Catholic Morality?
By Mark Roberti
Stewardship Director, Heartland Parishes of Ellis County

The Annie’s Mailbox column in the Hays Daily News recently contained an article suggesting that the Catholic Church condones homosexual activity and the homosexual people should contact Dignity USA .  A parishioner informed me and suggested I write a response.  

I went home, read the article, and sent a letter to the editor titled, “Church misrepresented.”  I explained that Dignity USA is not a Church sanctioned group and that, in fact, two of its most visible members had been required to resign or face ex-communication.  I explained that the Pontifical Council on the Family does endorse CourageRC, which helps homosexual people and people struggling with their sexual identity to live a chaste style of life. I also gave their web address, www.CourageRC.net.

Moreover, I explained why – according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church – that homosexual acts are wrong.  They are “intrinsically disordered” and contrary to the natural law. 

A day passed, two days passed, and no printed letter.  I was not surprised.  In Lubbock , I wrote letters to the editor of the Avalanche Journal about moral issues such as abortion, homosexuality, embryonic stem cell research, etc., and they were not printed.  It was against their editorial policy to print certain controversial letters to the editor.  Maybe the same is true of the Hays Daily News. 

That’s interesting.  Our press, that self-proclaimed bastion of “objectivity,” will print one side of the argument, but not the other.  In the spirit of dialogue, I wish I could “call” them on that.   In fact, I’d call “foul.”  But that is not allowed.

Let’s, first, clearly understand that God loves every one of His children…no matter what.  Let’s also understand that we are all sinners, including – and probably especially – he who is penning this article. But God does not like sin.  He hates it.  We are all called to toe the line, no matter what our sin is.  Sorry folks, that’s the rule. 

“Judge not lest ye shall be judged” must be properly understood.  Each of us is called to stand for our Christian moral principles. Read St. Paul’s various letters. He is not timid in saying so.  Nor should we be.  Sure, God is to judge, but we too are called to do what the Church teaches.

I’d like to explain, however, how I can, -- empirically and apart from my faith -- know that homosexual acts are wrong. Have you ever known one example, in the annals of human history, in which a homosexual act has resulted in the generation of a single life?  Yet, how many lives have been either physically or emotionally destroyed through such acts?  Millions.   Homosexual acts don’t serve life, then, they serve death.  That’s why they are disordered.  That’s why they are contrary to the natural law.  The natural law serves life.

Human sexuality, when used properly, also serves a purpose.  In fact, it serves two purposes.  It strengthens the marital bond and it allows us to procreate.  Even the angels, far superior created beings, can’t do that.  It is truly a blessing. 

Life is ordered to the family.  We must protect the traditional family at all costs.  Families have worked from the beginning.  Chastity and celibacy also serve life.  All are good stewardship. 

Let us also remember that single people are called to celibacy while they are single.  Heterosexuals sin outside the marriage act too.  So do married couples that use artificial means of contraception…no matter what Time Magazine, or other secular “authorities” might tell us.  

The press’ unabashed and repeated promotion of untruths will never make them true.  It will never make immoral actions moral. As St. Thomas Aquinas has so eloquently stated, “The truth is strong in itself, and no assault can weaken it.”