If My Son Were Homosexual, I Would...

Love him more. For many reasons. First, men with such attractions are generally, in my experience, unusually sensitive, intelligent, humorous, artistic, spiritual, compassionate, endearing, interesting, The attractions come connected with wonderful gifts. Secondly, it comes also with suffering. A dear college, roommate friend, before he died of AIDS, softly told me "The gay life is a sad one." I did not, and still do not entirely understand what he meant. There is surely the social stigma that must be excruciating. But more deeply, even in gay-friendly societies like Scandanavia or San Francisco, there is a deeper sadness, a dissonance, an insatiable longing that must be suffered. Thirdly, this raw yearning carries also a vulnerability to a lifestyle that is sterile, futile and toxic for body, heart, mind and soul. Lastly, within our Church this attraction comes with a call to heroic sanctity: sexual continence, sobriety, and self-restrain that generates a moral/psychological fraternity and spiritual paternity/fruitfulness.  Remember the myriads of men and women who have served our society and Church...carrying their cross quietly, anonymously, generously... as priest, religious or single layperson. I am personally grateful to have loved and been loved by such dear friends. It is such a tender, virile, chaste, reverent, brotherly love that they...and I...deeply need and crave!