Blessing homosexual couples, perhaps only an "episode".Civil cohabitation between homosexuals: what the Pope said and what he did not sayOn the delirious effort to make Cervantes a homosexualA number of Christian parents have approached me to tell me of their pain upon receiving the news that a son or daughter is considered homosexual, i.e., they experience "same-sex attraction" (SSA). Parents are confused and do not know how to act. They are hesitant about how to deal with this issue. They want what is best for them but do not know what is best.
In order to give you some practical suggestions, I will first present the two prevailing positions in our society today. They are basically two ways of understanding the human being: immanent anthropological vision (gender ideology) and transcendent vision (anthropology of the unity of the person).
We are aware that schools, laws and the media are three massive avenues through which we are being bombarded to adopt a way of thinking that favors the idea that we can choose our gender, regardless of whether we are born sexed as male or female, we are told that we are born "neutral" (immanent view). Our children have received this information in abundance.
The Church, for her part, an expert in human nature, expresses in a balanced and luminous way the transcendent vision, maintaining that we are an inseparable unity of body and soul, and our sexuality is not detached from our soul, from our capacity to love. For this reason, the Church calls us to give an integral sexual education that is properly an affective-sexual education, an education to love.
It also starts from the acceptance of a given nature. We were created male and female, we have the same dignity but we are sexually different and complementary, a fact that simple observation and common sense can corroborate. In the nature of our design, the double purpose of human sexuality is perfectly inscribed, which is both unitive and procreative: it helps us to love each other more as a couple and to give life to children.
The catechism asks us to distinguish between homosexual person, homosexual act and homosexual culture:
- For the person, all the love and understanding that we can have.
- For the act, zero promotion as it is inherently messy.
- For the culture, denunciation of an expression that produces deep pain in the person, the family and the whole society.
I will quote the teachings of two magisterial documents given to us by the Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear and profound in its response to this issue. It says: "An appreciable number of men and women present homosexual tendencies. They should be received with respect, compassion and sensitivity. In their regard, every sign of unjust discrimination is to be avoided. These persons are called to carry out the will of God in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's cross the difficulties they may encounter because of their condition" (CCC 2358).
The person, every person, is called to live the virtue of chastity. It is not an exclusive requirement for those who are attracted to the same sex. It is about living the virtue that is the guardian of true love: self-control at the service of love! Sexuality is beautiful and is designed to be lived in the perfect channel called marriage. To live it outside this channel will cause it to overflow and wreak havoc.
On the other hand, the document entitled "The truth about human love", issued by the Spanish Episcopal Conference, states in its point 57:
It is easy to discover that the background framework in which gender ideology develops is the "pansexualist" culture. A modern society, it is said, must consider it good to "use sex" as just another object of consumption. And if it has no personal value, if the sexual dimension of the human being lacks personal significance, there is nothing to prevent us from falling into a superficial evaluation of behavior based on mere utility or simple satisfaction. This is how we end up in the most radical permissiveness and, ultimately, in the most absolute nihilism. It is not difficult to see the harmful consequences of this emptying of meaning.
In this light, what are Christian parents to do when faced with a child who asks to be accepted with AMS.
- Hug and bless our child. Listen to him/her with a sincere desire to understand.
- To accompany him in the pursuit of his happiness, which, to be authentic, must always be compatible with holiness.
We can propose the Christian vision of the person and sexuality to our children; it is not a matter of imposing but of presenting Christ with love and allowing them to choose in freedom.
And of course, to pray for the good of our child and for the unity of the family. To ask with faith for discernment and wisdom to guide in truth, always within the framework of true charity.
Join the church's ministry to family and friends of people with MSA, for example in Courage.
God loves us all unconditionally and calls us all to holiness. Let us try to imitate this merciful love of our good God. This translates into knowing our children better, listening to them, living with them, expressing our love openly to them, and calling them to live chastity.
They will accept or reject our invitation in full use of their freedom. We will learn to respect each other and to place in God's hands the one we love so much.
As Christian parents, we know that choosing God's plan is what fills our hearts with longing. Let us strive to bear witness to this and to put all the means at our disposal to bring our children closer to an encounter with the source of love: God our Lord.
