Academic Statement on the Ethics of Free and Faithful Same-Sex Relationships

Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research

Introduction

“Catholic moral teaching on [homosexuality] will be intellectually marginalized to the extent that it avoids engaging with the experiences of the people and the human sciences that reflect on them.

Moreover, the dialogue with the exegetical and moral theological knowledge of the last decades must be such as not to preclude from the outset progress in learning and knowledge.”

Rt Rev. Dr. Franz-Josef Overbeck, Catholic bishop of Essen, Germany, 2019

https://www.wijngaardsinstitute.com/academic-statement-ethics-same-sex-relationships/

Similar Posts

“They had learned nothing and forgotten nothing.”

Blog
21 Comments

Hard hitting editorial in The Irish Examiner of 22 August 2015;

“The crozier was used to good effect to stifle debate, close down a necessary discourse, and bully a community group into accepting an unwelcome diktat from a blinkered hierarchy.”

In contrast Pope Francis speaking in July;
“When leaders in various fields ask me for advice, my response is always the same: dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. It is the only way for individuals, families and societies to grow.”

Holy Week Rituals are a Loss beyond Words

Blog
1 Comment

Brendan Hoban, in the Western People, writes about the absence of Holy Week Ceremonies this year.
“Church leaders are caught between their responsibility to give clear and appropriate guidance and the felt need of the people to celebrate the key events of the first Easter. But their (and our) moral responsibility is clear. The bottom line is that no compromise that might endanger health and life is acceptable.”

3 Comments

  1. Joe O'Leary says:

    It seemed to me that arguing with biblical fundamentalists and literalists on their own premises was the wrong place to begin. A much deeper reflection on biblical hermeneutics (for which assistance might be found in the Vatican document on the interpretation of the Bible in the Church: https://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/PBC_Interp-FullText.htm) seems to be a mandatory prerequisite. But Catholic theology has fallen dismally flat as far as lgbt issues are concerned, and that is the result of centuries of censorship and silencing, as well as the ongoing refusal of dialogue and consultation. The number of top class theologians and biblical scholars who have drawn on their expertise to address these questions in a substantial way is still tiny.

    Reply
  2. Cyril North says:

    Christianity is trapped in a Platonic mindset since the earliest time. This imagines natural objects as being based on “essences” or immaterial “Ideas”, which are immutable. Such a philosophy is unable to accept variants in nature and to understand that homosexual orientation is a part of the natural world.
    Consequently, Francis 1 is obliged to conform to traditional teaching about human sexuality, while at the same time he’d like to show compassion to gays.
    Trouble is, it’s hard to have it both ways and remain consistent.

    Reply
  3. Pat O'Hagan says:

    What a clear and well argued piece of writing, supported by some eminent theologians and biblical scholars. This should be compulsory reading, not just for conservative / fundamentalist Catholics and other Christians, but for anyone interested at all in furthering the discussion on LGBT rights in the Church and in society at large. A very welcome article which could be the basis for fruitful discussion on a topic that’s close to the hearts of many members of our Church and which, sadly, is driving many good people, young and not so young, away.

    Reply

Join the Discussion

Keep the following in mind when writing a comment

  • Your comment must include your full name, and email. (email will not be published). You may be contacted by email, and it is possible you might be requested to supply your postal address to verify your identity.
  • Be respectful. Do not attack the writer. Take on the idea, not the messenger. Comments containing vulgarities, personalised insults, slanders or accusations shall be deleted.
  • Keep to the point. Deliberate digressions don't aid the discussion.
  • Including multiple links or coding in your comment will increase the chances of it being automati cally marked as spam.
  • Posts that are merely links to other sites or lengthy quotes may not be published.
  • Brevity. Like homilies keep you comments as short as possible; continued repetitions of a point over various threads will not be published.
  • The decision to publish or not publish a comment is made by the site editor. It will not be possible to reply individually to those whose comments are not published.