In regard to the biblical and other religious references above, I think it is
instructive for everyone to read objectively the following,
which articulates better than any of us individuals can, what Western Christian tradition--handed down thru 2,000 years of collective wisdom--says about homosexual unions. This is not "Bible thumping", but rather is doctrine from which the source of modern Christian belief on this topic is explained.
I'm posting this only to gain some mutual understanding here, NOT to argue about religions' and denominations' differences and bickering, so please just read it and try to understand the
foundations and precepts taught most Christians, which form our beliefs on this subject.
Please read the entire page at the link below, to see these key points in context.
Obviously, gay folks are not going to agree with it, but I think everyone can learn something from it to be able to understand our beliefs' historical and doctrinal origins
And before anyone gets into throwing stones back at the institution who wrote this, this is an adage I was taught many years ago about the human failure to live out all these doctrines:
"God knows we are not perfect, but He does know we have the capacity to
make progress toward perfection."
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
The integrity of the person
2338 The chaste person maintains the integrity of the powers of life and love placed in him. This integrity ensures the unity of the person; it is opposed to any behavior that would impair it. It tolerates neither a double life nor duplicity in speech.
2339 Chastity includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery which is a training in human freedom. The alternative is clear: either man governs his passions and finds peace, or he lets himself be dominated by them and becomes unhappy. "Man's dignity therefore requires him to act out of conscious and free choice, as moved and drawn in a personal way from within, and not by blind impulses in himself or by mere external constraint. Man gains such dignity when,......
2357
Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.
They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. 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.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the 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.......
Catechism of the Catholic Church - The sixth commandment