1. "If it's not hurting anyone, what's so bad about it."
Statistics have shown that practicing homosexuals are far more likely to contract HIV, be drug users, commit suicide and have low life expectancy. Here's just a sampling of that.
- Homosexuals of both sexes are fourteen times more likely to attempt suicide, and 3 and a half times more likely to attempt suicide successfully. This is despite increasing societal tolerance of the homosexual lifestyle.
- The life expectancy of male homosexuals nowadays, with the advent of the AIDS virus, is only thirty-eight; only 2 percent live past age sixty-five.
- One study in San Francisco estimated that 43 percent of male homosexuals had more than 500 sexual partners; seventy-nine percent of them were strangers. Sexual promiscuity always hurts
Homosexuality does hurt, no matter what activists say.
2. "Homosexuality is natural."
A Catholic Answers tract on homosexuality deals very well with this one.
Many homosexuals argue that they have not chosen their condition, but that they were born that way, making homosexual behavior natural for them.Just because something isn't chosen, doesn't mean it's natural.
But because something was not chosen does not mean it was inborn. Some desires are acquired or strengthened by habituation and conditioning instead of by conscious choice. For example, no one chooses to be an alcoholic, but one can become habituated to alcohol. Just as one can acquire alcoholic desires (by repeatedly becoming intoxicated) without consciously choosing them, so one may acquire homosexual desires (by engaging in homosexual fantasies or behavior) without consciously choosing them.
Since sexual desire is subject to a high degree of cognitive conditioning in humans (there is no biological reason why we find certain scents, forms of dress, or forms of underwear sexually stimulating), it would be most unusual if homosexual desires were not subject to a similar degree of cognitive conditioning.
Even if there is a genetic predisposition toward homosexuality (and studies on this point are inconclusive), the behavior remains unnatural because homosexuality is still not part of the natural design of humanity. It does not make homosexual behavior acceptable; other behaviors are not rendered acceptable simply because there may be a genetic predisposition toward them.
For example, scientific studies suggest some people are born with a hereditary disposition to alcoholism, but no one would argue someone ought to fulfill these inborn urges by becoming an alcoholic. Alcoholism is not an acceptable "lifestyle" any more than homosexuality is.
3. "Scriptures against homosexuality no longer apply."
By this, they mean the Old Testament Scriptures against homosexuality, most commonly Leviticus 18:22 ("Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, because it is an abomination"). They argue that such things were only ceremonial and were superceded by the New Covenant in Christ. Wrong. It is a moral imperative, and all the Old Testament moral imperatives remain in place. Besides, even if this wasn't the case, why would the New Testament also speak so strongly against homosexual behavior?
For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error. And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient...Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them. (Romans 1:26-38, 32)
Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)The Scriptures are consistent in condemning homosexual behavior as sinful, Old Testament and New.
4. "Jesus never speaks ill of homosexuality."
He never mentions incestous child molestation either, but does that make it ok? The Scripture citations above, written by the Apostle Paul, render this argument refuted as well. (Remember, an Apostle was one who had seen the Risen Christ and hear His teachings)
5. "You're so judgemental."
As Catholics, we believe in the principle of "love the sinner, hate the sin". We believe that we must love and respect our brothers and sisters, but that we must also warn them when their behavior goes against the will of God. Homosexual behavior clearly goes against the will of God, and is a dangerous lifestyle that leads to many health issues. Since when was warning someone of this bad? Warning someone so that they can repent and not have to face the consequences of sin is the most loving thing a person can do.
Pax Christi.
