Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By their virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2358-2359).

People with homosexual attitudes must be treated with love and compassion, the more so since in most cases they have acquired these attitudes through the negative influence of their social environment. Rather than blame them, we must try to imagine how deeply wounded they are, both spiritually and psychologically. Total cure of homosexuality may well require therapeutic counseling (see suggested reading material below) but ultimately it is God’s love that makes such a cure possible. Only Divine Love is able to deliver people from their loneliness and sorrow, to make them aware that they are loved at all times and unconditionally. Homosexual persons must redirect their attention away from their sexuality to the love of Jesus Christ.

 

To fully receive this healing love, people suffering from homosexual desires must forgive all those who, by their deeds, attitudes and evil influence, have contributed to their disorder. They must offer their anger and sorrow to God in prayer, and ask for the grace of bestowing forgiveness. This unconditional forgiveness is the necessary condition to opening one’s heart fully to the Divine gift of healing. This must be accompanied by intensive prayer and frequent reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

 

The return to chastity is a long and arduous journey marked by frequent and painful failure. Patience is of paramount importance throughout this stormy period. In time, as the spiritual and emotional wounds heal, the homosexual desires will become less severe, and, in many cases, may disappear altogether.

For Christ there are no situations without solutions. There are no people too sinful, too impure, or too wounded to be healed. Those prone to homosexual behavior stand every chance of being healed, provided that they have complete trust in Christ and follow these steps:

 

 

The healing of homosexual tendencies is possible only when a true spiritual conversion takes place. It requires total trust in Christ and a willing effort to walk with Him through life. This spiritual renewal will not occur immediately, nor will full personal maturity be quickly restored. To regain full control of one’s life requires time, and this time will certainly be difficult. In the meantime, intensive prayer and trust in Jesus will help one to overcome strong homosexual temptations. Jesus will heal our wounded emotions only if we agree, in obedience and trust, to abide by His life-affirming principles.

 

If we lose faith in the healing power of Jesus, we fall prey to the propaganda of homosexual groups who claim that homosexuality is an inborn tendency and a natural, “alternative” expression of human sexuality.

It is in the saving Cross of Jesus – observes Pope John Paul II – in the gift of the Holy Spirit, in the Sacraments, which flow forth from the pierced side of the Redeemer (Jn 19:34), that believers find the grace and the strength always to keep God’s holy law, even amid the gravest of hardships (Veritatis Splendor 103).

 

M. P.