If you still haven’t subscribed to PWA on iTunes, you should do that here.
In the following episodes I’m joined around the Bar table with my mate Dan Mattson to discuss The Church’s (and Thomas Aquinas’) view on homosexuality, why he doesn’t call himself ‘gay’ and what he thinks of Fr. James Martin’s latest book.
I hope you’ll find the discussion faithful to Church teaching while remaining compassionate to those with same-sex attraction.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Here’s what Aquinas had to say about homosexuality (among other things):
Wherever there occurs a special kind of deformity whereby the venereal act is rendered unbecoming, there is a determinate species of lust. This may occur in two ways: First, through being contrary to right reason, and this is common to all lustful vices; secondly, because, in addition, it is contrary to the natural order of the venereal act as becoming to the human race: and this is called “the unnatural vice.”
This may happen in several ways. First, by procuring pollution, without any copulation, for the sake of venereal pleasure: this pertains to the sin of “uncleanness” which some call “effeminacy.”
Secondly, by copulation with a thing of undue species, and this is called “bestiality.”
Thirdly, by copulation with an undue sex, male with male, or female with female, as the Apostle states (Romans 1:27): and this is called the “vice of sodomy.”
Fourthly, by not observing the natural manner of copulation, either as to undue means, or as to other monstrous and bestial manners of copulation.
ST II-II, Q. 154, A. 11.
Reader Interactions