How should I respond to persons within the Seton community who are adamant that the Catholic Church does not accept gays and lesbians as parishioners?
• That is a false statement. The Catholic Church teaches that “homosexual persons must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity”. • Our faith community at Seton includes gay and lesbian parishioners, their families, and their co-workers. Our parishioners include people of all ages, ethnicities, colors, etc. We do not ask those who are called to become a member of Seton to fit any profile. We do believe, and practice “all are welcome”. • It is also important to remember that every sign of discrimination must be avoided. Homosexual persons are also called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s cross. • The Bishops also remind us that we are not to impose harsher sexual moral scrutiny and standards for homosexual church members than other groups in the parish, diocese, or Church.
Related Questions
- Do previous marriages of non-Catholics and unbaptized persons need to be annulled before these persons can be married in the Catholic Church?
- Does the Evangelical Catholic Church permit divorced persons the opportunity to remarry?
- What does the Catholic Church say about pastoral care of homosexual persons?