Being homosexual is not wrong in the eyes of the Catholic church. But homosexuals having intercourse is.

The Catholic church’s view on homosexuality was the topic of discussion for Richard Sparks, a Paulist priest from Berkeley University in California.

“I am not here as a Catholic apologist,” Sparks said. “I’m not defending or criticizing the Catholic church.”

Sparks, who has published books on Catholic issues, formerly taught at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center, 2210 Lincoln Way. He spoke to nearly 300 in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union on Monday.

“Since one’s homosexual orientation is discovered, not chosen, it is not morally wrong to be homosexual,” Sparks said. “However, one is not supposed to do homosexual genital actions, since they are against the heterosexual norm or order of nature.”

“We honestly don’t know” why one person is homosexual while another is not, Sparks said.

“The term sexual preference is not a synonym for sexual orientation,” he said. Sparks defined an orientation as something one discovers about themselves, while a preference seems to be optional.

“Sexuality is about feelings, it is not just about what you do with your penis or vagina,” Sparks said. “I’m a heterosexual predominately, but that does not mean that a man’s body is disgusting to me.”

Sparks said it is important to look into many sources when debating the “the moral and pastoral issues of homosexuality.”

“If you only go to the scripture, you are a Bible fundamentalist,” Sparks said.

“If you go by the latest Pope quote, you are a church fundamentalist.”

Sparks said there are five moral stances people take on this issue: far right, far left, qualified acceptance, full acceptance or the traditional and official Catholic/Christian position.

John Burke, a Catholic who is also the sponsor of Spectrum, a gay alliance at Ames High School, attended the lecture.

“I want to find out more,” said Burke, dean of students for Ames High School. “I’d be surprised if I learn anything new about the teachings, but I’m looking at how he interprets today’s culture.”