Sir, - Jim Duffy claims (Rite and Reason, August 11th) that the Catholic Church has been wrong in claiming that Christian tradition has always been against homosexual relationships. He describes this stance as "a cowardly cop-out" by the church. He says that historical evidence shows that in times past such unions were often blessed "in parish churches and cathedrals throughout Christendom from Ireland to Istanbul". He bases this on a book by John Boswell (The Marriage of Likeness).
This book is anything but historical. To take just the example referring to Ireland, Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales) visited Ireland in 1183-4 and afterwards wrote a book, Topographia Hibernica. He had little or no contact with the native Irish and he generally depicts them as savages. As "an example of their wicked ways" he cites a custom when they used come together in a church and, with the celebration of Mass, confirm their friendship "by drinking each other's blood". The context is anything but clear. Boswell takes the getting together as referring to the celebration of homosexual unions whereas a previous English translation took it as referring to the Irish way of forming peace agreements with each other - a much more likely explanation.
As regards the Catholic Church, this is the type of evidence on which Jim Duffy's severe judgment is based whereas clear and unambiguous evidence is completely ignored. The tradition witnessed by The Irish Penitentials (Bieler), for example, is absolutely clear on the immorality of homosexual acts.
The whole authentic tradition and teaching of the Catholic Church on the immorality of homosexual acts has been unambiguous down through history and is rooted in scripture. All sexual acts outside lawful marriage are immoral. Even the homosexual tendency itself is an objective disorder and, as with all disorders, the Church invites those suffering from it to master this tendency by availing of the spiritual help and support it provides. The Church also condemns "every sign of unjust discrimination" against homosexuals (Cathechism of the Catholic Church, no 2358). - Yours, etc., Rev Michael Manning
Millstreet, Co Cork.