Homosexuality

What is the Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality?

The Catholic Church makes a distinction between homosexual acts and homosexual desires.

It teaches that homosexual acts are immoral, but that homosexual desires, like all temptations, are not immoral unless they are acted upon.

It further teaches that people with homosexual desires "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2358).

The Church teaches that people with homosexual desires, like all people, are called to practice chastity.

In 2005, the Vatican issued a directive that "the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to Holy Orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture.'"