HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE ROMAN

CATHOLIC CHURCH:
A SHORT HISTORY OF OFFICIAL AND SEMI-
OFFICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS BY THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ON
HOMOSEXUALITY

www.maalawoffices.com
The Author, a married, practicing Roman Catholic, was one of the lead defense
counsel for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in the Clergy Sex Abuse Cases.

Winter 2009
 Contents Introduction
Roman Catholic pronouncements regarding
Introduction 2 its condemnation of homosexuality claim to
Primary Biblical Proscriptions Cited be founded in the Holy Bible as well as the
broader Magisterium of the Church,
By The Roman Catholic Church
including the writings of Doctors of the
Against Homosexuality 2 Church from the first centuries of the
Early Church Council Proscriptions Christian era. But on closer examination,
Against Homosexual Clergy 3 we see that the Church‟s views on
homosexuality are founded in large part on
Modern Vatican Proscriptions
its historical experience with homosexuality
Against Homosexuality 4 in the ranks of its own clergy and religious.
Conclusion 11
Some of the Church's official and semi-
official pronouncements regarding
homosexuality are set forth below.

Primary Biblical Proscriptions

Cited By The Roman
Catholic Church Against
Homosexuality

The Genesis account of the destruction of

Sodom is the foundational source of the
biblical proscription against homosexual
activities. Gen. 13:13; 18:20-22; 19:4-8;
and 19:24-25 (Sodom story). Prohibitions
against homosexual behavior are scattered
throughout the Old Testament. See, e.g.,
Leviticus 18: 22 ("You shall not lie with a
male as one lies with a female; it is an
abomination."); 20:13 ("If there is a man
who lies with a male as those who lie with a
woman, both of them have committed a
detestable act; they shall surely be put to
death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.");
Deut. 23:18 ("You shall not bring the hire of
a harlot or the wages of a dog [i.e., a
sodomite] into the house of the LORD your
God for any votive offering, for both of
these are an abomination to the LORD your
God.").

The New Testament is equally explicit in its

condemnation of homosexual acts. Among
the primary citations are I Cor. 6:9 ("Or do

