Straight out of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
A Gay-Straight Alliance is a source of the support of disinterested friendship, respect, compassion, and sensitivity for those faced with these trials and difficulties. In a Catholic and educational context, it (like any other Catholic school-related organization) can be used to help students fulfill God's will in their lives and gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
To forbid a Gay-Straight Alliance is unjust discrimination, which is quite specifically contraindicated in the Catechism. Moreover, it is an outright failure of the schools' duty towards their students. All Catholic school students are, by virtue of being unmarried, currently called to chastity, and, by virtue of adolescent hormones, currently subject to temptation in this regard. Within the internal logic of the Catholic church (and, especially, the current pontiff's inclination towards moral absolutism), the situation of queer students is morally equivalent to the situation of everyone else. So why should their school, which is entrusted with their mental, social, and moral development, deny them the respect, compassion, sensitivity, unity, support, friendship called for in the Catechism to help them fulfill God's will in their lives and gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection as called for in the Catechism in the face of what the Catechism defines as trials and difficulties?
2 comments:
The few Catholic schools that have these clubs are teaching the lifestyle as normal and are not encouraging a call to Chastity. The problem with the clubs in Catholic schools is the focus of equity and inclusion supports the individual in self identifying as their inclinations, desires and behaviour. Consequently, they are misled into believing the teaching of the church approve homosexual activity. Elementary and High School students should be encouraged to practice Chastity, and in a Catholic School to learn to know, love and serve God.
Aren't they encouraged to practise chastity anyway as a matter of course, regardless of sexual orientation? If they aren't, I'd say that is the problem (within the Catholic definition of what constitutes a problem)
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