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Melissa Raynor
Instructor: Kyllikki Rytov
ENC 2135-94
9 November 2016
To what extent is the LGBT community tolerated in Catholicism?
Homosexuality has existed since the first humans; however, the LGBT community has
not been a highly debated topic until recently. Same-sex marriage was first legalized in the
Netherlands in 2001, which allowed the LGBT movement to expand to other countries including
Spain, Italy, Britain, and the United States. This issue became even more controversial after the
U.S. Supreme Court legalized homosexual marriage on June 26, 2015. Although the Catholic
Church denounces the ideal of same-sex marriage, it is necessary for Catholics to respect the
LGBT community because homosexuality is not a choice in most circumstances. There has been
much debate on the cause of homosexuality whether or not there is a biological source or a
social construct. Studies by geneticist Dean Hamer were performed in 1993 that hypothesized
that gene Xq28 was responsible for homosexuality; however, his hypothesis was debunked
because other science teams could not replicate his results and the concept of gay genes were
determined to be elusive. William Rice, an evolutionary geneticist, [suggests] thatunerased
epi-marks might lead to homosexuality (Balter). Rices hypothesis prompted Tuck Ngun to
conduct an experiment that studied the methylation patterns in 37 sets of discordant twins and 10
pairs in which both individuals are homosexual. Nguns experiment [reached] almost 70%
accuracy; however, the predictive ability applies only to the study sample and not to the wider
population. The geneticists acknowledge that their results are novel. Because the results are so

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recent and need further testing, the geneticists [stress] that the findings shouldnt be used to
produce tests for homosexuality. On the other hand, Michel Foucault proposes the construct
conception of sexuality (Egan). Foucault explains that sexuality is a [structure] built into the
very fabric of modern society[that shapes] how we understand the world and our place within
it. Catholics need to learn to tolerate the LGBT community, even though it is against
Catholicism to support gay marriage.
To further investigate this question, it is necessary to understand the Catholic position on
the issue of homosexuality. The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains dogmas regarding
the topic of homosexuality. Within the Catholic faith, homosexual acts are intrinsically
disordered. Homosexuals are required to live a life of chastity within the Roman Catholic way
of life. On the contrary, homosexuals must be accepted with respect, compassion, and
sensitivity (Human Rights Campaign). Also, every sign of unjust discrimination in their
regard should be avoided because it is a Catholic teaching to obey the Greatest Commandment
which includes, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22:38). The Catholic
Church stands firm in their opposition to same-sex marriage, yet includes members of the LGBT
community in church life. Although there is much debate upon the inclusion of gays, lesbians,
and the notion of same-sex marriage, there is no official policy that discusses transgender people
in the Catholic Church standards. Since there is little information on the other aspects of the
LGBT community, the majority of this paper will focus on issues pertaining to homosexuals.
Spain and Italy were founded on the principles of Catholicism. Since these two countries
have a solid Catholic history, it is assumed that they would adhere to the strict Catholic dogmas
against gay marriage. According to Maria Moscatis article, the two countries differ in regards to
same-sex unions; Spain is pro-gay marriage, while Italy is against the ideal of same-sex

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marriages. Italy nearly overturned the laws regarding homosexual marriage during the rule of a
leftist government from 2006 to 2008. After the leftist reign ceased, the Vatican became
involved in the Italian political atmosphere. The Roman Catholic Church believed that allowing
same-sex marriage would dehumanize the family, (Moscati 56) which is a very radical
perspective and does not abide by the toleration that is supposed to be practiced by Catholics.
Because this matter is so controversial in nature, it is understandable that some gays and
lesbians struggle with identifying as Catholics because their sexuality differs from the teachings
of the Catholic Church. Andrew Yip supplements this notion by stating that research evidence
suggests that religious gay people demonstrate a higher degree of stress and anxiety about their
sexuality (166). Jeffrey Essman, a Catholic gay, voices that he had a more difficult time
proclaiming his faith rather than denoting his homosexuality. Jeffrey includes his conversion
story back to the Catholic Church after his period of spiritual laziness (36). Essmans exboyfriend, a Catholic convert, was the catalyst for his journey back to the Catholic roots. His ex
emphatically proclaimed his love for the Catholic way of life and his conversion experience,
which gave Jeffrey the courage to be spiritually honest and return to his church community. His
church in New York City is very inclusive and views him strictly as a Catholic rather than
primarily as a gay individual. He is a lector, Eucharistic minister, and the third grade catechist
teacher. Essman grieves for his gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in the Catholic faith who do
not feel welcomed by their respective churches and speaks out about this irony. He also
encourages other gay Catholics to return to their churches and grow in faith. He also stresses
that the sin of [his] homosexuality is that it led [him] to believe lies (Essman 36). Through this
article, the author persuades heterosexual Catholics to accept and cherish the differences present
within the church community as seen in Essmans home parish in New York City. The following

