US Catholic bishops' guidelines for gay outreach self–defeating, say activists

The Roman Catholic bishops of United States have adopted new guidelines for gay outreach by welcoming them but suggesting them to be celibate since the church considered their sexuality "disordered."

Gay Catholic activists have warned that the approach was so contorted and flawed that it would alienate the very people it was trying to reach.

The statement, "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination," was adopted by a 194–37 vote at a recent meeting of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The statement on pastoral care of homosexually inclined persons reiterated church teaching that all homosexual acts are morally wrong but affirmed the dignity of those with homosexual inclinations and said that experiencing such an inclination is not in itself sinful.

The general meeting that concluded on November 16, the bishops approved several new statements and resolved to restructureg and downsize their national conference.

On November 13, the first day of their meeting, the bishops allocated money for a further study of the context and causes of clergy sexual abuse.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also passed the contraception document, "Married Love and the Gift of Life," on a 220–11 vote with one abstention. It strongly supported natural family planning, saying it enabled "couples to cooperate with the body as God designed it," and adding that contraception introduced "a false note" that disturbed marital intimacy and contributeed to a decline in society's respect for marriage and for life.

A Catholic who "knowingly and obstinately" rejects "the defined doctrines of the church" or repudiates "her definitive teaching on moral issues" would not be in communion with the church and therefore should not receive Communion, the document stated.

The assembly also deliberated on other important issues, including political crisis in Iraq, creation of a new nongeographical episcopal region for the Eastern–rite bishops and extending further aid to eastern Catholic churches.