Question:
Answer:
All that the Church is interested in is that her children are able to obey the law of Christ in freedom and understanding. The various theories of the psychological predispositions that might lead someone to desire sexual union with a person of his or her own sex do not pertain directly to Catholic teaching. The Catechism is clear on this point—namely, that the Church makes no claims of a psychological nature but simply points out that deliberately non-procreative sexual activity is gravely wrong, whatever the sex of those who engage with each other in these ways. After all, many of the acts which persons perform with others of their own sex are also, and just as wrongly, engaged in by many other persons with their opposite sex.
The Church is not interested in characterizing the former, for example, as psychologically sick and the latter as being “normal” but only immoral. Both are wrong, both may act from predispositions they need to overcome. If they go to a counselor to help them with their predispositions, they are free to do so, but the Church does not endorse or require any particular form of therapy. Their helpfulness or effectiveness should be evaluated like any other treatment.
In any case, the Church has never characterized sexual temptations as psychological diseases. Some individuals may have temptations on account of their psychological problems, but others may be tempted to the same acts, and have no such problems other than the weakness of fallen nature. The Church wants only for men and women to be free and chaste and to show their love for each other always but in ways compatible with the law of Christ.