Introduction
The document “Fiducia Supplicans” has opened numerous questions about an authentic pastoral approach to persons with homosexual inclinations. In this section, through a multifaceted approach that includes theological, canonical, spiritual, and pastoral understanding, we will explore how the Church can provide genuine support to these persons without compromising the integrity of Catholic teaching. As many pastoral workers, spiritual directors, confessors, and experienced exorcists testify, true love always means speaking the truth and offering a path of liberation and holiness.
## Theological Understanding of Human Sexuality
Catholic theology views the human person as an integral being created in the image and likeness of God. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2331-2336), human sexuality encompasses all aspects of the human person and relates to the capacity to give and receive love. Saint John Paul II in his “Theology of the Body” emphasized that the human body has a “spousal meaning” – the ability to express love through complete, sincere self-giving.
The Church consistently teaches that sexuality is oriented toward the conjugal love of man and woman, that is, toward a complete and lifelong communion which is by its nature oriented toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. This teaching is not an arbitrary prohibition but stems from an understanding of human nature and God’s creative design. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains (CCC 2357-2359) that “homosexual persons are called to chastity” like all other persons. “By virtuous self-mastery… perhaps with the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.”
It is important to emphasize that the call to chastity is universal and applies to all faithful regardless of their specific inclinations. If persons living single lives can abstain from fornication, or married persons from adultery, masturbation, and consumption of pornography – all with the help of regular sacramental life and an intimate relationship with Christ – then persons with homosexual inclinations can also live virtuous lives through these same means of grace.
Every temptation, regardless of its nature, can be overcome through life in Christ, through daily participation in the Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion, with regular confession. As Saint James warns in his epistle: “Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). This serious reminder applies to all Christians, calling us not to accept worldly standards and values, but to fully embrace God’s call to holiness.
## Canonical View on Spiritual Remedies
Canon law recognizes the importance of the sacraments as primary means of grace for all the faithful. Canon 843 §1 states that “sacred ministers cannot deny the sacraments to those who seek them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.” The sacraments, according to canon 840, are “signs and means by which faith is expressed and strengthened, worship is rendered to God, and the sanctification of humankind is effected.”
Canon 916 emphasizes that “a person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.”
According to canonical tradition, regular reception of the sacraments (especially penance and the Eucharist) represents the primary path of spiritual healing and sanctification. The Church has always given preference to the sacramental approach in pastoral care, as canon 978 §1 states: “In hearing confessions the priest is to remember that he is equally a judge and a physician and has been established by God as a minister of divine justice and mercy, concerned with divine honor and the salvation of souls.”
It is interesting to note that the canonical tradition, while not directly addressing the question of homosexuality, provides a framework for understanding the sacraments as means for strengthening Christian virtue and liberation from attachment to sin.
## Spiritual and Pastoral Approach
Throughout history, the Church has developed a rich treasury of spiritual practices that help the faithful in the battle against all kinds of attachments to sin. These practices have special value for all the faithful, including those who struggle with attraction to persons of the same sex.
### 1. Sacramental Life
The sacraments are privileged channels of God’s grace. For persons struggling with any kind of sinful inclination, regular reception of the sacraments represents the primary path of spiritual healing.
**Eucharist**: Daily reception of the Body of Christ strengthens the soul and gives power to overcome temptations. As St. John Paul II emphasized in his encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” (no. 62): “The Eucharist is a precious medicine of immortality, an antidote to death.” Saint Maximilian Kolbe, who conducted intensive apostolate among persons with various moral struggles, often repeated: “A sick person needs medicine, and the greatest medicine is Jesus in the Eucharist.”
In the pastoral experience of many priests, precisely daily participation in the Holy Mass and receiving the Eucharist has proven to be the most powerful means for transforming the lives of the faithful who struggle with various attachments to sin, including attachments of a sexual nature.
**Sacrament of Penance**: Regular confession, even several times a week if necessary, with the same confessor who can provide spiritual direction, has proven to be a powerful means for gradual liberation from sinful habits. As Saint John Maria Vianney said: “Souls are set free in the confessional.”
Many spiritual directors testify that it is precisely through regular confession, especially when practiced weekly or more frequently, that gradual liberation from deeply rooted attachments to sin becomes visible. A qualified and merciful confessor can guide a person through spiritual growth and help them recognize the roots of their struggle.
### 2. Prayer Life
**Daily reading of Scripture**: God’s word has transformative power. “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit,” (Heb 4:12). It is especially recommended to meditate on passages that speak about the identity of the person as God’s child and about the sanctity of the body.
**Praying the Rosary**: The power of the rosary in fighting temptations is confirmed by the testimony of countless saints. Saint Padre Pio said: “The Rosary is the weapon for our times.” Many testify to the transformative power of praying the rosary, especially when they pray it daily and with faith.
**Prayers of Liberation**: These prayers, when practiced under the guidance of the Church and with discernment, can help in liberation from deep spiritual attachments. They are based on the belief that Christ has the power to free the believer from all influences that distance him from God’s plan for his life.
### 3. Testimonies of Spiritual Growth and Transformation
Many faithful with homosexual inclinations who have decided to live in accordance with Church teaching testify to the fruits of their spiritual journey. Their testimonies show that, although the struggle may be difficult, spiritual progress is always possible with God’s grace.
One such person, Daniel, testifies: “Through regular confession and receiving the Eucharist, I gradually began to experience freedom from attachments that had imprisoned me for years. My attraction did not simply disappear, but my identity is no longer defined by it, and my ability to live virtuously has significantly strengthened.”
