Respect for homosexuals.

Professor Moira McQueen of the Theology Faculty of St. Michael's College, Toronto, has written six articles for the Catholic Register on human sexuality and the Church.

In her article "Prejudice against gays must be overcome" (Nov. 30, 2003), Prof. McQueen notes how same-sex marriage is on its way to becoming the law of the land." She goes on to mention how the Church's official teachings on sexuality "have not changed and then exhorts us, with reference to the "Pontifical Council for the Family", to accept gays with respect, dignity, and without discrimination.

In affirming the Church's teachings on sexuality, she draws our attention to what she perceives to be an inconsistency in Catholic teaching regarding "homosexual orientation." She suggests that, in the 1975 document Declaration on Certain Issues in Sexual Ethics, the Church did not consider homosexual orientation "wrong in itself" but reversed this position in 1986. In reality, the 1986 document clarified the Church's position in order to counter "benign interpretations" (like those of McQueen). It was written largely to counter the growing conviction that the homosexual condition itself was something "neutral or even good."

Prof. McQueen stresses in her article how youth need to be educated about sexual orientation. She neglects, however, to mention the need of educating our youth against the vast pro-homosexual propaganda that is prevalent in our society. She speaks at length about the rightful necessity of treating homosexuals with respect and dignity, but fails to mention the ways in which the whole Catholic truth--the part that condemns homosexual activity and the homosexual lifestyle--ought to be part of that.

McQueen never mentions, for example, the 1992 document "Some Considerations Concerning the Response to Legislative Proposals on the Non-Discrimination of Homosexual persons," which speaks of the necessity of both unjust and just discrimination.

To this end she exaggerates the plight of homosexuals, claiming, without evidence, how they are all too often abused and resort to suicide when in fact hate crimes against homosexuals are rare. She stresses the importance of listening to gays but makes no attempt to address the question of whether gays are listening to the Church. She conveniently ignores the many ways in which the promiscuous lifestyle of gays, as expressed in clubs, parades, TV shows, etc., has become an acceptable part of society. She even draws our attention away from this reality by claiming the greatest immediate threat to marriage is not homosexuality but non-gay related issues such as divorce. In fact, it seems as though she is unsure of whether homosexuality is an actual threat to marriage or not.

Hence, in advocating a "greater inclusiveness" with homosexuals, one has to wonder whether it isn't Church teachings she is referring to when she speaks of "barriers" that we have to "knock down". She is quick to remind us, for example, that "many married people and theologians" disagree with the Church's teachings on sexuality.

Ultimately, Professor McQueen's article misses the whole point. It is not "homophobia" that needs our attention but homophilia and the whole homosexual propaganda.

McQueen calls for a form of "open dialogue"--but only a dialogue that conveniently veers away from the heart of Catholic teaching.

Homosexuals must be treated with love and compassion. But we must not forget--or let others forget--that homosexual acts are sinful. Homosexuals, in particular, have a right to this truth.

Hamilton, ON