There are three aspects to sexuality to speak about, because there is a delineation between experiencing attractions (such as those that incline one towards homosexual acts), believing those experiences form a fundamental part of one’s identity, and acting on homosexual attractions. The lattermost of these is, fundamentally, an intrinsically disordered action; it violates the nature of sex, which has the ends of procreation (which is impossible through sodomy) and unity of a married couple (which Biblically is between a man and his wife, as a symbol of the union between Christ and the Church.) This does not mean that one’s perceived sexual identity or the fact that one experiences sexual attractions is itself a sin. I would warn against the mindset that sexual temptations form part of one’s unchangeable identity, and I sympathize with the foremost concern, that of experiencing homosexual attractions. I am attracted to men and women, and I used to consider it a part of my identity also, so I can certainly empathize with ones going through the same. However, just as by our living in a fallen world concupiscence tempts us also to gluttony or sloth or pride, so too to sexual immorality; yet to follow after these is a sin. So understanding that homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex, Sacred Scripture presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, cf. Gen 19; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 1 Tim 1:10. so that 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 and do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. In short, we love homosexuals and those who identify as LGBT. We want the best for them. And it’s not loving to leave people in sin — especially sexual sin. Human sexuality is a deeply spiritual affair. To commit acts against the body is a grave ill, and one that deserves all consideration. The solution to their yearnings — those who struggle with the urge to commit homosexual acts — is not partaking. For sin has gotten us nowhere except death. For sin reigned from Adam to Moses, even unto now. Instead, we preach a vibrant and spiritual union with Jesus Christ, our Lord. Such a union will involve the denial of the self and the old passions. But it will yield fruit to life eternal. Pastorally speaking, we should not act as magistrates over individuals who earnestly struggle against their passions. We should suffer with them, even as Christ suffers with us. That may sound brutal, and I admit, I often have not gained comfort from that advice alone. Nonetheless, it is frequently the only solution.

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