A chara, - Many thanks to your readers (including the angry ones) who wrote in response to my letter of July 22nd. The kernel of the matter is this: sodomy is a grievous sin. This is brought out clearly in Genesis. Yet we must remember that while God loathes the sin, He loves the sinner; and we are all sinners - but called to repentance.
The Catholic Catechism strikes a beautiful note of optimism on this very matter. Paragraph 2358: "The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. . .They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. . .These persons are called to fulfil God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition . . .
"Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom; at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection."
Further comment is hardly needed. - Is mise,
Fr TOM INGOLDSBY, SDB,
Pallaskenry,
Co Limerick.