I think the Pope (and the Catechism, for that matter) are referring to the duty not to impose unjust discrimination or isolation on people who are, through no fault of their own, struggling with a sexual disorder.
I had a guy in my RCIA class (adults preparing to be received into the Catholic Church) who I thought might be gay or post-gay or gay-curious or something. I thought this because I noticed a couple of gay-themed book on the back seat of his car (not porn, but what's almost worse, Andrew Sullivan) and then I looked up his Facebook page and there was more circumstantial evidence. Just innocent chat, but looks like he's in a somewhat gay social milieu.
"Matt" never brought up sexuality in our class discussions, but he knew what the Church teaches. He once said, rather obliquely, that some of his friends think he's crazy for wanting to join the Catholic Church, inasmuch as "if he had been a 'cradle Catholic,' he'd have left it by now."
I always make sure my RCIA students know what Christ teaches us through Divine and Natural Law about sex, gender, love and marriage. But I didn't think it my quasi-pastoral duty to initiate the subject with him individually ("Hey Matt, d'you like males or females or what??"), any more than I would interrogate our married converts personally on whether they use contraceptives, --- any more than I would research any of my students about his or her psychiatric history or arrest record.
"Matt" entered the Church two Easters ago, and though he moved out of state, I have kept in touch from time to time. I went to his Facebook page today, and guess what he had there?
Pope Francis on gays: "Who am I to judge any person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?"
I put in my own "like" and added this comment:
That "like" of mine is multi-tasking: I "like" the Pope, the Catechism, Blessed Mary Ever Virgin, the recent extravaganza at Copacabana, and you.
And just one minute ago --- I kid you not! --- he shot back with a "like."
:o) Just another person of good will who seeks the Lord!
It would be wrong to subject him to unjust discrimination, e.g. saying he can't receive the Sacraments (which are good for us all, especially regular Confession) or saying he can't be in the choir or some such thing.
He is, as far as I can see, progressing toward perfection. This is being transformed in Christ. We all have a ways to go.
re: “He is, as far as I can see, progressing toward perfection. This is being transformed in Christ. We all have a ways to go.”
Amen. In the case of your friend, from all appearances, he is trying to follow the Lord as best he can. He isn’t promoting a “gay” agenda, he’s just wanting to follow Christ. We both know that the Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit will help us conform to the image of His Son as we surrender our wills to His leading.
As I mentioned, I have been encouraged by the genuine walk with Christ that I’ve seen in Pope Francis, and that he is completely unpretentious in his position and calling as Pope. I think he has broken down some barriers to the Christian faith by his personal discipline and discipleship. That is why I was concerned about some of these statements, not to attack, but heart-felt concern (and this is from a life-long Baptist) about the witness of a major Christian leader. Just as stories in the media about well-known protestant leaders who say or do things that hurt the Christian faith and our witness to the world in general, I was afraid of this report as well.
Anyway, I appreciate your reply and I’m sure the truth about all of this will be revealed in due time. I do believe that Pope Francis will continue to be a wonderful witness to the world about what real Christianity looks like.