Church Homosexuality and law

1. 1
IPC 377, Homosexual activities and the Catholic Church
Introduction
In 2009, the Delhi High court declared unconstitutional IPC 377 which considers “carnal intercourse against the order of
nature with any man, woman or animal” as a criminal offence. This was challenged in the Hon’ Supreme Court of India,
which on Dec 11,2013, set aside the Delhi HC judgment and reaffirmed the constitutionality of IPC 377. The SC judgment
has been sharply rebuffed in the popular media which has not examined the alarming data from Western countries
where homosexual activities have largely been legalized and acceptable for many years. We intend to examine some of
that data and to discern the role that needs to be played by the Catholic Church.
Physical consequences:
HIV/AIDS
A 2010 report from the USA Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that of all the new HIV infections among
males in that country, 78% are accounted to by MSM (Men who have sex with Men) while they constitute just
4% of the male populationi
. A recent report from the UK’s Health Protection agency shows that nearly 1 in 12
MSM in London are HIV positiveii
. Very recently, Britain’s public health chief, Kevin Fenton, warned of a
catastrophic gay HIV epidemiciii
. Vancouver, the eighth largest Canadian municipality reports 18% of gay men
being infected with HIViv
. Dr. Xu Huifang from the Disease Prevention and Control Center in the Chinese mega
city of Guangzhou has said that 90% of all new HIV/AIDS cases among local university or college students are
due to homosexual activitiesv
.
The reasons for these sky‐high rates are not hard to find. HIV is basically a ‘gut’ virus, and consequently, anal sex
is one of the easiest methods of its transmission. Moreover, unlike the vagina, the muscles leading to anal orifice
are not designed for intercourse, and even when a condom is used, can result in breakage and subsequent HIV
transmission, not to speak of injuries that can be sustained to the penis, which further increases the chances of
transmission.
What is also frightening is the propensity of homosexuals to engage in risky sexual behaviors. A recent CDC
report shows that nearly two thirds (62%) of gay men who know they have AIDS had sex without condoms at
least once in the last one yearvi
.
Sexually transmitted diseases(STDs)
A 2012 CDC report calls out a troubling rise in Syphilis among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with
menvii
. Among other infections, MSM are also highly prone to be infected with HPV(Human Papillomavirus).
They are also 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer than heterosexual menviii
. Bacterial vaginosis, Hepatitis
B, Hepatitis C, heavy cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, intravenous drug use, and prostitution were present in
much higher proportions among female homosexual practitioners.ix
CDC also notes the serious drain on the U.S.
health care system from STDs, costing the nation almost $16 billion in health care costs every year.
Mental Consequences:
The homosexual lifestyle has been documented to be ripe with multiple mental issues. A UK study conducted by
a pro‐homosexual organization reported that 52% of homosexual youth reports self‐harming, compared to 35%

2. 2
of heterosexual youth, and numbers approaching half reported other forms of serious mental health problemsx
.
Teens who self‐identify as homosexual are five times more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to
attempt suicidexi
.
Social consequences:
Recent analysis of the age of death in Norway and Denmark for gays who are legally married suggests that
engaging in homosexual behavior reduces lifespan by 24 yearsxii
. Multiple partners are the norm and not the
exception in gay relationships. Bi‐sexual men, ie, men who have sex with both men and women also becomes a
channel for STD transmission to unsuspecting women. There are organizations like “B4U‐ACT” and
“NAMBLA”(North American Man‐Boy Love Association)xiii
that advocates pedophilia and claims that man‐boy
love is ‘certainly homosexual’xiv
.
Scripture and Church teaching
Holy Bible clearly speaks of the sinfulness of homosexual activities xv. The Catechism of the Catholic Church(CCC) lays
out some of the most coherent teachings on homosexuality. It says, (2357) “Homosexual acts are acts of great depravity,
intrinsically disordered, can be approved under no circumstances”, (2358) “Men and women with homosexual
tendencies must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity, Every sign of unjust discrimination in their
regard should be avoided”, (2359)”Homosexual persons are called to chastity and to attain to Christian freedom with
the aid of disinterested friendship, prayer and sacramental grace”. The Church has also issued timely documents to
address this issue, like, “Declaration on certain questions concerning sexual ethics”(1975), “Letter to the Bishops of the
Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of homosexual persons”(1986), “Considerations regarding proposals to give legal
recognition to union between homosexual persons”(2003) etc.
The Way Out!
Given the dangers of the homosexual lifestyle, the preferred and fail proof solution is abstinence, as suggested by most
of the CDC reports already cited earlier. Reparative Therapy is also an option for those highly motivated to change their
sexual orientation. Dr Nicholas Cummings, former President of American Psychiatrist Association, and with half a
century of experience, claims many hundreds of success cases where he accomplishes precisely thatxvi
. There are also
practitioners in India who use advanced mental treatments to completely cure the disorder of homosexualityxvii
.
The needed response from the Catholic Church
Considering the dangers of this lifestyle which are well documented and publicly available, it is clear that certain groups
who works against IPC 377 under the pretext of individual freedom and rights are not doing so with the best interests of
same‐sex attracted people in mind. The spurious guidance provided by these lobbying groups will result in extreme
physical and mental misery, and a sad and untimely death for the unfortunate and vulnerable minority of people
struggling with same‐sex attractions. Since no other group(faith‐based or otherwise) have the level of clarity on this
issue as what comes from the illuminated teachings from of the Magisterium, it becomes imperative upon the Church to
advocate rejection of homosexual activities, but understanding, compassion and chance to change for those with same‐
sex attraction, which is nothing but Christ’s adage of hating the sin and loving the sinner.