Page | 2
you not know that the unrighteous men and getting an
will not inherit the kingdom of God? appropriate award for their
Do not be deceived; neither perversion."
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor [an] effeminate, nor See also what St. Paul say says of
homosexuals. .. ."); I Tim. 1:9-10 "masculorum concubitores" in I Cor. 6:10
("[the] law is not made for a ("Do you not know that the wicked will not
righteous person, but for those who inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
are lawless and rebellious, for the deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
ungodly and sinners, for the unholy idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes
and profane, for those who kill their nor homosexual offenders").
fathers or mothers, for murderers and
immoral men and homosexuals and Thus, there can be no doubt that
kidnappers and liars and perjurers, Sacred Scripture condemns homosexual
and whatever else is contrary to relations as a serious depravity.
sound teaching").
Early Church Council
St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans Proscriptions Against
(Rom. 1:24-24), cannot be any Actively Homosexual
clearer in his condemnation of Clergy
homosexual acts:
A comprehensive bibliography of early
"That is why God left Church pronouncements and proscriptions
them to their filthy against homosexuality is set forth at
enjoyments and the www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/lgbcathbib1.
practices with which html. The texts of several of the decrees of
they dishonor their early Church councils relating to
own bodies since they homosexuality are translated and printed in
have given up Divine Derrick S. Bailey, Homosexuality and the
truth for a lie and Western Christian Tradition (London:
have worshipped and Longmans, Green, 1975).
served creatures
instead of the Creator, Apparently, the first council that addressed
Who is blessed homosexuality in a major way was the
forever. Amen! That Council of Elvira, held early in the 4th
is why God has century at Elvira, near modern Granada.
abandoned them to According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, it
degrading passions; is the first council of which the canons have
why their women survived. Canon 71 condemned clergy who
have turned from were "corrupters of boys."
natural intercourse to
St. Basil of Nyssa, in his First Canonical
be consumed with
Epistle to Amphilochus of Iconium, (Epist.
passion for each
117, canon 62), in 375, and St. Gregory of
other, men doing
Nyssa, in his Canonical Letter to Letoius of
shameless things with
Mytilene (Epist. canonica 4), in 390, . . if possible, they should
also condemned homosexual acts by sleep in one room. However,
clergy. if there are too many for this,
they will be grouped in tens
Saint Basil's writings on and twenties, a senior in
monasticism emphasized the need to charge of each group. Let a
avoid situations where ephebophelia, candle burn throughout the
i.e., sex between an older man and a night. They will sleep in
teenage boy, could occur: their robes. . . The younger
brothers should not be next to
"It is frequently the each other."
case with young men
that . . . the glowing Quoted in J. Boswell, Christianity, Social
complexion of youth Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People
still blossoms forth in Western Europe from the Beginning of the
and becomes a source Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century
of desire to those (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press,
around them. If, 1980), 187-88.
therefore, anyone in
the monastery is St. Augustine reportedly warned his own
youthful and beautiful sister about lesbians when she entered the
. . . you sit in a chair convent in the year 423. See Michael J.
far away from that Maher, "Openly Addressing the Reality:
person . . . Do not be Homosexuality and Catholic Seminary
found with him either Policies," Religion & Education, Vo. 29,
indoors or where no No. 2 (University of Northern Iowa, Fall
one can see you 2002).
outdoors, no matter
how necessary." The Second Council of Tours, c. 14, in 567,
decreed that monks must not sleep two to a
Quoted in J. Boswell, bed. Subsequent councils apparently also
"Homosexuality and Religious Life: railed against homosexual practices.
A Historical Approach," in J.
Gramick's (ed.) Homosexuality in the The first General Council expressly
Priesthood and Religious Life (New criticizing homosexual acts was the Third
York: Crossroad, 1989), 12. Lateran Council in 1179. In canon 11, it is
stated:
A century later (in the 5th century),
St. Benedict, in his Rule, established "Whoever is caught involved
similar prophylactic rules designed in that incontinence which is
to discourage homosexual activities against nature, and because
among Benedictine monks: of which 'the wrath of God
came upon the sons of
"All monks are to disobedience' (Eph. 5:6), and
sleep in separate beds. five cities were consumed by
 fire (Gen. 14:24-35), various local synods in the 13th century
if they are clerics, issued canons which referred to sodomy:
they should be Paris 1212[ii.21], Rouen 1214, Angers
deposed from clerical 1216/19, Beziers 1246; also constitutions of
office and placed in a Fulk Bassest for London 1245/59,
monastery to do Alexander Stavensby for Coventry, 1224/37,
penance; if they are Peter Quinel for Exeter 1287; also
laymen, they are to be Dominican statutes, 1238, Carthusian
excommunicated and statutes, 1261 and Cistercian statutes, 1279.
completely isolated For all see Michal Goodich, The
from contact with Unmentionable Vice (Santa Barbara, Ca.:
believers." ABC-Clio, 1979), 45-46.