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excerpt from the article characterizes how all homosexuals should be treated within the Roman
Catholic Church. Essman includes the following quote to portray that God is merciful and
loving and does not simply judge based on sexuality.
As Catholics weve heard a million times that everyone is welcome at the table, so much
so that its nearly a spiritual clich. But once you actually experience that welcome on a
real level, when the invitation goes beyond Christian nicety or tolerance and pulls you
into the living spirit of the faith community, into transcendence, you remember that God
doesnt accept us, doesnt tolerate us. God loves us. (36)
There are others like Essman who express both their religious beliefs and homosexuality.
One of the more prominent figures who emphasize both characteristics is Milo Yiannopoulus.
Milo is a devout Catholic and has openly proclaimed being homosexual. He is a British
journalist and technology editor for Breitbart News. He is also well known for his public
speaking events which include various topics including the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting.
Milo a guest speaker at Florida State University on September 23, 2016 emphatically
believes that Catholics respectfully treat homosexuals and other members of the LGBT
community. Milo confesses to being a gay man that is promiscuous; he later retorts in an
interview with Joe Rogen that [he] would agree it would be better if [he] didnt behave like this,
and if [he] could choose to be heterosexual [he] would do so (Jeffries). Milo uses this interview
to express that being homosexual is not a choice that humans have the power to make rather
they are born with an attraction to the same sex. Milo also alludes to the fact that his licentious
sexual acts are not in alliance with the ideals of his Catholic faith; however, he still feels
respected within the Catholic Church. Milo was infuriated by the events of the Pulse shooting at
the nightclub in Orlando, Florida; he stated that unlike Islam, we dont have violence against

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gay people in Christianity (Nash). Milo furthered this argument by depicting the actions of the
Catholic Church towards the LGBT members during the 1950s and 1960s. During those two
decades, homosexuality was illegal in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Rather than conforming
to the jurisdictions of the United Kingdom and Ireland which forbade act of homosexuality, the
Catholic Church welcomed gays and lesbians by making them part of the clergy, giving them a
home, [and] giving them sanctuary.
Pope Francis also sheds light on the tolerance and progressive Catholic outlook on the
topic of same-sex marriage. Pope Francis is more liberal and progressive than previous popes
like Pope John Paul II. A classic example of Pope Francis progressive qualities is his rhetorical
question of Who am I to judge? which he made during a press conference in 2013. For many
people dedicated to the LGBT community, this was monumental as Pope Francis became the first
pope to gain favor in the mainstream and gay press (Hunt 7). Although Hunt is a liberal
feminist, she is opposed to the idea that Pope Francis is not addressing gay marriage directly, but
rather leaving the judgement up to the laity or perhaps only the Just God. She was also disturbed
by his supposed doublespeak as he inspired an Auxiliary Bishop named Charles Scicluna of
Malta to protest the idea of same-sex adoption. He told the Auxiliary Bishop because he did not
want to lose the new-found LGBT members that he appealed to by his now famous line from the
press conference when he first became pope.
Most Catholic Churches respect the lesbian and gay members of the congregation;
however there are some that are cynical towards them. Essman hinted at this perception in his
article through these quick statistics depicted below.
Of the 51 percent who do have a religious affiliation, 26 percent are Catholics, and two
thirds of that 26 percent consider their own church to be unfriendly toward them. When

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respondents were asked to list the religions they considered most unfriendly, 8 in 10 put
the Catholic Church on the list, along with the Mormon Church and Islam. (36)
There is a study that portrays the lives of 8 gay Catholics and how they shared their
stories and the hardships they faced through grasping their sexuality. There were many different
themes that were presented during the course of the interviews. The themes included growing in
faith, discovering ones homosexuality, experiencing a conflict (spiritual dilemmas, fear of
disappointing family, anticipating rejection by the community), seeking peace (reducing religious
involvement, questioning the interpretation of the doctrine, undermining priests authority, trying
to reject homosexual attraction, putting trust in Gods plan, using professional help, seeking
acceptance from clergy), coming-out in a Catholic family, and bearing the sin. For the eight
males, the Catholic faith was deeply rooted within their family, especially by their mothers. This
study depicts how sexuality and religion is intertwined for some people.
Some dogmas present within the Catholic Church are outdated and are regarded as being
too harsh. The teachings are beginning to evolve with the changes, so it is important for
homosexuals to maintain Essmans optimistic view toward rejoining the Catholic Church, rather
than becoming an atheist. And by the grace of the people I pray with every week, by the love
they give me and the love I return, I move forward with them into the truth: I am part of society.
I am part of nature. And I am very happily part of the church (Essman). He demonstrated
forgiveness of those who have scorned him for his sexuality, which perfectly depicts the Catholic
teachings.
Most Catholic churches are very inclusive to newly incoming gays and lesbians;
contrarily, there are some churches that choose to discriminate against the members of the LGBT
community. Zach Ford reports that this court just gave a Catholic Church its blessing to

