Letters

Clarification

August Magdaleno

Contents - Feb 2004 - Buy a copy now Editorial: What is the purpose of Catholic schools? - Michael Gilchrist Liturgy: 'Excellent start' on accurate English Missal translation - AD2000 REPORT News: The Church Around the World Modern church design: 'Spank the architect!' - Paul Mees Melbourne and Sydney initiatives to educate adults in the Catholic faith - Peter Holmes Human life: precious from conception - Fr Angelo Serra SJ Interview: Scott Hahn interviewed on Dei Verbum : What Vatican II taught about Scripture - Zenit News Service Letters: Social Justice Statement - John R. Barich Letters: Celibacy book review - Fr Adrian Head Letters: Higher calling - Judy O'Reilly Letters: Christ's gift - Wendy Francis Letters: One-World Church? - Philip Robinson Letters: Fertility rates - Brian Harris Letters: New Age? - Fr Don Coutts Letters: Clarification - August Magdaleno Books: Spiritual Combat Revisited, by Jonathon Robinson - Richard Egan (reviewer) Books: Anti-Catholicism in America: The Last Acceptable Prejudice, by Mark S. Massa SJ - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Mystical Flora, by St Francis de Sales - Mark Posa (reviewer) Books: The Rosary : Chain of Hope, by Benedict J. Groeschel CFR - Michael E. Daniel (reviewer) Books: The Beginner's Book Of Chant, by a Benedictine monk - Paul Russell (reviewer) The foundation of moral law: the pagan witness of Cicero, 106-43 BC Books: AD Books - Fresh book titles for the New Year Reflection: The ministerial priesthood: 'truly a gift from God' - Fr Dennis W. Byrnes

I read the article by Bill Muehlenberg in the September AD2000 over the internet. I commend his faithfulness to the Gospel teaching on homosexuality. However, I think his use of the expression "homosexual" must have been intended to refer to "gay" - although I cannot blame him for this confusion.

I think the Catholic Church for its part should make clarifications on the distinction between homosexual and gay, because the former is a condition while the latter describes a choice of lifestyle. This distinction is used by the Catholic support group - Courage - attending to those who have concerns on homosexuality. Being a homosexual is a condition brought about by the circumstances of upbringing or environment. Therefore, I must say the term "love one another" in the Gospel includes loving and having compassion for those experiencing the homosexual condition.

Again there is a difference between a homosexual orientation and a homosexual act. Reading the article, I could not help but get some flashes of pain, as the article can be misread by those confused homosexuals who may not even know what the Church teaches regarding such a condition. The article can be interpreted by such confused homosexuals as a condemnation of all homosexuals whether they be in the lifestyle or simply struggling to be devout Chistians. And how about those who have friends or relatives experiencing homosexuality? How would they treat them in face of such confusion?

I hope AD2000 will feature such clarification, or include articles on such groups as Courage.

AUGUST MAGDALENO
Courage-Philippines

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 17 No 1 (February 2004), p. 15