Why does the Catholic Church prohibit ‘gay marriage’?
The Catholic Church's teaching on marriage is rooted in Scripture, natural law, and apostolic tradition, defining it as an exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between one man and one woman, naturally ordered to the generation and education of children as well as the mutual good of the spouses.
This understanding excludes the recognition of same-sex unions as marriage, as they lack the essential complementarity of the sexes and the openness to procreation that constitute marriage's intrinsic nature and purpose. The prohibition is not a matter of prejudice but a defense of the divine plan for human sexuality and family life, while emphasizing respect and compassion for all persons, including those with same-sex attraction.
The Church's doctrine draws directly from divine revelation, where marriage originates in God's creation of humanity as male and female. In the beginning, God established marriage as a union of "one flesh" between man and woman, reflecting the Creator's design for complementarity and fruitfulness: "Increase and multiply" (Gen 1:28).
Jesus Christ reaffirmed this primordial institution, teaching that marriage unites two persons—male and female—indissolubly, restoring the original unity after concessions in the Old Law. The Church has consistently upheld this through councils and papal teaching. This tradition views marriage as a sacrament that images Christ's union with the Church (Eph 5:21-33), requiring the bodily and spiritual complementarity of the sexes to fully express self-giving love.
Same-sex unions, by contrast, cannot embody this spousal meaning, as they do not arise from the "genuine affective and sexual complementarity" inherent to God's plan.
Beyond Scripture, the Church appeals to natural reason, which reveals that human sexuality is inherently ordered to heterosexual marriage. Our embodied nature as sexually differentiated persons inclines us toward the joint goods of procreation (the generation of children) and unitive love (the total self-gift of spouses).
Same-sex unions, while possibly expressing affection, cannot achieve these ends: they lack biological complementarity for reproduction and the "real bodily union" that signifies marital unity.
Homosexual acts are considered "intrinsically disordered" because they close the sexual act to the gift of life and fail to arise from the natural complementarity of man and woman.
Thus, the Church teaches that homosexual unions cannot be equated to marriage, as they presume a form of sexual intimacy reserved solely for valid marital relations between opposite sexes.
While prohibiting same-sex marriage, the Church calls for profound respect toward persons with homosexual tendencies, who "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity," avoiding all unjust discrimination.
The inclination itself, though "objectively disordered," is not sinful, and those affected are invited to live chastely, uniting their trials to Christ's Cross for spiritual growth. Pastoral care emphasizes accompaniment, helping individuals discern God's will through sacraments, friendship, and support, all while upholding doctrine.
In summary, the Church prohibits "gay marriage" to safeguard the sacred reality of matrimony as divinely instituted—a fruitful union of man and woman—against re-definitions that contradict natural law, Scripture, and tradition. Yet, this teaching is always paired with a commitment to human dignity, inviting all to holiness through grace and compassion.
Nov 29 Sat