What is homosexuality?
Homosexuality may be broadly defined as one who, by preference, is erotically attracted to members of the same sex and who usually, but not necessarily, has sexual relations with them. Female homosexuality also includes women whose sexual and emotional needs are fulfilled by women. These emotional and relational longings are the obvious differences between female and male homosexuals.
How does homosexuality relate to natural law?
Some laws are basic and fundamental to human nature and are discoverable by human reason without reference to specific legislative enactments or judicial decisions. Natural law is opposed to positive law, which is human-made, conditioned by history, and subject to continuous change.
How does natural law theory apply to us as human beings?
Our basic ethical intuition tells us that certain behaviors are inherently wrong because they are unnatural. For example, we perceive that the natural sex partner of a human is another human, not an animal. In the same reasoning, the natural sex partner for a man is a woman, and the natural sex partner for a woman is a man.
Is it possible to be “born gay”?
Many homosexuals insist that science has shown that homosexuality is inborn and is a genetic trait that cannot be changed, making homosexual behavior natural for them. Their belief is based on a handful of research studies conducted in the 1990s. However, none of these studies has ever been replicated, which means that they were never corroborated. These studies were eventually deemed inconclusive as the methodologies used were unsound or even misrepresented.
Is homosexuality nurtured instead?
Something that is not chosen does not mean that it is inborn. Some desires can be acquired or strengthened by habituation and conditioning instead of by conscious choice. For example, a person does not choose to be an alcoholic in the first place but excessive alcohol consumption and repeated intoxication results in one becoming an alcoholic. The desire to consume alcohol thus becomes an unconscious need. In the same way, by engaging in homosexual thoughts or behavior, an individual may acquire homosexual desires without consciously choosing them.
If homosexuality is not inborn, how does one develop its tendencies?
At best, the argument for being “born gay” suggests that individuals are predisposed to genetic, prenatal hormonal influences or other physical or brain differences, making them vulnerable to the environmental factors that can elicit homosexual desires. Such predisposition is largely correlational and not linked to genetics. For example, a tall person could be suited to play basketball since height correlates with playing basketball, but then there is no “basketball-playing gene”.
Interestingly, the evidence gathered from the opposing studies strongly indicates that the environment is more likely the dominant factor to have produced homosexual desires. Homosexual identity is shaped by other factors, such as family dynamics and relationships with parents and peers.
An extremely shy and artistic young boy who lacks masculine gender affirmation from his father could end up with an insecure gender identity. This might make him crave for male affirmation, inevitably becoming a target of seduction into homosexuality. Similarly, a girl who doesn’t fit into the classic gender profile, needs feminine affirmation, might be targeted by lesbians who play upon the girl’s emotional needs.
Are same-sex attractions preventable?
During the critical growing up years, if the emotional and developmental needs of a child are properly met by both family and peers, the development of same-sex attraction is very unlikely. Children need affection, praise and acceptance by each parent, by siblings and by peers. However, such social and family situations are not always easily established and the needs of children are not always readily identifiable, thus these pose challenges in the prevention of homosexual tendencies.
Can a homosexual change his/her sexual orientation?
Overcoming homosexuality from early adulthood is clearly possible and the treatment has been proven with significant results. Experienced therapists can help individuals uncover and understand the root causes of the emotional trauma which gave rise to these same-sex attractions and then work in therapy to resolve this pain.
Men experiencing same-sex attractions often discover how their masculine identity was negatively affected by feelings of rejection from their fathers or peers or from a poor body image which result in sadness, anger and insecurity. As this emotional pain is healed in therapy, the masculine identity is strengthened and same sex attractions diminish.
Women with same sex attractions can come to see how conflicts with fathers or other significant males led them to mistrust of male love or how lack of maternal affection led to a deep longing for female love. Insight into causes of anger and sadness will hopefully lead to forgiveness and freedom. All this takes time. Individuals suffering from same-sex attraction are no different than the many other men and women who have emotional pain and need to learn how to forgive.
How does therapy help a Catholic suffering from same-sex attraction?
For a Catholic with same-sex attraction, the goal of therapy should be freedom to live chastely according to one’s state in life. Some of those who have struggled with same-sex attractions believe that they are called to a celibate life. They should not be made to feel that they have failed to achieve freedom, because they do not experience desires for the opposite sex. Others wish to marry and have children. There is every reason to hope that many will be able, in time, to achieve this goal. They should not, however, be encouraged to rush into marriage, since there is ample evidence that marriage is not a cure for same-sex attractions. With the power of grace, the sacraments, support from the community, and an experienced therapist, a determined individual should be able to achieve the inner freedom promised by Christ.
