Defense Date

3-25-2011

Graduation Date

Spring 2011

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

Theology

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Committee Chair

James Bailey

Committee Member

Daniel Scheid

Committee Member

George Worgul

Keywords

Catholic Social Teaching, Eschatology, Homosexuality, Moral theology, Sacramentality, Spirituality

Abstract

The question of homosexuality remains a daunting task to be addressed by the Church as well as theological ethicists. Lively, and often biased opinions have been presented in the last two centuries; however, use of traditional sources, such a Scripture, Natural Law, empirical data, and Tradition result in a doubt of fact, which, according to the established tradition of the Catholicism, requires the Church to follow the safest course of action, i.e., upholding the traditional heterosexual norm. Given that some individuals experience an irreversible homosexual orientation coupled by a lack of a vocation to a celibate lifestyle, which in turn results in a doubt of law, they are required to follow the most reasonable course of action. This situation indicates a clear need for other sources to be consulted in terms of the formation of individual consciences, while not challenging the normative nature of the Church's teaching regarding same-sex relationships. Accordingly, homosexuality is viewed vis-à-vis the areas of Catholic social teaching, in particular in the area of justice in its various manifestations, liturgy and sacraments, spirituality, and eschatology, especially in terms of the nature of resurrected life, to allow for the subjective possibility of same-sex relationships in very selective contexts to allow for full human flourishing and fulfillment of the narrative of human destiny thoroughly considered. Appeal to these resources respects both the official teaching of the Church and the integrity of individual conscience.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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