There are times in a society’s history when particular moral issues come to the forefront and receive a great deal of attention and discussion. In our time many issues might fall into that category.

One in particular is the issue of so-called “same-sex marriage.” Because of the serious moral nature of this issue, the potential ramifications for Christianity and society, the misinformation which exists, the relentless media and political efforts to normalize it, and the legal debates surrounding it, I will be dedicating several columns to it.

It is always prudent to begin with an understanding of what the Church actually teaches so that we start with clarity rather than ambiguity or speculation. Looking at the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we notice that there are just three paragraphs, just over 200 words, dedicated exclusively to presenting the Church’s teaching regarding homosexuality. From this flows her teaching about same-sex unions.

Because of the brevity of these sections, and in the interest of presenting accurate information, these paragraphs are quoted in their entirety (footnotes omitted):

Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained.

Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill 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. (CCC 2357-2359)

Additionally, there are several other Church documents which deal with the issue. Most expound upon the basic teaching found in the three Catechism paragraphs.

A notable and useful one when it comes to the specific issue of same-sex unions, is a document from 2003 entitled “Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons.” While the title is long the document itself is short (about six pages) and can be easily found on the Internet through either a search for that title or by going to the Vatican website.

Unfortunately, when many people read what the Church teaches they either misunderstand it or draw erroneous conclusions from it. Sometimes this stems from misunderstanding the terminology used.

Sometimes, however, it comes from a desire to find reasons to reject the teaching. Therefore for future columns on this topic we will use these three paragraphs as the basis for specific topics, as we explore not only what the Church teaches, but why she does.

In the end, the Church’s teaching stems from God’s revealed truth — a truth meant to save us and set us free, and keep us from trading away our eternal inheritance. This truth is revealed with abundant clarity in sacred Scripture, preserved and taught through the Church’s sacred tradition and confirmed by our own physiology and biology. To reject the Church’s teaching on this issue means rejecting that triple testimony of truth. Many voices today want us to reject it, but none belong to Jesus.