“An Intrinsically Disordered Inclination” by John Finnis.
In the book, Same-Sex Attraction, edited by John F. Harvey and Gerard V. Bradley, Finnis, a legal Philosopher, uses the Church’s documents to support the claim that homosexual acts are an intrinsically disordered inclination. He states that the Church understand persons as “the creature of God and by grace, his/[her] child and heir to eternal life” (89). Everyone is identified by their gender, not by sexual identity, therefore each one ought to accept his/her identity as male or female. In some people, the homosexual inclination may result from poor education, lack of normal sexual development, habit, and bad influence which may be temporal or cannot be treated. The church from start …show more content…
The Church carefully chooses these words to distinguished between homosexual inclination and homosexual acts and that the inclination is objectively disordered and the acts is intrinsically disordered, which is contrary to the natural law. The ‘object’ refers to the sex, and inclination is towards persons of the same object (sex) and ‘intrinsically disordered acts’ are contrary to the natural law. Aquinas defines natural law as the right reason (philosophy) if a disordered inclination distorts right reason, the person's action may result to morally evil (theology). In this argument, if natural law contradicts the moral law, it means one has erred. Evidently, both come from God, both must be in harmony with each other and cannot contradict each other. For this reason, the Church has always been careful in their choice of word to balance human reason and divine revelation, to avoid misleading the people of God. Secondly, though the Church had delayed responding to the homosexual crisis, the ripe moment came for the Church, and she uses her authoritative non-definitive doctrine to respond. The faithful are therefore called to submit their will and mind, own and follow it because it is understood that God has granted to the Magisterium special charism received through episcopal succession to guide God’s people to the truth. Therefore, I am challenged to follow the timely teachings of the Church on homosexuality as stated in Amoris Laetitia, to respect and avoid any form of discrimination, violence or aggression. “Every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity … while avoiding every sign of unjust discrimination is … avoided (276). I am called to avoid being judgmental, but be loving and walking with them since they are wounded and broken. The Popes message challenges me to be
In the book, Same-Sex Attraction, edited by John F. Harvey and Gerard V. Bradley, Finnis, a legal Philosopher, uses the Church’s documents to support the claim that homosexual acts are an intrinsically disordered inclination. He states that the Church understand persons as “the creature of God and by grace, his/[her] child and heir to eternal life” (89). Everyone is identified by their gender, not by sexual identity, therefore each one ought to accept his/her identity as male or female. In some people, the homosexual inclination may result from poor education, lack of normal sexual development, habit, and bad influence which may be temporal or cannot be treated. The church from start …show more content…
The Church carefully chooses these words to distinguished between homosexual inclination and homosexual acts and that the inclination is objectively disordered and the acts is intrinsically disordered, which is contrary to the natural law. The ‘object’ refers to the sex, and inclination is towards persons of the same object (sex) and ‘intrinsically disordered acts’ are contrary to the natural law. Aquinas defines natural law as the right reason (philosophy) if a disordered inclination distorts right reason, the person's action may result to morally evil (theology). In this argument, if natural law contradicts the moral law, it means one has erred. Evidently, both come from God, both must be in harmony with each other and cannot contradict each other. For this reason, the Church has always been careful in their choice of word to balance human reason and divine revelation, to avoid misleading the people of God. Secondly, though the Church had delayed responding to the homosexual crisis, the ripe moment came for the Church, and she uses her authoritative non-definitive doctrine to respond. The faithful are therefore called to submit their will and mind, own and follow it because it is understood that God has granted to the Magisterium special charism received through episcopal succession to guide God’s people to the truth. Therefore, I am challenged to follow the timely teachings of the Church on homosexuality as stated in Amoris Laetitia, to respect and avoid any form of discrimination, violence or aggression. “Every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity … while avoiding every sign of unjust discrimination is … avoided (276). I am called to avoid being judgmental, but be loving and walking with them since they are wounded and broken. The Popes message challenges me to be