It is noteworthy that, while clerics Modern Vatican Proscriptions

guilty of sodomy were placed in Against Homosexuality
monasteries to do penance, laymen
guilty of sodomy were to be Preliminary research did not uncover any
excommunicated altogether, a much 19th century or early 20th century
harsher sentence. pronouncements by the Vatican regarding
homosexuality in general or homosexual
The Fourth Lateran Council in the seminarians in particular. Set forth below
13th century also condemned are the specific Vatican-issued or approved
sodomy by priests. See J. Boswell, pronouncements in that regard from the
Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Vatican II-era forward.
Homosexuality: Gay People in
Western Europe from the Beginning  1961 -- "Careful Selection and
of the Christian Era to the Training of Candidates for the States
Fourteenth Century (Chicago: The of Perfection and Sacred Orders"
University of Chicago Press, 1980).
The first modern-era proscription by the
The Council of Paris (1212) and the Holy See against homosexual seminarians
Council of Rouen (1214) required that I have located was issued in 1961 (i.e.,
nuns to have separate beds and also immediately prior to Vatican II) by the
required that a lamp burn all night in Vatican's Sacred Congregation for
their sleeping rooms. See J.C. Religious, under Pope John XXIII. It is
Brown, "Lesbian Sexuality in entitled "Careful Selection and Training of
Medieval and Early Modern Candidates for the States of Perfection and
Europe," in Duberman, M., Vicinus, Sacred Orders." At the time of its
M. & Chauncey, G. (eds.) Hidden publication, the documents was referred to
from History: Reclaiming our Gay by the Sacred Congregation for Religious as
and Lesbian Past (New York: "a matter of public law." It apparently was
Meridian, 1989). first published in the United States in The
Canon Law Digest, Vol. 5, 1963, Bruce
Finally, according to the Fordham Publishing Co., Milwaukee. The document
University bibliography cited above, states, in pertinent part, as follows:
 "Advancement to acts are contrary to the "objective moral
religious vows and order," are condemned by Sacred Scripture
ordination should be as a "serious depravity" and "even presented
barred to those who as the sad consequence of rejecting God,"
are afflicted with evil are "intrinsically disordered," and "can in no
tendencies to case be approved of." Art VIII.
homosexuality or
pederasty, since for The Declaration goes on to direct the
them the common life Bishops "to see that a sound doctrine [i.e.,
and priestly ministry about the sinfulness and depravity of
would constitute homosexual acts] enlightened by faith and
serious dangers." directed by the Magisterium of the Church is
taught in faculties of theology and in
 1975 -- "Persona Humana: seminaries." Art. XIII.
Declaration on Certain
Questions Concerning Sexual At the same time, the Declaration
Ethics" distinguishes between homosexuality that is
transitory or not "incurable" and
In 1975, Cardinal Franjo Seper, homosexuality that is definitive and
Prefect of the Sacred Congregation permanent from an "innate instinct" that is
for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a incurable. It affirms that homosexuals must
"Declaration on Certain Questions be treated with understanding, that "their
Concerning Sexual Ethics." In this culpability is to be judged with prudence,"
official pronouncement, the Vatican that "no moral justification for acts because
"repeat[s] the Church's doctrine on of the homosexual condition can be given,"
certain particular points, in view of and that "we cannot conclude those who
the urgent need to oppose serious suffer from this anomaly are personally
errors and widespread aberrant responsible."
modes of behavior." Art. VI. It
reiterates the "Christian doctrine"
that "every genital act must be within
the framework of marriage." Art.  1985 -- "A Memorandum to Bishops
VII. "[D]issolute sexual union seeking advice in matters concerning
defiles the temple of the holy spirit homosexuality and candidates for
which the Christian has become." admission to Seminary"
Id. Persons who "judge indulgently"
or even "excuse completely" In 1985, Cardinal William Baum, then
homosexual relations do so "in Prefect of the Vatican's Sacred Congregation
opposition to the constant teaching for Catholic Education, issued to Bishops in
of the Magisterium and to the moral the United States "A Memorandum to
sense of the Christian people." Art. Bishops seeking advice in matters
VIII. concerning homosexuality and candidates
for admission to Seminary." The
In summary, according to the Memorandum again emphasizes a strong
Vatican (circa 1975), homosexual Vatican position against active homosexuals
being accepted into United States Pastoral Care of Homosexual
seminaries: Persons''

