Dare to Differ: Gay and Lesbian Catholics' Assessment of Official Catholic Positions on Sexuality

• Published in: Sociology of religion Vol. 58; no. 2; pp. 165 - 180
• Main Author: YIP, A. K. T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Holiday, FL Oxford University Press 01.07.1997; Association for the Sociology of Religion
• Subjects: Attitudes; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; Catholicism; Christian ethics; Christianity; Churches; Collaboration; Comparison; Female homosexuality; Gay men; Gay rights; Gays; Gays & lesbians; Gays and lesbians; Great Britain; Homosexuality; Homosexuals; Lesbianism; Lesbians; Polls & surveys; Queer theology; Religious Doctrines; Roman Catholic Church; Roman Catholicism; Roman Catholics; Same sex marriage; Sex; Sexual behavior; Sexuality; Sexuality. Marriage. Family relations; Social aspects; Sociology; Sociology of the family. Age groups; Great Britain; Europe; Attitude towards; Sexual Behavior; Church; Homosexuality; Religious identity; Male homosexuality; Female homosexuality; Sexuality; Gender identity; Chritianity
• ISSN: 1069-4404; 1759-8818
• DOI: 10.2307/3711875

This paper presents data collected through a postal survey of 121 gay and lesbian Catholics in Britain. It aims to examine the respondents' assessment of the official Catholic positions on sexuality in general and homosexuality in particular. The Catholic Church labels the homosexual inclination an “objective disorder” and the engagement in homosexual genital acts “intrinsically disordered.” A vast majority of respondents, however, found the Church's arguments against homosexuality and other sexuality issues unconvincing. Most respondents considered genital acts within a same-sex relationship entirely compatible with their Catholic faith. The respondents demonstrate the ability as social actors to rise above the “deviant” circumstances imposed on them. This is the outcome of their having developed a positive self identity, constructed primarily in opposition to the Church's teachings, that successfully incorporates their sexuality and religious beliefs.