Blessed Pope John Paul II said, "Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth." Now more than ever, we need a spirit of faith, and a spirit of reason, to guide the Church on the issue of homosexuality. Both faith and reason have a role to play, in helping the People of God, to deepen and develop its understanding of homosexuality. The Church has to often relied upon "faith alone" in its understanding of human sexuality. Blessed Pope John Paul II reminds us that "reason" is needed to help contemplate the fullness of truth. Unfortunately, the relationship between the Church and scientific reason has often been a contentious one.
The Church has and does contribute to science through its schools, university and hospitals, and both religious and lay, have led to many scientific discoveries. Alternatively, the Church has also opposed some scientific discoveries that it felt challenged its authority. Faith and reason balance each other, and together lift the human spirit, to contemplation of truth. They are not opposing forces. And the Church is clear on this concept, too.
Pope Francis, in his recent interview with La Civilta Cattolia, the Italian Jesuit magazine, reminded us that science contributes to the Church's understanding of her teaching [Read my blog La Civilta Cattolia interview with Pope Francis for more information on this topic]:
"Exegetes and theologians help the church to mature in her own judgment. Even the other sciences and their development help the church in its growth in understanding..."Scientific organization like the American Psychological Association are contributing to the knowledge of human sexuality. Through decades of research and clinical experience they've stated:
“Lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientations are not disorders. Research has found no inherent association between any of these sexual orientations and psychopathology. Both heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Both have been documented in many different cultures and historical eras. Despite the persistence of stereotypes that portray lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as disturbed, several decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country to conclude that these orientations represent normal forms of human experience. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual relationships are normal forms of human bonding."
"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, ‘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 complementarities. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”
We are left with two conflicting understandings of homosexuality. In its teaching on homosexuality the Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly bases its teaching on scripture. At one point, the first edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church did include some scientific conclusions. However, in the second edition, they removed references to that research, namely that homosexuals "do not choose their homosexual condition..."
Science is clear that homosexuality is not chosen. The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association along with the nations other major mental and medical organizations have all stated that men and women do not choose to be homosexual:
It's not that religion and science are incompatible. The Church has fostered science and scientist throughout its history. Blessed Pope John Paul II said in Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) that "Truth is the point where faith and reason meet." When faith is absent of reason we are left without truth. A mistake the Church has made in the past with other issues.
We only have to look to the famous Galileo controversy to find an example of relying solely on scripture absent of reason. In 1981, Blessed Pope John Paul II charged a papal commission with studying the matter. It was determined that the problem came because Galileo had not at the time proved irrefutably the double motion of the earth, a proof that would not come for another 150 years, and that theologians failed to grasp the Bible's profound nonliteral meaning in describing the physical structure of the created universe. In 1992, the pope accepted the commission's finding that the Church had erred in the Galileo matter.
The Church is finding itself at a similar crossroad. Science has moved us toward a new understanding of homosexuality. Our Church is now struggling to reconcile its faith belief based on scripture, with the growing scientific evidence.
There is now considerable scholarly debate about how to interpret scripture passages such as Lev 18:22 and Rom1:26-27 in their cultural context. Scholars are pointing out that even the word homosexuality is a nonbiblical word that originated in modern times to describe sexual attraction to and sexual activity with a person of one's own gender. The good news is scripture scholars and theologians are moving the Church forward in its understanding homosexuality. For instance, the Church now distinguishes between homosexual orientation and homosexual activity-a distinction not made in the Bible. Slow, but sure progress.
Pope Francis has urged his followers to make the Catholic Church a more merciful and welcoming place for all. He also warned that its moral foundation will "fall like a house of cards" if it does not find a "new balance" in regards to homosexuality. Now more than ever, if we are to contemplate the fullness of truth, we need a spirit of faith, and a spirit of reason to guide the Church on the issue of homosexuality. And what is this truth? The answer is simple: We are all fearfully and wonderfully made in the image and likeness of God and we are all GOOD!
Peace and all good,
Brother Sun and Sister Moon
Personal Reflection:
How has science and/or reason helped you to grow in your understanding of God and/or homosexuality? Please share your answer in the comment spaces below.
Science is clear that homosexuality is not chosen. The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association along with the nations other major mental and medical organizations have all stated that men and women do not choose to be homosexual:
"That evidence supports the conclusion that homosexuality is a normal expression of human sexuality that is not chosen..."Why remove this reference from the Catechism of the Catholic Church? The reference was being used by some bishops to call into question the Church's teaching on homosexuality. Here lies the problem, to acknowledge the scientific evidence would of called into question the Church's understanding of scripture, and more importantly, its authority to interpret scripture.
It's not that religion and science are incompatible. The Church has fostered science and scientist throughout its history. Blessed Pope John Paul II said in Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) that "Truth is the point where faith and reason meet." When faith is absent of reason we are left without truth. A mistake the Church has made in the past with other issues.
We only have to look to the famous Galileo controversy to find an example of relying solely on scripture absent of reason. In 1981, Blessed Pope John Paul II charged a papal commission with studying the matter. It was determined that the problem came because Galileo had not at the time proved irrefutably the double motion of the earth, a proof that would not come for another 150 years, and that theologians failed to grasp the Bible's profound nonliteral meaning in describing the physical structure of the created universe. In 1992, the pope accepted the commission's finding that the Church had erred in the Galileo matter.
The Church is finding itself at a similar crossroad. Science has moved us toward a new understanding of homosexuality. Our Church is now struggling to reconcile its faith belief based on scripture, with the growing scientific evidence.
There is now considerable scholarly debate about how to interpret scripture passages such as Lev 18:22 and Rom1:26-27 in their cultural context. Scholars are pointing out that even the word homosexuality is a nonbiblical word that originated in modern times to describe sexual attraction to and sexual activity with a person of one's own gender. The good news is scripture scholars and theologians are moving the Church forward in its understanding homosexuality. For instance, the Church now distinguishes between homosexual orientation and homosexual activity-a distinction not made in the Bible. Slow, but sure progress.
Pope Francis has urged his followers to make the Catholic Church a more merciful and welcoming place for all. He also warned that its moral foundation will "fall like a house of cards" if it does not find a "new balance" in regards to homosexuality. Now more than ever, if we are to contemplate the fullness of truth, we need a spirit of faith, and a spirit of reason to guide the Church on the issue of homosexuality. And what is this truth? The answer is simple: We are all fearfully and wonderfully made in the image and likeness of God and we are all GOOD!
Peace and all good,
Brother Sun and Sister Moon
Personal Reflection:
How has science and/or reason helped you to grow in your understanding of God and/or homosexuality? Please share your answer in the comment spaces below.