3. 3
Consequences of Homosexual behavior
Physical:
HIV/AIDS
A 2010 report from the USA Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that of all the new HIV infections among
males in that country, 78% are accounted to by MSM (Men who have sex with Men) while they constitute just
2% of the populationxvii
. A recent report from the UK’s Health Protection agency shows that nearly 1 in 12 MSM
in London are HIV positivexvii
. Very recently, Britain’s public health chief, Kevin Fenton, warned of a catastrophic
gay HIV epidemicxvii
. Vancouver, the eighth largest Canadian municipality reports 18% of gay men being infected
with HIVxvii
. Dr. Xu Huifang from the Disease Prevention and Control Center in the Chinese mega city of
Guangzhou has said that 90% of all new HIV/AIDS cases among local university or college students are due to
homosexual behaviorxvii
.
The reasons for these sky‐high rates are not hard to find. HIV is basically a ‘gut’ virus, and consequently, anal sex
is one of the easiest methods of its transmission. Moreover, unlike the vagina, the muscles leading to anal orifice
are not designed for intercourse, and even when a condom is used, can result in breakage and subsequent HIV
transmission, not to speak of injuries that can be sustained to the penis, which further increases the chances.
What is more frightening is the propensity of homosexuals to engage in risky sexual behaviors. A recent CDC
report shows that nearly two thirds (62%) of gay men who know they have AIDS have sex without condomsxvii
.
Sexually transmitted diseases(STDs)
A 2012 CDC report calls out a troubling rise in Syphilis among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with
menxvii
. Among other infections, MSM are also highly prone to be infected with HPV(Human Papillomavirus).
They are also 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer than heterosexual menxvii
. CDC also notes the serious
drain on the U.S. health care system from STDs, costing the nation almost $16 billion in health care costs every
year.
Mental:
A UK study conducted by a pro‐homosexual organization reported that 52% of homosexual youth reports self‐
harming, compared to 35% of heterosexual youth, and numbers approaching half reported other forms of
serious mental health problemsxvii
.

4. 4
Social:
Recent analysis of the age of death in Norway and Denmark for gays who are legally married suggests that
engaging in homosexual behavior reduces lifespan by 24 yearsxvii
. Multiple partners are the norm and not the
exception in gay relationships. Bi‐sexual men, ie, men who have sex with both men and women also becomes a
channel for STD transmission to unsuspecting women. There are organizations like NAMBLA(North American
Man‐Boy Love Association)xvii
that advocates pedophilia and claims that man boy love is ‘certainly
homosexual’xvii
. Taken together, acceptance and normalization of same sex activities result in the destruction of
physical and mental health of those who engage in it, while contributing alongside to the disintegration of the
social and moral fabric of the traditional family and values that hold a healthy society together.
The Way Out!
Given the dangers of the homosexual lifestyle, the preferred and fail proof solution is abstinence, as suggested by most
of the CDC reports already cited above. Reparative Therapy is also an option for those highly motivated to change their
sexual orientation. Dr Nicholas Cummings, former President of American Psychiatrist Association, and with half a
century of experience, claims many hundreds of success cases where he accomplishes precisely thatxvii
. There are also
practitioners in India who use the latest treatments in psychology to completely cure the disorder of homosexualityxvii
.
xvii
http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/hivfactsheets/todaysepidemic‐508.pdf , page 3
xvii
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317137200016 , page 5
xvii
http://www.bhiva.org/documents/Conferences/Autumn2013/presentations/131114/KevinFenton.pdf
xvii
http://www.mancount.ca/files/ManCount_Report2010.pdf
xvii
http://www.ecns.cn/2014/01‐02/95147.shtml
xvii
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6247a4.htm?s_cid=mm6247a4_w#tab1
xvii
http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/STD‐Trends‐508.pdf
xvii
http://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/STD.htm
xvii
http://www.youthchances.org/wp‐content/uploads/2014/01/YC_REPORT_FirstFindings_2014.pdf
xvii
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007_docs/CameronHomosexualFootprint.pdf
xvii
http://Nambla.org
xvii
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/190542?uid=3738256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21103380039953
xvii
http://www.consciencedefense.org/contents/media/Nicholas_Cummings_Declaration.pdf
xvii
http://www.hrtsystem.com/