Hmmm... Interesting that you identify homosexual sex as sinful specifically. What of gay marriage? Would that be sinful, or simply unrecognized in the eyes of god?
The act of getting married is morally neutral as I see it. I don't think same sex marriage is possible as anything other as a legal recognition. It's not a real marriage in the eyes of God.
What, in your opinion, is the reason for homosexuality to exist?
Who knows if there even is a reason. It would seem to be one of natures aberrations, like being born with too many toes, or any number of congenital defects.
What of trans-gendered people?
I see it as a separate issue to homosexuality. I don't really have any problem with people acting as if they are a different sex if that helps their mental well-being. But I'd say if someone born a man has sex with another born a man, then that is sinful, regardless of whether either are transgender.
Intersex people, who were born with both male and female organs?
No idea. Never really given much thought to who they're allowed to marry and have sex with. It would probably depend heavily on the individual circumstances.
Why does it matter that much what lifestyle people choose to lead if it harms nothing in the world (other than the violence these folks face, especially trans-gendered people)?
Firstly, even if I grant it does no harm in the world, that doesn't mean it isn't sinful. I'm not (and Christians in general aren't) utilitarian.
Secondly, when it comes to homosexuality, you'd have a difficult (if not impossible) time proving it does no harm. How do we measure it? There are clear instances where it does, for example STDs are more easily transmitted through anal sex than vaginal.
As for your views on natural law's observance, biologists find that more than 1/10th of the population of animals in the wild engage in homosexual behavior. What would be the reasoning for this?
I'm using Natural Law in the Catholic sense, which isn't really as simple as
it's in nature therefore it's ok. As I said before, I don't know if there even is a reason for the existence of homosexuality other than it being a byproduct of some random mutations along the line.
Also, when the bible says one thing vs. your own observances, do you defer to the bible?
It depends on the specific issue, but generally yes, as we all have our inherent bias of what we
want to believe is right. The Bible isn't always clear though, and on some issues I have no idea.
For Catholics there is also the authority of the Church and its teachings, which we view as authoritative as scripture. Personally, I tend to give less weight to this though.
Does it make a difference to you if what the subject in question is from the old, or the new testament?
Yes, quite a big difference. The NT trumps the OT, and the coming of Jesus essentially made the Mosaic Law obsolete and instead he provided a more comprehensive and superior law. The OT is still quite useful and interesting and much of it is reaffirmed in the NT. It is mostly descriptive rather than prescriptive though. Like in the example I mentioned before about people offering women to be raped instead of men. It's describing what happened rather than what you should do in that situation.
Sorry for all of the questions... Don't feel you have to answer them all. I just don't get the chance to talk to many catholics, so I enjoy the opportunity to get a little more insight - at least from your perspective. =)
No problem.
I read more of the description of your relationship and it would seem to me that if you're both happy with the arrangement and are being faithful to one another then I can't see that either of you is doing anything wrong.
