The Bishops’ statement on homosexuals last week and the strong reaction from the Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) has re-ignited a heated debate on the subject. The Church has remained firm in its belief that whereas it has nothing against homosexuals as individuals, it does condemn the sexual act between homosexual couples. The gay movement in Malta however feels that the Church is taking a very negative and degrading stand in their regard and they want it to be more open to their feelings and their “right” to form part of the Church.
As we see it, the root of the problem lies not in the position taken by both sides but the failure to make a distinction between the Church’s teaching and the secular development of our society.
The starting point of the debate is easy: homosexuals are individuals with feelings and they have the right to live in a society without any form of discrimination or bias against them. Even the bishops, in their strong statement, make a clear distinction between the individuals and their actions.
Homosexuals deserve respect. It is a state of being, rather than a choice, that many have little control over, so we must be careful not to pre-judge them on the basis of their sexual tendencies.
The second point is that the issue has to be analysed from two perspectives: that of the Catholic Church and that of a group of individuals that form part of a society that is distinct and separate from the Church.
The Church is an institution that has served and moulded the lives of many people for the past 2,000 years. Like any other institution that is founded on a set of principles, the Church has a right to instruct its members to follow certain rules. We may not always agree with what the Church teaches but if we want to form part of Christ’s community, then we must obey what the Church says. The same applies to any club or organisation. If you don’t like the rules, you don't become a member.
Society, on the other hand, imposes its own rules and regulations that we, as citizens, have to follow. We might disagree with some of them, but we have to obey.
Putting the debate on homosexuals in this context, we can get a clearer understanding of the position taken by Church and the gay rights movement. The Church has nothing against homosexual individuals. It is simply stating that as an institution it cannot condone sexual relations between same-sex couples and it cannot accept same-sex marriages because it has always taught and believed that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.
There are other issues on which the Church takes a strong position, such as contraception and cohabitation. Both are unacceptable for the Church because they go against its teaching. Whether we agree or not is beside the point.
That said, we believe that as individuals, homosexuals should be respected in a secular society and the state should afford them their basic rights to live like everyone else. If a homosexual couple wants to live together, the same rules and rights for cohabiting couples should also apply. It is up to the State, however, to decide.
Where we do, however, draw the line is the “right” of a homosexual couple to adopt children – another debate in itself. The underlying argument here is the social and psychological well-being of the children. The concept of same-sex parents is beyond a young child’s ability to understand and, in a society that, unfortunately, still finds it hard to accept gays, the impact on that child could be extremely negative.
However, going back to our original argument, we have nothing against homosexuals or co-habiting homosexuals. At the same time, we believe that the Church in Malta is only exercising its right to establish rules for those who want to become members of its community.
We fully understand the MGRM's desire to be accepted within the Church, yet at the same time, the movement must also acknowledge the Church's rights and long-standing teaching on the subject.