Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination

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Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination is a document which was issued on November 14, 2006 by the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. It details guidelines on religious ministry to homosexual people.

The document emphasizes that same-sex sexual activity is morally wrong or "sinful", stating that "under no circumstances can they (homosexual acts) be approved".^[1]

The document further states:

"While the Church teaches that homosexual acts are immoral, she does distinguish between engaging in homosexual acts and having a homosexual inclination. While the former is always objectively sinful, the latter is not."^[1]
"Simply possessing such inclinations does not constitute a sin, at least to the extent that they are beyond one’s control. Acting on such inclinations, however, is always wrong."^[1]
"It is crucially important to understand that saying a person has a particular inclination that is disordered is not to say that the person as a whole is disordered. Nor does it mean that one has been rejected by God or the Church."^[1]
"All people are created in the image and likeness of God and thus possess an innate human dignity that must be acknowledged and respected."^[1]
"The fact that homosexual acts are immoral may never be used to justify violence or unjust discrimination."^[1]
"It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church’s pastors wherever it occurs."^[1]