032074 hs Homosexuality issue pondered by church

By GEORGE W. CORNELL

AP Religion Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Homosexuals "can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teaching," says a recently formed Catholic organization seeking rights for homosexuals in the Roman Catholic Church,

However, guidelines newly Issued by United States Catholic bishops say homosexual acts "are a grave transgression of the goals of human sexuality and of human personality, and are consequently contrary to the will of God."

Although conflicting In their conclusions, the two statements point up an increasingly open concern in the churches formerly sidestepped, taboo issue.

It is a "social and moral phenomenon that the church has yet to tackle," says the Rev. John F. Harvey, a theologian-psychologist of Alexandria, Va., who is organizing the first Catholic center for counseling religious personnel on the problem.

Challenges to the traditional negative church attitude toward homosexuality have sur. faced in Protestant denominations in recent years, and since last fall, have emerged explicitly in Roman Catholicism

At its annual I meeting last week in San Francisco, the National Federation of Priests' Councils authorized a task force to "formulate a critical and contemporary theological analysis of homosexuality."

The group is to include several "gay men and women" as consultants. The objective is to develop recommendations for the church "in forming practical attitudes toward homosexuality and homosexuals"

In taking the step, the federation of 130 affiliated councils, including two-thirds of the official diocesan priest senate in the country. dropped a previous committee's report treating homosexuality as an acceptable pattern.

It had been prepared by a study group headed by the Rev. Ramon Wagner of Milwaukee. It termed the bishops' approach to homosexuality as "at best, inaccurate and insensitive, at its worst, it is a misrepresentation of data and a cavalier disrespect for human lives and dignity. "

The report was quashed by the federations executive board as incomplete, and the further study authorized. However, the federation urged repeal of "all civil laws which make consensual homosexual acts between adults a crime," and opposed discrimination against homosexuals in employment.

What has sharpened the issue in Roman Catholicism was a letter sent last fall to U.S. bishops by an organization called Dignity, made up of homosexual Catholics and other.-, concerned with their situation. concerned with their situation.

Contending that homosexuality could be expressed in keeping with Christian teaching in an "ethically responsible and unselfish way," the letter called for "recognition of the right of gay Catholics" to collectively voice their views within the church, for an increased ministry to homosexuals and for steps to "eradicate false stereotypes and prejudices" against them.

Although the guidelines recently used by Catholic bishops reaffirmed the church's traditional view that homosexual acts are immoral, the statement asserts that individuals do not "will to become homosexual" but come to realize it as a condition.

The statement discusses various degrees of homosexuality, suggesting approaches for counseling about it, and emphasizes the importance of helping persons find deep relationships of love and friendship not Involving homosexual acts.

It "represents a new pastoral approach" to the matter, says the Rev. Thomas Kelley. associate general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

However, some Catholic theologians have urged a re-examination of the former church arguments against homosexuality.