Archbishops Paciano Aniceto and Oscar Cruz made the remarks to the official news service
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines during the
launch of the Philippine edition of the book “Homosexuality and the
Catholic Church” on Tuesday.
Archbishop Aniceto, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission
on Family and Life of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines, said the Catholic Church needs to establish centers of
assistance for homosexuals.
“Honesty is very important,” said Aniceto, describing how many
homosexuals hide their sexuality in fear of others’ reactions. “That’s
why it is also very important to have counseling centers and formation
groups that will face this issue.”
Archbishop Cruz called “Homosexuality and the Catholic Church” a
must-read, not only for all those struggling with same-sex attractions,
but for priests, religious, and laity.
Fr. John Harvey, long-time minister to people with same-sex
attractions, wrote “Homosexuality and the Catholic Church” as a question
and answer book on same-sex attraction in light of Church teachings.
He draws from his own experience and research as the founder and
director of the Courage and Encourage support groups to provide “clear
answers to difficult questions.”
Fr. Harvey approaches the topic, not from the popular standpoint that
same-sex attraction is an inborn “sexual-genital” issue, but rather
states that the “condition of same-sex ambivalence” is “primarily a
gender-identity problem” that could stem from a “deficit” in a
parent-child relationship with the same-sex parent.
Homosexuality, said Archbishop Cruz, should not be condemned merely
because of the individual’s “sexual orientation.”
“It would be wrong
only if you act on it. The same thing with heterosexual if we act on it
contrary to morals then it is wrong … so same with homosexuals,” Cruz
said.
“If a homosexual goes into partnership with another homosexual it is
wrong. If it’s only attraction, (there’s nothing wrong). It is just a
feeling,” he added.
Those struggling with homosexual attraction, said the archbishop,
“did not choose it” and “a good number of them are just behaving that
way but they are not acting on their sexual orientation.” “It is
possible they could redeem themselves from [same-sex attraction].”
Based on the truth that there is no “third sex,” only male and
female, the archbishop pointed out that same-sex attraction “is a sexual
disposition… sexual inclination.”
“Homosexuality and the Catholic Church” has been made available in
the Philippines in Catholic bookstores.
Plans are underway for further
distribution in Catholic schools.