Madam, - Like Ann Cooney and Louise O'Donovan (August 28th), I am heartened by Fr Seán Fagan's comments on homosexuality (August 22nd).
In a recent book review, Dominican superior general Timothy Radcliffe wrote: "The Church works in terms of a narrow understanding of sex, which is why homosexuality is simply seen as a deviance, and is not recognised as offering a love in which God may also be found" ( The Tablet, December 19, 2007). It is reasonable to assume from the context that Fr Radcliffe is referring to active homosexuality.
One of our problems is that we find it difficult to understand the reality of homosexual love and find it easier to assume that deviant lust is the predominant player in such relationships, as did our fathers for many generations past.
The late Cardinal Basil Hume wrote in 1997: "In whatever context it arises, and always respecting the appropriate manner of its expression, love between two persons, whether of the same sex or of a different sex, is to be treasured and respected." While the cardinal does not condone the inappropriate expression of either homosexual or heterosexual love, he does show an understanding of the reality of homosexual love. A giant step from the culture of our grandfathers.
Just as some theologians are questioning the accepted appropriate model for the expression of heterosexual love, so a few others are applying the same question to homosexual love.
Perhaps, some day, sections of the present edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Churchmay be revised, as past catechisms have been. We must remain open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
- Yours, etc,
KEVIN HEALY, Hampstead Avenue, Dublin 9.