This is so touching and deeply relevant to our times, that it brought me to tears. Over and over the relentless beauty of the human spirit touches my heart, while I am equally touched by the vast unconsciousness co-existing with the humanity. I am so grateful to know that the heart is so strong in so many, everywhere!

Good post. I am NOT a catholic, but I think you did a good job defending your position. A person may have homosexual desires, but can abstain from acting on those desires. Just as a person who is an alcoholic can refuse to take a drink. They may always crave alcohol, but they know and understand how harmful it is and avoid it. Resist temptation. The homosexual lifestyle has devastating physical consequences. God told us not to do certain things because He loves us and does not want us to suffer the consequences. If we could understand the great love He has for us, we would desire to obey Him without question or complaint.

I'm sorry. Deacon Tim, but the Roman Catholic Church has withheld and suppressed a lot of information from it's own people for hundreds of years.

1.) Your statement that "This as been the case for all of human history until the last 15-20 years or so in this country at least. The momentum to change the definition of marriage seems to have picked up in that time frame." is simply not true. The Roman Church's earliest recorded commitment ceremonies are from about the 8th century and it was between two MEN. The Church has no records of commitment ceremonies for heterosexual couples until about the 12th century. That's because marriage was a civil contract meant to ensure the orderly transition of property and real estate to legitimate offspring. When the Church started taking over civil and legal functions for the State (when the church BECAME the State) then the Church had to ensure those property rights. And, for example, by having nuns "marry" Christ, the Church benefited by laying claim to those women's property. See "Christianity, and Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality" for the research that a Newsweek critic described as, "a revolutionary challenge to some of Western culture's most familiar moral assumptions". (Not an easy read because it's primarily a research document and is extensively annotated.) The Church doesn't want you to know about this and has now sealed the relevant documents and will now allows no access for anyone.

2.) The Church is very selective in what history it teaches. Most people believe that priestly celibacy has always been the norm from the beginning of the church. Not so. Until the the councils of the fourth century, starting with the Council of Elvira, there were no rulings on it. Even as the additional councils ruled in favor of celibacy, married priests were fairly common especially in the Greek and Irish churches. Celibacy did not become entrenched and enforced until the Council of Nicea in the 12th century. During the intervening time, groups of Irish religious men and women lived together in community and raised their children together. (Historian Peter Tremayne has written a series of historical fiction novels that are a fascinating look into the Church in Ireland during the 7th century. The foreword to each book in the series contains extensive historical information about the Church in Ireland at that time.)

3.) I'm sorry, but you are wrong about the Church's current position on homosexuality because, as in the examples above, the Church doesn't want it's true history and Official position publicized to the lay people. (Who apparently are supposed to follow the hierarchy without question.) You are correct that for hundreds of years, the Church's position was that homosexuals, as persons, are not sinful; it's homosexual behavior that's sinful. In fact the Church's official position was that ALL sexual behavior was sinful unless it was inside a sanctioned marriage and for the purpose of procreation. Therefore, all persons who were not married were prohibited from having sex. It wasn't a gay or straight thing—it was an "outside of marriage" thing.
That is no longer the case.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (the "Inquisition") statement was that homosexuals are "intrinsically disordered". Which clearly means that homosexuals are sinful even if they are celibate. "Intrinsically disordered" means the your very existence is sinful. Yes, that's contrary to overall Catholic belief, but it's a fact that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has not rescinded. It is the official position of the church even if they don't want you to know it.

Here's the exact citation on the Church's position:

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homoseual Persons

in paragraph 3:

Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.

01 Oct 1986 - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

" . . the inclination (is) an objective disorder . . "

Which clearly means the you are sinful even if you do not act it..

Thank you, Deacon Tim. Everything you have said is accurate with the teachings I was taught in the Catholic Church. Shame these rumors exist and that Catholic's sins may have brought them about. St. Vincent de Paul does NOT ask orientation before helping people. The Catholic Church loves ALL people, even if we acknowledge some acts as sinful. And I love you referencing the CCC, I was about to do so, as the part on homosexuality(and all parts) was well written.

Also, kudos to these Nanas. Inspiring women.