www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall question about homosexuality

To anyone who knows:

Please explain to me if this is true.

Someone, a Catholic, told me the other day in our discussion about homosexuality and pedophilia, that non clergy Catholic who are homosexual cannot receive communion. But Catholic clergy who are homosexual can practice their ministry AND receive communion.

Is this true? Is it different in the different Catholic Churches?

Ed Hashinsky

I've never heard this before. All Catholics are required to be in a state of grace when receiving Holy Communion. If someone has participated in a homosexual act, and then not made a confession, it is impossible for them to be in a state of grace.

And contrariwise, even someone who struggles greatly with such an attraction, yet intends to remain chaste, and has confessed any serious sins, is encouraged by the Church to receive Holy Communion.

Jeff

I think it possible to find various priests/confessors who may say anything to anyone about anything. Now whether it follows Church teaching, however, may be a different matter. But as far as your question about clergy vs. non-clergy, I have never heard that before. That being said, some of the things my friends have told me that priests said to them in confession defy belief.

If a Catholic priest is gay but totally chaste and celibate he is not in a state of sin (as far as homosexuality is concerned). In Catholicism as long as a gay person is chaste, celibate, and follows the teaching of the Church he/she is fine.

Same for both the Western and Eastern Church: http://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur68.htm

Ed,

in the context of your discussion, what is meant by, "who are homosexual"?

Any sexual activity outside of sacramental marriage by Catholics (clergy or laity) is sinful.

I followed the sex scandal stories over the years and it seems that many Catholic bishops DO permit homosexually active clergy to continue their ministry. Some clergy have their partners live with them with full knowledge of their bishops. If gay clergy can receive communion (and say mass) then why are practicing gay laity are not permitted communion? I don't want to name names or single out any particular person (I believe that this is against forum policy) but much of this was also in the news. My question isn't about this as much as it is about why homosexually active (gay or lesbian) church members (laity) cannot receive communion, but clergy who are can? What exactly are the rules?

Ed

Zan,

Your comments bring up an interesting point. I know that the members of Courage eschew such labels as "gay" and "homosexual" because they choose not to define themselves according to sins to which they may feel tempted but choose to avoid. This makes perfect sense to me. I have also seen articles in print (wish I could remember where and when!) in which Catholic priests insisted on calling themselves "gay" while at the same time affirming their commitment to living chastely. Does anyone know why someone would want to do that?


Peace,
Deacon Richard

Your point? There have been several bad bishops who did that, heck there have even been gay bishops themselves. This against the teaching of the Church. This is not limited to Catholicism, I recall a particular scandal a year or two ago in Greece about a secret group of gays in the Greek Orthodox Church which the bishop allowed to exist.

And before anyone pulls the INSULTING "all Catholic priests are perverts" bull s**t - there are more perverts in public educatioin percent wise than in the Roman Catholic Church. Don't hear about that very often in the news, now do we?

A person has to be in a state of Grace to recieve communion. Sexual activity out of wedlock (which includes gay sex) is a mortal sin and it requires confession prior to taking communion.

This article goes into detail over what happens if a priest is in mortal sin http://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur68.htm

Not only that but there are plenty of Homosexually active ministers out there, remember Ted Haggard?

This is hardly a Catholic only problem.

Zan,

I don't want to pick on the Catholic Church, but a friend who is Catholic just came out of the closet. He no longer goes to church even though he was the church choir director and music minister for years. He is not a drag queen nor does he flaunt his choice in sexuality. His life is a private affair. He is still deeply in love with his Catholic religion and still keeps his faith in Jesus, the respect of the Eucharist, and many ethical teachings in other regards. But for him he has chosen a lifestyle after much hardships that I cannot publicize. I sensed he was having a 'turn' in his orientation a few years ago, but never directly asked him about it. We parted our ways for other reasons, and lately I have caught up with him. He finally admitted to being gay. I was let down because I knew he chose that lifestyle after hardships I was privy to over the years. When I first met him he was a womanizer. But something clicked between then and now.

He cannot receive communion because he choses a lifestyle and will not give it up. He later bought a house with his partner and has become quite a successful person in his work. But he has confided in me several times his distraught about not being able to receive communion. But he knows Catholic priests who are also actively gay, their bishops know of their situation, and they not only continue to receive communion, the most sacred thing in the Catholic religion, but are also able to say mass, something my friend cannot even participate in even as a music minister.

Ed

Deacon Richard, This is a puzzle. is it possible to be a chaste gay?
Ed

If the bishop in question is allowing an sexually active homosexual priest to say mass than the bishop is in grave error, and once he dies Christ will judge him for his actions.

If your friend stays celibate and chaste then he may recieve communion too. Now I (exuse me for being rather personal) really enjoy females but, not being married, I stay celibate and chaste so I may be in a state of grace to take Eucharist, it is very hard but I do it out of love for Jesus. When I fail then I go to confession and pray that I don't give into temptation again.

Yes: do not have gay sex, do not masturbate, and have clean thoughts.