"A candidate for his In 1986, the Vatican's Sacred Congregation

homosexually active or who of the Doctrine of the Faith issued its ''Letter
leads a homosexual lifestyle to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the
(whether he is homosexual or Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons. ''
not) is not acceptable [as a This document again clearly identifies
seminarian]." homosexuality as a grave disorder: an evil
and depravity. The Congregation for the
"[L]atent or repressed Doctrine of the Faith made clear that
homosexuality is also a counter- "although the particular inclination of the
indication requiring that the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more
candidate not be accepted -- it or less strong tendency ordered toward an
would not be faith to the intrinsic moral evil; and this the inclination
individual nor to the seminary itself must be seen as an objective disorder."
community."
Referring to its "Declaration on Certain
"We feel that the distinction that Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics" of
has been made in the past December 29, 1975, the Congregation
between homosexual practice dispelled any possible support for "an overly
and orientation seems to us to benign interpretation [being] given to the
have become blurred, with homosexual condition itself." In clarifying
'orientation' now allowing of the and emphasizing its rejection of homosexual
embrace of an unacceptable activities as contrary to natural law and the
'commitment' to or support of Church's Magisterium, this document
homosexual practices or stresses the following points:
lifestyles."
Although the mere inclination to
"We prefer to distinguish homosexuality not a sin, it
between practice, orientation and nonetheless is a tendency towards an
temptation, the first two being intrinsic moral evil. The inclination
counter-indications of itself, therefore, must be seen as an
acceptability. Temptations may "objective disorder."
involve or depend on
orientations, but we prefer to use There is a clear consistency in
the word temptation when the Scriptures on the immorality of
behavioural [sic] impulse, homosexual behavior.
inclination or appetite does not
involve the orientation of the When they engage in homosexual
kind described above." activity, homosexuals confirm in
themselves "disordered sexual
 1986 -- ''Letter to the Bishops inclination" which is "essentially
of the Catholic Church on the self-indulgent."
A person who engages in  1990 -- "Directives on Formation in
homosexual behavior acts Religious Institutes"
immorally.
In 1990, the Vatican's Congregation for
Although the practice of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies
homosexuality seriously of Apostolic Life issued its "Directives on
threatens the lives and well- Formation of Religious Institutes." In its
being of a large number of prefatory comments, it states that the
people, its advocates remain document has "the weight of an Instruction
undeterred and refuse to according to can. 34 of the Code of Canon
consider the magnitude of the Law" and was approved by the Holy Father.
risks involved.
In the section II.D., entitled "Sexuality and
It nevertheless is deplorable Formation" the Directives state that "those
that homosexual people are who do not seem to be able to overcome
object of violent malice in their homosexual tendencies, or who
speech or action; such maintain it is possible to adopt a third way,
treatment deserves 'living in an ambiguous state between
condemnation from pastors. celibacy and marriage' (104) must be
It reveals a disregard for dismissed from religious life."
others endangering the most
fundamental principles of a  1992 -- ''Some Considerations
healthy society. Each Concerning the Catholic Response to
person's intrinsic dignity Legislative Proposals on the Non-
must be respected in word, in Discrimination of Homosexual
action and in law. Persons''

