On its Web site, Courage describes its work in the following way: “By developing an interior life of chastity, which is the universal call to all Christians, one can move beyond the confines of the homosexual identity to a more complete one in Christ.” 

Information on Courage can be obtained by calling St. John the Baptist Church, 210 W. 31st St., in Manhattan at (212) 268-1010, contacting by e-mail at NYCourage@aol.com or visiting its Web site at www.couragerc.net.

The bishops’ document provides guidelines for developing more comprehensive programs within our own Diocese to assist persons with homosexual inclinations, as well as to support parents and friends who wish to assist persons with homosexual inclinations to live chastely and free from any type of sexual addiction. 

In addition, the document is perhaps very timely for us here in the State and City of New York.  Only a few weeks ago, the Health Department of the City of New York had petitioned the City Council to pass an ordinance to allow persons to change their sexual identification on their birth certificate by simply stating that they have lived in a psychological mindset of another sex without the necessity of a sex-change operation.  It is hard to believe that such a law would even be proposed in our own City.  Ultimately, the proposal was withdrawn when various state and federal agencies weighed in on the consequences of such a decision to our national security. 

In our own State, we have recently heard our Governor-elect Spitzer and Mayor Bloomberg pledge support for the establishment for same-sex marriages or civil unions.  Although there are many who favor these types of arrangements, it seems that it is not the overwhelming choice of the citizens of the State of New York.  Unless we become politically active and closely follow this type of legislation, we might find ourselves in a situation that undermines the family and the proper understanding of human sexuality.   

Whenever we speak about sexual orientation or matters related to sex, we truly put out into the deep, since we do not know how these discussions will be understood by many who are deeply touched by issues of sexual inclination.  As we prepare once again to celebrate the Incarnation of the Divine Word this Christmas, we recognize that the humanity of Jesus helps us understand our own humanity better.  The birth of God-made-Man helps us to understand the intrinsic value of every human life because by His taking on our own nature we have been freed from the dominant effects of original sin.  Join me in praying that our society and culture may return to a balanced understanding of human sexuality.

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