Catholic Doctrine towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Communities – Nothing has really changed

Essay by nirosan121University, Bachelor'sB+, February 2013

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Catholic Doctrine towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Communities - Nothing has really changed

Catholic Doctrine towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Communities - Nothing has really changed

It is only in the last century that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people have emerged as culturally distinctive groups seeking equality in the political and religious framework of society. The political issues are more readily resolved than those in religion. In the Christian faith, sexual diversity and the morality of alternate lifestyle choices continues to be a contentious issue. Fundamentalists of every Christian sect condemn alternate lifestyle choices on moral grounds claiming that tolerance and approbation of L.G.B.T lifestyles will lead to the disintegration of the family unit, and ultimately, the social order. Despite this, changes have inevitably come in the form of female ministers, same sex marriages, and the gay family unit. These changes have happened in the courts as human rights issues and in the more liberal sects of the Christian faith such as the Anglican Church.

The Catholic Church, by contrast remains rigidly fixed to doctrines that have their origins in a time when the world was a very different place and the Christian faith was fighting for its very survival. Political and sociological change over the succeeding centuries has produced a world in which we no longer need to fear tolerance and diversity. In recent times there have been attempts by the more liberal elements in the catholic church to reach out to LGBT groups, but these efforts take place at the ground level and as soon they come to the attention of the church hierarchy they are stifled. This resistance to change continues to cost the Catholic Church the support of many believers who now seek acceptance and spiritual solace elsewhere. In my opinion, when Thomas...