Attitudes towards homosexuality

Attitudes towards homosexuality

1. Many evangelical conservative Christians

   • Strongly opposed to homosexuality and believe homosexuals can be changed by prayer.
     • 'No man is to have sexual relations with another man, God hates that.' (Leviticus 18:22)
     • God created man and woman to be in a marriage relationship together.
     • Two same - sex partners cannot have a child through natural means.
     • They believe that homosexuality is not good for society, as it undermines the family.
     • In the New Testament, Paul writes 'Neither the sexually inmoral..nor homosexual offenders will inherit the Kingdom of God.' (1 Corinthians 6: 9 - 10.)

2. The Roman Catholic Church

   • Recommends that homosexuals should remain celibate (not have active sexual relationships)
     • Based on the Biblical teachings, being homosexual is not a sin, but having homosexual sex is.
     • Roman Catholic believe sex should only take place within marriage. Sex is for procreation and homosexuals cannot marry. Homosexual sex cannot produce children, therefore it is the sexual act that is sinful.
     • The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church says that homosexuals 'must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoid.'

3. The Church of England

   • Is more sympathetic although divided.
     • Homosexual partnerships are judged on the strength of the love and commitment of the partners rather than simply rejecting them as wrong, after all, God created us all in his image.
     • The Church of England accepts that two people might enter into a homosexual relationship with the hope of enjoying companionship and the expression of love similar to that found in marriage.

4. Other Protestants (such as Quakers)

   • Welcome homosexuals into the Church
     • Religion is a spiritual issue not a sexual one.
     • The Bible needs to be interpreted to suit today's society and Jesus taught that it was love that mattered the most.
     • Same - sex relationships in the Bible were admired in David and Jonathan, and Ruth and Naomi.