Being gay and Catholic

What am I supposed to do with my life?

What every Christian is asked to do: to live out God’s will for your life, chastely, with friends, prayer and the sacraments, and to carry what is hard in it with Christ. The Church puts the reader’s question in its own words — “What, then, are homosexual persons to do who seek to follow the Lord?” — and answers that they are “called to enact the will of God in their life”, and that “Christians who are homosexual are called, as all of us are, to a chaste life.” Homosexualitatis Problema 12

That life is not reduced to the orientation. A person “can hardly be adequately described by a reductionist reference to his or her sexual orientation”, and everyone has, besides difficulties, “challenges to growth, strengths, talents and gifts as well”. The fundamental identity the Church insists on is “the creature of God, and by grace, his child and heir to eternal life”. Homosexualitatis Problema 16

The call is to growth, not to a finished state. By self-mastery, “at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection”. CCC 2359 Friendship is named as the place where chastity shows itself: “Whether it develops between persons of the same or opposite sex, friendship represents a great good for all. It leads to spiritual communion.” CCC 2347

The inclination “constitutes for most of them a trial”, and Christians are asked “to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition”. CCC 2358 That Cross is “a fruitful sacrifice since from that death come life and redemption”. Homosexualitatis Problema 12

What others owe is stated too. Gay people “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity”, CCC 2358 and violent malice against them in speech or action “deserves condemnation from the Church’s pastors wherever it occurs”. Homosexualitatis Problema 10

2358

The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359

Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

2347

The virtue of chastity blossoms in friendship. It shows the disciple how to follow and imitate him who has chosen us as his friends, Cf. Jn 15:15. who has given himself totally to us and allows us to participate in his divine estate. Chastity is a promise of immortality. Chastity is expressed notably in friendship with one's neighbor. Whether it develops between persons of the same or opposite sex, friendship represents a great good for all. It leads to spiritual communion.

Homosexualitatis Problema Oct 1, 1986
Persona Humana Dec 29, 1975

From the Catechism

From the Magisterium