The Catholic Church, one of the world’s largest religious institutions, has long held a complex and often contradictory stance on the LGBTQ+ community. While the Church’s official teachings condemn homosexual acts as “gravely sinful” and “contrary to natural law,” it also calls for gay people to be treated with “respect, compassion, and sensitivity.” This duality has created a space of immense pain and confusion for many LGBTQ+ Catholics, who often feel torn between their faith and their identity.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the official summary of the Church’s teachings, states that homosexual acts “under no circumstances can they be approved.” It also states that “the number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” This distinction between homosexual orientation and homosexual acts is a key part of the Church’s official position.
The Vatican has consistently reaffirmed its position on homosexual acts and has rejected the idea of same-sex marriage. In 2021, the Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a decree that stated the Church cannot bless same-sex unions because “God cannot bless sin.” This statement caused a great deal of pain and disappointment for many LGBTQ+ Catholics and their allies, and it was a powerful reminder of the Church’s official position.
However, the Catholic Church is not a monolithic institution. There are a number of priests, nuns, and lay people who have been vocal in their support of the LGBTQ+ community. Many of them have been working for years to change the Church from within, to create a more inclusive and welcoming space for all. They argue that the Church’s teachings on love and compassion should be extended to the LGBTQ+ community, and that the Church should not be a source of discrimination and pain.
The current Pope, Pope Francis, has offered a more compassionate and pastoral tone towards the LGBTQ+ community than his predecessors. He famously said, “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay people, and he has spoken out against “unjust discrimination” of gay people. While he has not changed the Church’s official teachings, his words have offered a glimmer of hope for many LGBTQ+ Catholics, and they have led to a a sense of possibility for a more inclusive future.
The ongoing debate over the Catholic Church’s stance on the LGBTQ+ community is a reflection of a broader tension within the Church. It’s a debate about how to balance tradition with compassion, and how to create a church that is a source of hope and healing for all, not just a select few. The road ahead is long, but for many LGBTQ+ Catholics, the fight for a more inclusive church is a fight worth fighting.