What The Catholic Church Says About Sexuality, Marriage & Gender
"The Church has consistently taught that those struggling with their sexuality are to be treated with 'respect, compassion, and sensitivity' within society but particularly within the Body of Christ."
(Catechism #2358)
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church the issues of marriage, homosexuality, and gender fall under the sixth commandment, “You shall not commit adultery.” In fact, #2336 of the Catechism directly says, “The tradition of the Church has understood the sixth commandment as encompassing the whole of human sexuality.” (Our emphasis added.)
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Therefore, because the issues of marriage, homosexuality, and gender are outlined in one of the Ten Commandments, we must ask ourselves if a violation (or support of a violation with our vote) would be considered a mortal sin, thereby risking our eternal souls.
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It is true that not every violation of a commandment is considered mortal. Some are venial. But the Church is clear: for a sin to be mortal, it must be committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent, and involve grave (or serious) matter.
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This begs the question, are issues such as marriage, homosexuality, and gender considered “grave matters”?
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The answer is yes. Nearly all issues pertaining to human sexuality are considered grave matters because it is through gender, marriage, and sexuality that spouses are called to give life and share in the creative power and fatherhood of God. (Catechism #2367)
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Through gender (male and female) humans enter into marriage. Through their sexuality in the marital act, they fulfill their God given purposes – to populate the earth and enter into the divine life of God.
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So, yes. It cannot be understated that human sexuality is a grave matter. And, it’s not far-fetched to think it would be a sin to support (or vote for) policies that would make violations of the Sixth Commandment the new law of the land. A vote for a violation of the Sixth Commandment is, at its core, using one’s God given free will to not only enable disobedience to God’s law… but actually enshrine that disobedience into civil law, thereby normalizing mortal sin for all of society.
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That’s grave matter.
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Catholics (indeed all Christians) are called to “love one another” as Christ commanded us. This love wills the good of the other – most especially the “highest good” which is their eternal salvation. That’s why the Church has consistently taught that those struggling with their sexuality are to be treated with “respect, compassion, and sensitivity” within society but particularly within the Body of Christ (Catechism #2358)
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We are to treat all people with charity, but always in truth (the fingerprint of true charity). In the document Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis reminds us that the Church should be “a field hospital” and Christian families within it “the nearest hospital.” (#321)
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To support laws that enable disordered sexuality and a separation from the divine life of God (our highest good) is a sin against charity.
Still not convinced? Feel free to take a closer look at what the Catholic Church and the Presidential candidates say about each of these issues by clicking the links below.
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Scriptures on Homosexuality
Mark 10:6-9
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Leviticus 18:22
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
Leviticus 20:13
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.
1 Corinthians
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 1:26-27
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Jude 1:7
Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
1 Timothy 1:10
The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine
Romans 1:26-28
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.