When it is claimed that In 1992, the Vatican's Sacred

homosexual condition is not Congregation for the Doctrine of the
disordered or when Faith issued a statement entitled
homosexual activity is ''Some Considerations Concerning
condoned we should not be the Catholic Response to Legislative
surprised when "irrational" Proposals on the Non-Discrimination
and violent reactions of Homosexual Persons.'' The
increase. document evidently was designed to
influence Catholic opinion in
All support should be response to proposed equal rights
withdrawn from any legislation for homosexuals. It
organizations which seek to describes homosexuality as an
undermine the teaching of the "objective disorder" and a '"tendency
Church regarding ordered towards an intrinsic evil."
homosexuals and Rejecting the concept of homosexual
homosexuality, which are "human rights," it asserts that there is
ambiguous about it or which "no right" to homosexuality and that
neglect it entirely. civil liberties can be "legitimately
limited for objectively organizations and institutions.
disordered external conduct."
 1994 -- Catechism of the
The significant points include Catholic Church
the following:
The official Roman Catholic
Sexual orientation does not Catechism strongly condemns
constitute a quality homosexual activities, labeling them
comparable to race, ethnic as "acts of grave depravity,"
background, etc. in respect to "intrinsically disordered," and
non-discrimination. "contrary to the natural law."
Catechism § 2357. Judging that
There are areas in which it is homosexual acts "do not proceed
not unjust discrimination to from a genuine affective and sexual
take sexual orientation into complementarity," the Catechism
account, e.g., adoption and declares that "[u]nder no
foster care, employment of circumstances can they be
teachers and athletic coaches approved." Id.
and military recruitment.
 2002 -- Pope John Paul II
Although all persons have the Himself and Various Vatican
right to work, housing, etc., Spokesmen Speak Out Against
rights are not absolute; they Homosexual Seminarians
can be legitimately limited
for objectively disordered In apparent response to the clergy
external conduct as in the sexual abuse scandal in the United States,
case of the physically or the Holy Father himself, Pope John Paul II,
mentally ill. as well as Vatican spokesman Joaquin
Navarro-Valls and Secretary of the Sacred
There is no right to Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
homosexuality which, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, have all stated
therefore, it should not form unequivocally that seminaries must screen
the basis for juridical claims. out homosexual candidates. See E.
Rossini, "Pope to Church: Risky
The problem of Seminarians Must Go," National Catholic
discrimination does not Register, 15-21 Sept. 2002. J. Thavis,
usually arise if homosexual "Vatican's Spokesman's Comments
people do not publicize their Highlight Debate Over Gay Priests,"
sexual orientation. Catholic News Service, 6 March 2002.
It is inappropriate for church In particular, Pope John Paul II's spokesman
authorities to endorse or Joaquin Navarro-Valls, citing canon law on
remain neutral toward homosexuality in a March 3, 2002 interview
adverse legislation even if it with the New York Times, said, "People
grants exceptions to church with these inclinations just cannot be
ordained." Dr. Navarro-Valls of the Sacraments, Cardinal Jorge Medina
continued, "That does not imply a Estévez, as follows:
final judgment on people with
homosexuality," and added, "But you Ordaining homosexuals "is
cannot be in this field." absolutely inadvisable and imprudent
and, from a pastoral point of view,
Zenit News reported that "John Paul very risky. . . [A] person who is
II pointedly instructed bishops to be homosexual or has homosexual
extremely careful in their selection tendencies is not, therefore, suitable
of candidates for the priesthood, in to receive the sacrament of holy
order to avoid a repetition of the orders."
scandals linked to emotional
disorders." Zenit continued that the Pro. n. 886/02/0 Vatican City, May 16,
Pope said "it would be lamentable 2002.
that..youths with obvious signs of
emotional disorders, be admitted to The Jesuit's Catholic weekly, America,
ordination" and that mistakes in reports that the Rev. Andrew R. Baker of the
choosing such candidates for the Vatican's Sacred Congregation for Bishops
priesthood "can cause grave scandal noted that the homosexual orientation “is
in the consciences of the faithful and fundamentally flawed in its disordered
obvious harm for the whole Church." attraction because it can never „image‟ God
Catholic World News also used the and never contribute to the good of the
term "emotional disorders". The person or society.” A Catholic News Service
story also is printed on the EWTN story (Am., Signs of the Times, 10/21)
website at discussing an anticipated position paper on
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstor the subject quotes an unnamed source
y.asp?number=29282. saying, “The document‟s position is
negative, based in part on what the
CNN reported "Pope John Paul II Catechism of the Catholic Church says in its
says that to preserve itself, the revised edition, that the homosexual
Roman Catholic Church has to be orientation is „objectively disordered.‟
much more careful not to let men Therefore, independent of any judgment on
with 'deviations in their affections' the homosexual person, a person of this
enter the priesthood." See orientation should not be admitted to the
http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/ seminary and, if it is discovered later, should
europe/09/05/pope.priests/index.html not be ordained.”
. ABC News also used the term
"deviations in their affections". See
http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/
europe/09/05/pope.priests/index.html

