David Deavel, writing for Unique for a Reason , explores the difficulties that homosexuals who are interested in living celibate, orthodox Christian lives often meet with from within the Church as much as from without. Ron Belgau, a Catholic homosexual pursuing his PhD in philosophy at St. Louis University, explains:
We embrace the traditional understanding that God created us male and female, and that His plan for sexual intimacy is only properly fulfilled in the union of husband and wife in marriage. However, this blog was born out of frustration with the prevailing narratives about homosexuality from those who embrace this traditionally Christian sexual ethic: an excessive focus on political issues, and the ubiquity of reparative therapy in one form or another. We want to see more discussion of celibacy, friendship, the value of the single life and similar topics.
To this, Dave responds:
He is realistic, noting that there are certainly “unhealthy and destructive ways” to achieve celibacy. But he is also hopeful, because he understands that this paradox is a human phenomenon, applicable not just to same-sex attractions, but many other conditions in which we find ourselves. We all struggle with our own temptations and failures to resist them—we all know some part of life in which the pain of dealing with them honestly seems too much to bear. At least it feels that way.
Of course, describing homosexual attraction as just another sinful inclination among many others have doesn’t have much purchase even inside some Christian circles.
Read more here .
