To the editor:

In regard to the heated discussion about homosexuality, I have many things I would like to say. First of all, I went to a Catholic school, and I would like to convey some of the ideologies we were exposed to.

We were taught that being homosexual is not a sin, but the act of homosexuality is. This stems from the belief that nature gave some people tendencies towards the same sex, so there is nothing sinful about one’s sexual preference.

Sexual acts must have two purposes: to show love and to procreate. Because acts of homosexuality are not procreative, they are sinful. Therefore, homosexuals are called to chastity. This is basically what we were taught in religion classes.

We were also taught that the Bible is not infallible. The Bible was NOT written by God. It was inspired by God and written by human beings, so it has human error. Therefore, it cannot be taken literally. By decree of the Catholic Church, these are the facts pertaining to the Bible and they are indisputable.

If anyone has a copy of the Bible written by God himself, I’d love to see it.

Quoting the Bible to justify the belief that homosexuality is wrong is ridiculous. This same book encourages slavery and inequality of women. I hope nobody believes slavery is right or women should not have equal rights. If you argue that homosexuality is sinful, you should look for a better source.

We must not believe things we read and hear without further consideration.

Any source of wisdom, whether it be the Bible, the Catholic Church or a friend, has the potential for error. The Catholic Church, like any organization, is made up of people. These people, including the Pope, are not perfect and neither are the beliefs held by any person of any denomination. Even Jesus would agree with this one, I believe.

I also learned from a Catholic education and through my own intuition that we must think for ourselves. God gave us a gift more wonderful than the Bible and it resides a few inches above our shoulders.

I use sources such as the Bible as a guide to the truth, not a reference. I believe God elusively speaks to us in numerous ways throughout our lives.

Inevitably, I make my own decisions about what is right and wrong from my life-long experiences.

My convictions have strong roots in the Catholic faith. I have learned many values from my Church, but I am not opposed to turning over a new leaf. I will not presume to know the truth about whether or not homosexuality is sinful. I believe in having an open mind. If you do not consider the opposing viewpoint, how strong is your belief system?

I have heard many convincing arguments in favor of a moral homosexual lifestyle. I’ve heard a homosexual couple compared to an infertile heterosexual couple.

This refutes the procreative argument. I remember discussions in religion class about infertile couples. We, including the priest, agreed that sex is moral in these relationships as long as the two people love each other.

Kind of contradictory, isn’t it?

Who am I to say homosexuals are called to chastity? This sounds ludicrous. This does not sound like God’s intention.

If two homosexuals feel the same love for each other that a heterosexual couple does, I have no good argument as to why they shouldn’t be able to express that love, and I have yet to hear a good argument from any other Christian.

I will not be so quick to completely abandon the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding homosexuality, but I will also not abandon my gift from God — my gift of reason.

Joe Distefano

Senior

Electrical Engineering