Is Homosexuality A Disorder?

[Good Friday]

As a same-sex attracted Catholic, commonly known as a "gay Catholic," I want to go on record as saying that, at least in my case, my same-sex attractions are [b]not[/b] genetic. I've read some of the suggested catalysts for same-sex attraction mentioned by the Catholic Medical Association, and I am the posterchild for those catalysts -- with only a few exceptions, such as the possibility of sexual or physical abuse. My mother is also same-sex attracted, and one or more of the catalysts that can contribute to same-sex attractions is present and prevalent in her past. The same is true of my mother's lesbian partner.

To me, that says something about the truth of what the Catholic Medical Association is saying. When you look at three same-sex attracted people and see at least one of these catalysts in their pasts (but often many more), it says something -- especially when you contrast it to the lack of hard evidence for a genetic cause.

Be that as it may, even if same-sex attracted people are born that way, that doesn't make same-sex attraction any less disordered. People are born with disorders every day. Babies are born blind, babies are born with Down's Syndrome, and perhaps babies are born with same-sex attractions. That doesn't mean that it's natural for babies to be blind, or for them to have Down's Syndrome, or for them to have same-sex attractions. The "God created me this way, so it must be okay" argument doesn't work. Yes, God may have allowed you to be created with a disorder -- but it was not for evil, it was for good. If He created anyone with same-sex attractions, He created them that way so that they could carry their cross, just as Christ was called to carry His Cross.

Remember, I carry this cross, and frequently I drop it and run away from it -- so this isn't a struggle that I'm watching from afar and saying, "You there, pick it up," like the Roman soldiers did to Simon. I'm living this myself, and I know that while it is very difficult to carry this cross and that there are many more than three falls along the way, it is possible because everything is possible with God. It's possible because if it was possible for God to be born into the world an Infant through an immaculately conceived Virgin, then it is possible for me to carry this cross with the grace that was won for me by the blood of that Incarnate God.

Unlike Aloysius, I doubt that I will ever be rid of my same-sex attractions. They have been so strong, for so long, that I don't think they're going anywhere. As a result, I will not marry and I will not be a priest, and I have no idea what my vocation is except to suffer under the weight of this. I don't know for certain what caused this, and I don't know what God's plan for it is, but I do know that it's [b]not[/b] for me to engage in activity that has [b]always and everywhere[/b] been contrary to God's law.

To conclude, you can accuse heterosexuals of homophobia and ignorance, but you can't accuse me. I have lived this, and I have lived it from both angles (chastity and total lack thereof), and I know what the truth is. The truth is not "we can all do what we want because God made us this way." The truth is that we all have crosses that God expects us to carry, not because He's a tyrant, but because He did it Himself and He knows we can do it with His help. This truth is nearly impossible for some to accept, and it has been nearly impossible for me to accept; I don't love those who can't accept it any less, because I know what they're going through, but I'm here to say that it is possible with God, if you're willing to let Him help you.

[White Knight]

Protestants believe its a Demonic thing going on. not a Disorder.

[Ash Wednesday]

Good Friday, your post and contribution I found especially insightful. God bless.

[Kuya Lee]

God bless you, Good Friday

Much love and prayers my friend

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Good Friday' date='Aug 16 2004, 02:11 AM'] As a same-sex attracted Catholic, commonly known as a "gay Catholic," I want to go on record as saying that, at least in my case, my same-sex attractions are [b]not[/b] genetic. I've read some of the suggested catalysts for same-sex attraction mentioned by the Catholic Medical Association, and I am the posterchild for those catalysts -- with only a few exceptions, such as the possibility of sexual or physical abuse. My mother is also same-sex attracted, and one or more of the catalysts that can contribute to same-sex attractions is present and prevalent in her past. The same is true of my mother's lesbian partner.

To me, that says something about the truth of what the Catholic Medical Association is saying. When you look at three same-sex attracted people and see at least one of these catalysts in their pasts (but often many more), it says something -- especially when you contrast it to the lack of hard evidence for a genetic cause.

Be that as it may, even if same-sex attracted people are born that way, that doesn't make same-sex attraction any less disordered. People are born with disorders every day. Babies are born blind, babies are born with Down's Syndrome, and perhaps babies are born with same-sex attractions. That doesn't mean that it's natural for babies to be blind, or for them to have Down's Syndrome, or for them to have same-sex attractions. The "God created me this way, so it must be okay" argument doesn't work. Yes, God may have allowed you to be created with a disorder -- but it was not for evil, it was for good. If He created anyone with same-sex attractions, He created them that way so that they could carry their cross, just as Christ was called to carry His Cross.

Remember, I carry this cross, and frequently I drop it and run away from it -- so this isn't a struggle that I'm watching from afar and saying, "You there, pick it up," like the Roman soldiers did to Simon. I'm living this myself, and I know that while it is very difficult to carry this cross and that there are many more than three falls along the way, it is possible because everything is possible with God. It's possible because if it was possible for God to be born into the world an Infant through an immaculately conceived Virgin, then it is possible for me to carry this cross with the grace that was won for me by the blood of that Incarnate God.

Unlike Aloysius, I doubt that I will ever be rid of my same-sex attractions. They have been so strong, for so long, that I don't think they're going anywhere. As a result, I will not marry and I will not be a priest, and I have no idea what my vocation is except to suffer under the weight of this. I don't know for certain what caused this, and I don't know what God's plan for it is, but I do know that it's [b]not[/b] for me to engage in activity that has [b]always and everywhere[/b] been contrary to God's law.

To conclude, you can accuse heterosexuals of homophobia and ignorance, but you can't accuse me. I have lived this, and I have lived it from both angles (chastity and total lack thereof), and I know what the truth is. The truth is not "we can all do what we want because God made us this way." The truth is that we all have crosses that God expects us to carry, not because He's a tyrant, but because He did it Himself and He knows we can do it with His help. This truth is nearly impossible for some to accept, and it has been nearly impossible for me to accept; I don't love those who can't accept it any less, because I know what they're going through, but I'm here to say that it is possible with God, if you're willing to let Him help you. [/quote]
Good post on this topic as always.

[marielapin]

I think its interesting that a few of you posted that in your psychology class you learned that it was a genetic disorder.

I had a very liberal teacher and he taught otherwise, as well as the books we read. They taught that it was against the principles of social Darwinism (otherwise known as survival of the fittest) that homosexuality would be a significantly large number of people, and that the number would grow. They attributed it purely to environment.

Think of it this way: if a person has a condition where they never procreate, how can they spread their genes to further generations? The only possible explanation for how it could be genetic was if it were a mutation. And the liklihood of that would put the number of those people within a thousanth of a percent of the population, not between 2-10%, which is the often quoted percentage of the population that is supposed to have homosexual tendancies.

Environment is the only logical explanation. Along with GF, I know some folks who are also poster children for the list of environmental factors.

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

It's caused by watching too much Bravo and eating brunch one too many times.

[dUSt]

Sometimes I wish I was gay, because then I wouldn't be tempted by females, and since I'm not attracted to guys, it'd be a lot easier to live a chaste life.

Wait, that didn't make any sense.

[RandomProddy]

[quote name='White Knight' date='Aug 16 2004, 09:24 AM'] Protestants believe its a Demonic thing going on. not a Disorder. [/quote]

This was certainly prevalent during the 19th century and before too.

Edited August 16, 2004 by RandomProddy