The Cincinnati Enquirer |
Editorial Page
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Wednesday, April 15, 1998 |
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As someone who has studied and taught the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, I believe it is important that Catholics review the current teachings concerning homosexual orientation. The recent protests at St. Xavier High School ["Lesson on gays protested," April 8], illustrate that many Catholics lack of knowledge on this subject.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in 1994, discusses homosexuality in teachings #2357-2359. While the Catechism calls homosexual persons to remain chaste, it also states: "They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination should be avoided." Allowing a person to speak from a secular organization that works to end such prejudice, such as P-FLAG, is not out of line with the Magisterium. |
In fact, St. Xavier’s choice to allow the speaker coincides with the US bishops’ October 1997 pastoral letter, "Always Our Children." The US bishops, the official teachers of our church, call for Catholics to accept all homosexuals in their families, communities and the sacraments.
 As Catholics, we must realize that Jesus was a person who condemned acts, not people. Whether a homosexual or heterosexual person participates in activities that the church considers immoral or not, we are called to embrace each other with the same non-judgmental love of Jesus. R. James Uhler, Hyde Park
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