The December 8-14 issue of the

National Catholic Register quoted
the Secretary of the Congregation for
Divine Worship and the Discipline
 U.S.C.C.B. pronouncements  1991 -- "Human Sexuality"
on homosexuality and
homosexual clergy In 1991, the United States Catholic
Conference published Human Sexuality.
 1976 -- "The Gift of Human Sexuality reiterates the Church's
Sexuality" concern that homosexuals and persons with
homosexual tendencies "must certainly be
In response to the uproar in treated with understanding." The
the Catholic gay and lesbian requirement that homosexuals live chaste
community over the “Declaration on and celibate lives is stressed. Educationally,
Certain Questions Concerning the issue must be skirted but instead "faced
Sexual Ethics” issued by the in all objectivity by the pupil and the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the educator when the case presents itself."
Faith on Dec. 29, 1975, Bishop While respect must be taught for every
Francis Mugavero of Brooklyn N.Y., human being regardless of sexual
on behalf of the Bishops of the orientation, "the unambiguous moral norms
United States, issued a pastoral letter of the Christian tradition regarding
on February 11, 1976, entitled "Gift homosexual genital activity" must be
of Sexuality." In it, Bishop presented "clearly and delicately." For
Mugarevo commenting in a very persons struggling with his or her
sensitive way on the C.D.F. homosexual orientation, the pastor and
Declaration. It emphasized that educator should bear in mind that the
"Homosexuals, like everyone else, distinction between being homosexual and
should not suffer from prejudice doing homosxual genital actions, "while not
against their basic human rights, always clear and convincing, is a helpful and
They have a right to respect, important one when dealing with the
friendship, and justice. They should complex issue of homosexuality."
have an active role in the Christian
community." It did not waiver,  1998 -- "Always Our Children: A
however, from the Church's firm Pastoral Message to Parents of
prohibition of homosexual activities. Homosexual Children and Suggestions
for Pastoral Ministers."
 1976 -- " To Live in Christ
Jesus: A Pastoral Reflection In 1998, the National Conference of
on the Moral Life" Catholic Bishop's Committee on Marriage
and Family issued "Always Our Children:
In 1976, the National A Pastoral Message to Parents of
Conference of Catholic Bishops also Homosexual Children and Suggestions for
published "To Live in Christ Jesus: Pastoral Ministers." In it, the United States
A Pastoral Reflection on the Moral Catholic Conference seems to depart from
Life" In it, the Bishops the Vatican's position in the 1986 ''Letter to
acknowledged that homosexual the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the
orientation is not voluntary. It calls Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons,''
for homosexuals to live a life of namely, that a homosexual orientation, by its
chastity. very nature, "is a more or less strong
tendency ordered toward an intrinsic defended and all must strive to eliminate
moral evil; and thus the inclination injustice, oppression or violence.
itself must be seen as an objective
disorder." Homosexuals have a right to be
welcomed into the community, to hear
In particular, the 1998 NCCB the word of God and to receive pastoral
statement says that "by itself, care.
therefore, a homosexual orientation
cannot be considered sinful, for It is God's plan that every act of sexual
morality presumes the freedom to intercourse occur only in marriage
choose . . .." The American Bishops between a man and a woman and be
further stated that "Homosexual open to new life.
persons who are living chaste lives
should have opportunities to lead and III. Conclusion
serve the community." It is unclear
whether they refer to the "Church" The Church's position on homosexuality,
community, or the community at while fundamentally unchanged over the
large. ages, has been implemented in actual
policies and pronouncements in varying
Some other key points forms and ways over the ages.
include:
Sometimes obscured in the teachings on the
Sexuality is a gift of God. sinfulness that the Church sees in
Everyone should acknowledge homosexual acts, is the pastoral message of
and accept [his] sexual identity love, inclusion, and non-discrimination for
which helps us define the unique all people, regardless of sexual orientation,
persons we are. One component, and the Church's invitation to all of the
sexual orientation, is a deep- People of God to participate fully, without
seated, relatively stable prejudice, in accord with the Church's
dimension of one's personality Magisterium, in God's plan of salvation for
experienced as a given and not all children of Eve, everywhere.
something freely chosen.

Homosexuals are still people of

God and are "gifted and called"
for a purpose in God's design.

Nothing in the Bible or Catholic

teaching can be used to justify
prejudicial or discriminatory
attitudes and behaviors towards
homosexual people.

The fundamental rights of

homosexual persons must be