It also outlines Church teaching on sexuality, traditional marriage and on the distinction between inclinations and actions.    

“While homosexual acts are always objectively wrong, same-sex inclinations are not in themselves sinful or a moral failing,” it says. “To the extent that a same-sex attraction is not freely chosen, there is no personal culpability in having such an inclination.

“Nonetheless, when oriented toward genital activity, this inclination is ‘objectively disordered,'  ” it says, quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

“Inclinations to homosexual acts in no way diminish the full human dignity or intrinsic worth of the person. For many people, same-sex attraction constitutes a trial. They therefore deserve to be approached by pastors with charity and prudence.”

The letter urges educators to encourage chastity, “especially since society often misunderstands and scorns this virtue.”

“Avoidance of difficult questions or watering down the Church’s teaching is always a disservice,” it says. “Such attitudes could lead young people into grave moral danger.”

The bishops stress the virtue of chastity, describing chastity as “a way of loving” that entails “more than the avoidance of sin” but involves the successful integration of sexuality and a person’s bodily and spiritual being.

“Through a Christ-centred love Christians can be fulfilled in all aspects of life, including the gradual integration of their sexuality. On this challenging journey, only a greater love can heal a lesser love.”

“God catches us up in His love,” Prendergast explained. "Sometimes we figure how can I love as a human person when I’m torn in my attractions? Allow God to love you and to heal you and perhaps you can redirect love into a different way or channel it into a cause.”

Not everyone is called to marriage, he said, but people can find ways of giving themselves to others “that can heal them as well as help other people to heal.”

Even Jesus counted on the love of the Father to keep going, the archbishop said.  

“Married people are tempted. Priests who have the vow of chastity, bishops are tempted. Everyone is tempted by this drive of sexuality, to love and beget life.”

But chastity and celibacy are not sentences of loneliness.  

“We can be with other people in different ways,” Prendergast said, stressing friendship and support groups like Courage and EnCourage for families and friends of those struggling with same-sex attraction.

“There is a way in which we can be stronger together and having a welcoming community helps me to bear my cross,” he said.

The letter recognizes the “enormous pressures” facing young people grappling with same-sex attraction such as “unjust discrimination, the sense of invisibility and isolation, and ignorance of their particular situation.”

“We deplore all such attitudes and actions,” said the document, and it urges priests and pastoral workers to examine themselves honestly so as to remove any barriers that might make young people facing same-sex attraction feel unwelcome. “Ostracism or the fear of being rejected or even hated, frequently contributes to the despair that all too often is felt by these young persons.”   

It urges parents to “respond lovingly and trust divine Providence” if their child reveals same-sex inclinations and to continue welcoming him or her into their home.

Click here to download the CCCB pastoral letter

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