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Fr. Tom Ryan
Ecumenical and interfaith
Neela Kale
Culture, ethics and Catholic basics
Mike Hayes
General
Ann Naffziger, M.A., M.Div.
Scripture
Charles C. Camosy, PhD
Medical ethics
Caitlin Kennell Kim
Mary
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Our readers asked:

What did Jesus have to say about homosexuality?

Ann Naffziger Answers:

(CNS photo courtesy Catholic Communication Campaign)

If you were to read all four gospels thoroughly in search of Jesus’ teachings on homosexuality it would be a futile endeavor. Not only would you come to the end of the gospels without finding anything attributed to Jesus on the subject, you wouldn’t even find a single reference to the issue in any context.

In fact, there are only a handful of references to homosexuality in the entire Bible, but they are found in the Old Testament and Paul’s writings. (To put it in perspective, while there are only seven references to homosexuality, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of references to economic justice and the laws governing the accumulation and distribution of wealth.)

Jesus’ silence on the subject suggests that an issue which can be controversial and/or fraught with emotion these days was simply not a central issue in his lifetime 2,000 years ago in the land of Palestine. The fact that he didn’t address this issue leaves us all to ponder what he might say were he here today.

  • (68)
The Author : Ann Naffziger
Ann Naffziger is a scripture instructor and spiritual director in the San Francisco Bay area. She has has written articles on spirituality and theology for various national magazines and edited several books on the Hebrew Scriptures.
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  • http://www.DSDOConnor.com/ Daniel O’Connor

    “…leave us all to ponder…”? I hope you do not really believe that. We know what Jesus “would” say about that, for He has already said it, through His Church. Homosexual acts are intrinsically and gravely evil. Period.

  • Augustine Palaeologus

    It’s interesting that someone mentioned that Jesus’ silence on matters of homosexuality “says it all,” seeing as there is a silence on a great many other things in the old testament that these fundamentalist christians fail to interpret as implied condemnation.

  • Stephen

    Matthew 18:3 And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”: That means, unless one had sex as a child..they will not get to heaven. but what does this really mean? Did not a man on the cross be told , who was a thief, he would be seen in Paradise? Point is, it’s a moot point and the discussion becomes a moral and not a Spiritual Issue. People have ‘visions’ of what a “Gay Life Style ” is, likely brought on by they themselves. In other bibles the word effeminate is used, no homosexuality. One must consider what that word (which likely did not even exist in “ENGLISH”) then..really means. Was it men having sex and vice versa while in marriage? Was it men having sex with youngsters that Paul is referring to? (both cases). Jesus (God) knew this issue would come up eventually, and realize, it is coming up now because GOD is allowing it to come up. Who can know why for sure. Perhaps to see how Loving we are toward each other. Any discussion concerning Free Will? Free Will of a Loving gesture in private, as in prayer (as he taught). leaves no room for judgment since who would know? There might also be misperceptions that because a person is homosexual they are promiscuous or actually performs intercourse. Not necessarily true at all. Jesus sums it up, Love One Another ..As We (Because He does) Love Ourselves. If Jesus were here today, “He would probably give the same lecture he did 2000 years ago, nearly)..Matt 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.”

  • Dragon Girl

    It seems everyone know the bible. Does everyone know that Job isnt a historical event but a merge medaition? How about this, Adam/Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden for thier sexual behavior and lust for one another? So Hetersexual was the perversion and not Homesexual. God was ashame of the hetersex that went on in the Garden of Eden. It was tarnished with Adam’s sperm. So when God asked them why they were hiding; it was because Adam/Eve were no longer children. They were grow ups that knew of lust and desire of the flash. So hetersexuals, dont be too pride, cause it wasnt Adam and Steve that were kicked out. God is more for a homo then a perverted heter that hunts down children for thier sexual lust. I would trust a home with my child before I every take them to be watched by a heter.

  • Michael

    Tom H – Please cite anything that I’ve said that was holier-than-thou. Admonishing the sinner is a spiritual work of mercy with which you apparently do not agree can or should be done. I also take it that St. Paul was out of line in passing judgment in the name of mercy on a certain man in the Church in Corinth.

  • Tom H

    Michael, who are you to judge others in the name of mercy? Disagreement is not hatred but that’s not what you have engaged in here with your holier-than-thou posts. History has shown that the church has evolved (albeit, at glacial speed) and repented for past errors of judgement (i.e. its silence during the Holocaust), and so I believe it will toward its attitude toward homosexuals. You are in no position to judge others.

  • Chico

    Why is this such a big deal? I mean it. Why does it matter to anyone whether or not someone is a homosexual? No group, politician, or religion is even remotely dedicated to “preserving the sanctity of marriage” through other means. Divorce is still painfully easy to acquire and two straight people can (and do) get married without even knowing each other. I believe that is because it is rationalized that they are two adults and what they do does not affect anyone else. How is that different from homosexuality?
    I am Catholic. I was married to my partner of six years last year. Was anyone affected? Anyone at all? Please, let me know if the day we made our union caused you any distress in any way.

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