Homosexual Inclination is Object

"Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder." (Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual People," no. 3, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), 1986)

Homosexual feelings do arise. Sometimes they're temporary -- especially for adolescents -- but for some people, homosexual feelings are deep rooted and difficult to overcome. The Church says it's not a sin to have such feelings, but it is an objective disorder, a problem.

It can be difficult to understand what an "objective disorder" is. It means that the very inclination toward a same sex act indicates that the desire itself is moving in the wrong direction; ordinarily the vast majority of men and women have a natural God given attraction toward physical union with a person of the opposite sex. This is natural and good because it leads the majority of people into marriage whereas same sex attractions while not sinful, end up in a disordered act if one gives into them.

It may be objected that a man lusting for a woman is a disordered act, but the inclination to such an act is considered natural but misdirected under ordinary circumstances. Under the circumstance of marriage however this inclination is good because it leads to strengthening the union between a man and woman and the procreation of a child.

The same-sex feelings do not lead to strengthening the union between a man and woman nor to the procreation of a child therefore they are considered objectively disordered but not sinful in and of themselves.

� Evangelization Station, 2010

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