Accompanying those with Same-sex Attractions. David Prosen

speak about their struggle for fear of being condemned. Yet, there are also a number of those who don’t speak about their struggle for fear that they will be told they are wrong to live a chaste life. It can be very discouraging and scandalous to be told by a priest or lay leader that the Church is wrong on the topic and may soon change her position. Sound extreme? This has happened, and some have left the Church as a result.

      Our culture loudly proclaims that the truths upheld by the Church about human sexuality (and homosexuality) are harmful. We’re told Church teaching causes emotional pain and contributes to suicide. Sadly, there are some who have felt suicide was their only option and have acted on this, after feeling rejected by family or society. But such rejection of a person with samesex attractions is not what the Church teaches. That is a tragic misrepresentation of the Church’s position. In fact, my own experience and that of many others show that depression, despair, and suicidal thoughts are actually the result of living the LGBT life, not the fruit of trying to live by the Church’s teachings.