A chara, - Some of the ideas expressed by Fr O'Leary, (July 10th) can be more confusing than helpful. It must always be kept in mind that persons with homosexual tendencies and habits need compassionate and patient pastoral care. They need understanding and respect. It is not a moral fault to have dispositions and tendencies.
That said, it must also be remembered it is vital to distinguish between a homosexual orientation and homosexual acts. The whole of Christian tradition and unanimous consensus of all Christian churches follows the clear teaching of both Old and New Testaments affirming the sinfulness of homosexual acts.
The teaching of the Catholic Church stands clear. It firmly declares that deliberate homosexual acts are objectively and gravely immoral. The European Court claims that such immoral acts are "a human right". One may ask: Can what is a wrong in the eyes of God, ever be a human right? - Is mise, Fr. Tom Ingoldsby SDB,
Ballinakill, Portlaoise.