Bishops to vote on guidelines for ministry to homosexuals

Published: 2006-10-19

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- When the U.S. Catholic bishops meet in Baltimore Nov. 13-16, they will be asked to vote on guidelines for ministry to those with homosexual inclinations. The proposed document clearly reaffirms and explains church teaching against any sexual activity -- homosexual or heterosexual -- that takes place outside marriage, and it says authentic ministry must be based on that teaching. But it also says a homosexual inclination is not itself sinful and those who are homosexually inclined "must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity." It sharply condemns hatred or "violent malice in speech or action" against homosexuals. "Those who would minister in the name of the church must in no way contribute to such injustice," it says. The 23-page document, prepared by the Committee on Doctrine of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is titled "Ministry to Persons With a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care." Despite the title, only about one-fifth of the document is devoted specifically to pastoral care guidelines; the larger and more important part of the text is devoted to the framework of church teaching within which such pastoral care is set.

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