There have been increasing discussions about homosexual marriage and the rights of persons with a homosexual orientation in contemporary society. It would be of benefit to the Catholic community to review these from a moral point of view, since Catholics should approach any discussions about these issues with a clear understanding of Church teaching. Even a brief moral analysis needs to start by insisting that the Church looks at these as two separate moral issues.

First, we can review briefly teaching pertinent to the issue of homosexual marriage. The Church has always made it clear that marriage --- and even more so, sacramental marriage --- is a sacred union between a woman and a man. In 2003, the American Bishops declared, "The Catholic Church believes and teaches that marriage is a faithful, exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman, joined as husband and wife in an intimate partnership of life and love."

The Church's teaching on the absolute nature of marriage as a heterosexual union is not simply "church discipline," but is based on a firm understanding of natural law that recognizes that the complementarity of the sexes, understood across all cultures, establishes that marriage is more than simply a relationship between human beings. There are at least three reasons that the Church uses as a foundation to this moral teaching.

---First, the Church reflects that marriage is based on a natural truth, confirmed by Revelation contained in the biblical accounts of creation. God created humans as "male and female" (Gen. 1:27). Men and women are equal and complementary as male and female.

---Secondly, marriage is essential to the moral use of sexual intimacy; the enjoyment of sexual intimacy is morally proper only within the marriage covenant. "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife and they become one flesh" (Gen 2:24).

---Lastly, through marriage, a couple participates in the work of creation. They become co-creators with God and their fruitfulness is an essential part of the very nature of marriage: "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen 1:28).

Homosexual unions cannot be considered as either similar or analogous to marriage in the context of the Divine plan since homosexual intimacy "closes the sexual act to the gift of life." The use of sexual intimacy outside of marriage is never condoned, and in the case of homosexual acts this is indeed the case since such activity also involves behavior that is forbidden in itself.

The Church's defense of marriage is not primarily a focus on homosexuality, nor is it an attack on the inherent dignity of homosexual persons. This brings us to a second moral analysis, that of the rights of persons with homosexual orientation.

The Church defends the inalienable rights of all persons since all humans are created in the image of God and no one can ever be stripped of their inherent dignity as children of God. All societies must safeguard with their laws the protections and civil rights essential to the prospering of every individual.

However, restricting the right to marriage to a covenant between a woman and a man does not take away the right of anyone; it simply makes clear the essential character of marriage in the light of God's plan. The Church teaches us that the judgment of Scripture on homosexual acts is not a condemnation of homosexual persons. Again, the American Bishops have also stated, "[Homosexual persons] …must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Our respect for them means we condemn all forms of unjust discrimination, harassment or abuse."

What about "civil unions" between homosexual persons? Are these acceptable within Church teaching since they do not involve marriage per se and it might be argued that they are necessary to preserve the rights of homosexual persons simply as citizens?

The Church responds that a legal recognition of cohabiting homosexual persons is not necessary since "…they can always make use of the provisions of law --- like all citizens from the standpoint of their private autonomy --- to protect their rights in matters of common interest…[such] personal goods …can and must be guaranteed in ways that do not harm the body of society."

In refusing to sanction homosexual unions or homosexual marriage, the Church is stating that it is not discriminatory to treat different realities differently; there is an essential difference between same-sex partners and heterosexual spouses and the state should not confuse equality with uniformity simply by equating the two very different realities. The marriage of a man and a woman is not just one model among others; rather it is a fundamental human reality which forms an essential and irreplaceable part of the human community as a social community.

Vincentian Father Richard Benson is academic dean and professor of moral theology at St. John's Seminary, Camarillo. His column appears monthly in The Tidings.