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discriminate against gay people. Colleen Simon, a lesbian, was employed by St. Francis Xavier
Church for approximately a year. She claims that she was fired after her sexual orientation was
publically disclosed. Jackson County Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III ruled against Simon; thus
essentially granting the Church free reign to hire and fire according to its religious beliefs
(Ford). Zach associates with this event because he is a gay man himself and understands her
struggle. Ford is a self-proclaimed atheist, which most likely occurred after he was rejected by
his previous church. Although Fords explanation is clearly biased, it does not undermine the
event that caused Colleen Simon to lose her job based on discrimination. Kristen Hannum writes
about how a lesbian couple was treated unfairly by their parish, which is the Sacred Heart of
Jesus in Boulder, Colorado. The controversy ignited after Father William Breslin refused to reenroll the lesbian couples child in school. Pastor Breslin stated that [he] chose to protect the
faith over doing what would have looked like the loving thing to do (Hannum). This act not
only alienated the lesbian couple, but also Shawn Reynolds. Shawn is a gay parishioner that
urges pastorsto tend to the flock, not disperse them. Another example of discrimination
against homosexuals within the Catholic Church is the firing of a vice principal of Eastside
Catholic School because he is gay. Mark Zmuda, the homosexual vice principal, stated that the
last thing [he] ever wanted to do was to sue the school or the Catholic Church; (Associated
Press) however, he believed he had to voice his concern regarding the double-standard for
lesbians and gays.
Catholics need to develop an attitude of tolerance and inclusion toward lesbians, gays,
bisexuals, and transgender people. They need to not be hypocritical and respect homosexuals
because God loves them just as He loves a straight person. After all, God created each person in
His image and likeness, so it shouldnt matter if someone is gay or straight. I personally disagree

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with the concept of gay marriage because marriage is a sacrament in the Catholic Church that
should be maintained by a man and a woman. I am not opposed to the same-sex civil unions, so
that homosexuals are able to obtain the legal and financial benefits that heterosexuals obtain after
they get hitched. Contrary to my opinion on the matter, Catholicism may become more
progressive during the papacy of Pope Francis, so it is a possibility that the Catholic Church
could support gay marriage soon. To further this point, 75% of Catholics aged 18 to 29 favor
homosexual marriage, which depicts the more progressive expansion of the Roman Catholic
Church, as compared to the assembly over the age of 65 that publically disavows the inclusion of
same-sex marriage as just within the Catholic faith. It is very important to respect the lesbians
and gays in the Catholic Church. They deserve to be treated fairly and not judged by other
sinners because the One True God is the sole judge on Judgement Day and all are equal in His
perspective.

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Works Cited
Balter, Michael. Homosexuality may be caused by chemical modification to DNA. Science
Magazine. 2015.
Egan, Jesi. Abusing Foucault: How Conservatives and Liberals Misunderstand Social Construct
Sexuality. Slate, 2014.
Essman, Jeffrey. "Coming Out Catholic." U.S.Catholic, vol. 79, no. 7, 2014., pp. 35-36.
Ford, Zack. This Court Just Gave A Catholic Church Its Blessing To Discriminate Against Gay
People. Think Progress. 2014.
A gay vice principal who was forced out of his job at Eastside Catholic School filed a lawsuit
against the school and church on Friday. (March 7). Associated Press, 2014. Associated
Press Video Collection. Web. Oct 16 2016.
Hunt, Mary E. "The Trouble with Francis: Three Things that Worry Me." Network News, 2014., pp.
5-9.
Hannum, Kristen. "PRIDE & Prejudice." U.S.Catholic, vol. 77, no. 3, 2012, pp. 12-17.
Jeffries, Gabby. Gay columnist claims he would cure his homosexuality if he could. Pink News.
2015.
Moscati, Maria. "Trajectory of Reform: Catholicism, the State and the Civil Society in the
Developments of LGBT Rights." Liverpool Law Review, vol. 31, no. 1, 2010., pp. 51-68.

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Nash, Charlie. Milo in Orlando: Unlike Islam, We Dont Have Violence Against Gay People in
Christianity. Breitbart. 2016.
Pietkiewicz, Igor, et al. "Living in Sin? how Gay Catholics Manage their Conflicting Sexual and
Religious Identities." Archives of Sexual Behavior, vol. 45, no. 6, 2016., pp. 1573-1585.
Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ Issues: Roman Catholic Church. The Human Rights Campaign.
2016.
Thigpen, Paul and Dave Armstrong. New Catholic Answer Bible. Our Sunday Visitor, 2011.
Yip, Andrew K. T. "Dare to Differ: Gay and Lesbian Catholics' Assessment of Official Catholic
Positions on Sexuality." Sociology of Religion, vol. 58, no. 2, 1997, pp. 165-180.