Similar testimonies can be found in books such as “Stepping Out of Homosexuality” and “I Was Gay,” which provide personal stories of people who, through their spiritual journey, have experienced significant changes in their lives.
## Experiences of Exorcists and Spiritual Counselors
Experienced exorcists and spiritual counselors testify to the importance of a comprehensive approach that includes regular sacramental life, prayers of liberation, and psychological support.
One experienced exorcist (NN), through his many years of experience in spiritual direction and the ministry of liberation, has encountered numerous persons who have struggled with various inclinations, including homosexual ones. His experience indicates that it is crucial to understand the complexity of human sexuality, which can be influenced by different factors – biological and psychological, as well as spiritual.
According to the testimony of this exorcist, in some cases the roots of certain inclinations can reach back to conception itself. He has shared his spiritual experience and observations about how homosexuality most often develops from the earliest moments of life, from when the child is the size of a pea, as soon as the soul is present in the conceived fetus. According to his experience, when parents strongly desire a child of a specific sex (for example, they want a male child but a female is conceived, or vice versa), and they intensely express these desires through thoughts or conversations, this can have a profound impact on the child’s development.
This spiritual director has observed that the child, in its innocence and desire to please its parents, may experience an inner struggle that potentially affects even hormonal development. According to his experience, this is one of the reasons why sometimes male persons may exhibit distinctly feminine characteristics or behave that way, while female persons may exhibit distinctly masculine characteristics.
It is important to emphasize that these observations are approached from a spiritual perspective, not as scientific claims, but as the fruit of many years of work with persons seeking liberation and healing.
The mentioned spiritual director especially emphasizes that homosexuality and fornication, like depression or other psychological, hormonal, or physical conditions, can be treated with spiritual means, especially through frequent confession, prayers of liberation, and daily reception of the body of Christ in the Eucharist.
In his counseling, this experienced spiritual director often cites John’s Gospel where Jesus says: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (Jn 6:56) and “Whoever eats my flesh will live because of me” (Jn 6:57), and “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, you do not have life within you” (Jn 6:53). These quotes emphasize the transformative power of the Eucharist which changes the one who receives it, enabling them to live through Christ and in Christ.
According to the experience of this and other spiritual counselors, through daily reception of the Eucharist, regular confession, prayers of liberation, and, when necessary, exorcisms, many persons have experienced significant liberation from various spiritual and psychological burdens, including those related to sexuality.
According to the experience of spiritual counselors, the formation of sexual identity can be influenced by various circumstances from the earliest age, including the dynamics of family relationships. They note that parents’ expectations, verbalized or not, can have an impact on the psychological development of the child, who often has a deep desire to please the parents.
Therapeutic and spiritual counselors emphasize that each person is unique and that there is no uniform approach that would suit everyone. What has proven most effective is an individualized approach that includes:
1. Regular sacramental life (confession and Eucharist)
2. Spiritual direction from an experienced priest
3. Prayers of liberation when appropriate
4. Psychological support that respects Catholic teaching on the human person
5. A community of support that provides authentic friendship and understanding
It is important to emphasize that an approach of authentic pastoral care never diminishes the inherent dignity of the person, nor suggests that a person with homosexual inclinations has less value. On the contrary, precisely because it recognizes the full dignity of each person as a child of God, it wants to offer a path toward the full flourishing of that dignity through a life of grace and virtue.
## Being Truthful and Merciful Simultaneously
Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore” (Jn 8:11). This Gospel episode perfectly illustrates the truly pastoral approach: Jesus shows mercy and understanding, but clearly names the sin and calls for a change of life.
A pastoral approach that avoids speaking the truth out of fear of hurting feelings does not show true love. As Cardinal Sarah said: “Mercy without truth is false mercy.”
The document “Fiducia Supplicans” has caused concern precisely because it creates confusion around the traditional Catholic understanding of blessings. Blessing a couple as a couple inevitably suggests approval of their relationship, regardless of the theological distinctions the document attempts to establish.
## The True Pastoral Path
Instead of blessing couples in relationships that cannot be aligned with God’s plan, an authentic pastoral approach includes:
1. A sincere welcome to every person with recognition of their inherent dignity as a child of God
2. Clear proclamation of the truth about God’s plan for human sexuality with love and without condemnation of the person
3. Individual spiritual direction that helps the person to gradually grow in freedom and virtuous living
4. Encouragement toward a regular sacramental life as the primary means of spiritual healing and growth
5. Prayers of liberation when appropriate, always in accordance with Church guidelines
6. Creation of authentic communities of support where persons can experience true friendship and belonging
7. Individual blessing of the person (not the couple as a couple) that invokes God’s grace for life in accordance with the Gospel.
This approach clearly distinguishes between the person (who always deserves respect and dignity) and certain relationships or behaviors (which may be objectively misaligned with God’s plan).
## Conclusion
Authentic pastoral care for persons with homosexual inclinations does not consist in blessing relationships that cannot be aligned with God’s plan, but in providing a true path of liberation and holiness.
As St. Augustine said: “Love consists precisely in this: that we live according to God’s commandments.”
Through:
– regular sacramental life (especially frequent confessions and daily reception of the Eucharist),
– prayer (the rosary and reading of Scripture),
– prayers of liberation (when appropriate),
persons can experience gradual liberation from attachments that distance them from God’s plan.
Blessing an individual, with a call to conversion and virtuous living, has always been and remains part of the Church’s pastoral approach. However, blessing a couple as a couple inevitably suggests approval of their relationship, which creates confusion and does not serve the true good of persons.
True love is always grounded in truth. Therefore, our pastoral care must also be truthful, providing a clear vision of virtuous life through Christ – which is possible for all the faithful, regardless of their temptations or inclinations.