Loving the Sinner and Hating the Sin?: Pope Francis's Comments on Homosexuality

To date, my last blog post was the most difficult one for me to write. My original intention had been to publish it shortly before the end of Ramadan so that it would be relevant, but the right words refused to come out (perhaps because the subject matter was so personal). As the days passed and several unsuccessful attempts were made to articulate my thoughts and emotions surrounding Islam and the Night of Destiny, I realized that I would need to be patient until the puzzle pieces of the post fit together.  So by the time it was finished, Ramadan had been over for a few weeks.

The delay in the following post stems from a different reason. There are certain hot-button issues that everyone seems to have a strong opinion about, and discussions of them can get quite contentious and polarizing. Homosexuality, especially in a religious context, is right at the top of that list, so I had some hesitation on writing on the topic. But the Pope's recent comments about homosexuality continue to be raised in conversations I've had with people over the last several weeks. In case anyone needs a reminder, during a press conference in late July Pope Francis made the following statements regarding homosexuals, especially gay priests: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” and, “We shouldn't marginalize people for this. They must be integrated into society.” 

Both religious and secular liberals have lauded his statements as a huge step forward for tolerance and an indication that the Catholic Church may come to embrace homosexuality in the future. Some have contrasted Pope Francis with his predecessor, pointing out that Benedict would never have extended such an olive branch to gays. I appreciate that Francis's words have come from a place of great empathy and kindness. Unfortunately, though, upon a brief analysis of doctrine his statements are shown only to be a gentler expression of the essentially anti-gay stance of the Church. Nothing that he said goes against the official Church position on homosexuality as defined in the Catholic catechism, which reads as follows:

“Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved. 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. 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.” (Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 6)

The Pope's claim that he will not judge gay priests, his opposition to the marginalization of gays, and his call for them to be integrated into society, are all frustratingly vague. If a journalist attending that press conference had urged him to elaborate further, I have a strong feeling that he would have treaded the party line. Currently, that party line focusses on condemning the “intrinsically disordered,” sinful nature of homosexual acts, while also somehow accepting gays with respect, compassion, and sensitivity despite their “condition.” (The jury is still out on whether this condition is genetic or a sinful choice, apparently.) 

What it comes down to for the Church, to use an expression that I dislike the more I hear it in this context, is loving the sinner and hating the sin. But there is nothing loving about labeling all committed, consensual, same-sex relationships a sinful sham. There is no love in confronting gay Christians with the ultimatum of spending the rest of their lives celibate (or, perhaps, one could try to “pray the gay away”). In the New Testament, celibacy is a high gift from God. It's a choice made by an individual after long periods of prayer and discussions. It's a decision that shouldn't be made lightly. (One can now see that the Pope's comments on gay priests are pretty redundant when viewed in light of the catechism, since all priests, regardless of their orientation, must take vows of chastity.) 

As long as Church doctrine remains as it is, Pope Francis is condemning gay Christians to a life of forced celibacy, shaming them for who they love, telling them that they need to struggle with their “condition” rather than accept that their sexual orientation, as well as their committed and healthy relationships, are from God. True acceptance and integration into society must involve welcoming gays as they are. Not as conflicted and willful individuals rebelling against God's plans for humanity or trying to corrupt Western civilization, but as sinners like you and me trying to find love and companionship in the time they have on this earth. 

I have high hopes for the direction that Pope Francis will lead the Catholic Church in over the coming years. Until he has the courage to press for real change in the Church's stance and treatment of gays, though, his words during the press conference carry little weight. I challenge Pope Francis to show us that his statements on homosexuality are something more than a PR stunt. Francis, open your mind and heart to the possibility that Church tradition has got it wrong regarding LGBT individuals. Search the scriptures. We're waiting.