Is this so?
How does that square with the Bible's various scripture admonishing "lustful desires," "carnal desires," "lusting after another man's wife committing adultery in one's heart," etc.?
I ask those of you that are versed in Catholic doctrine if in fact this is so, or is it merely journalism malpractice by reporting fantasy as fact?
Catholic teaching is clearly stated in the Catechism:
CCC 2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
CCC 2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
CCC 2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
Catholic doctrine maintains that homosexual orientation per se, is not sinful but disordered. Homosexual acts are acts of "great depravity" and the lust or desire to commit such acts would also be sinful.
See HERE
An "act" can be a thought (interior act) or word or deed (exterior act.) Any homosexual act, interior or exterior, is a sin.
Related, but morally disinguishable from this, is a homosexual "orientaion," a response pattern which is not willed. For some people, this produces more-or-less persistent temptations which are not willful, i.e. tempting thoughts or feelings which you are determined to resist and overcome.
So, as Jesus said, if you look at somebody to intentionaly excite you own lust, you have committed adultery with them in your heart: this is a sin.
But if you have involuntary feeling which you are resisting that is a temptation, not a sin. Holy Scripture says that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, but without sinning.
I wonder why this GWU senior would go to a priest for counseling, knowing that the priest would try to help him resist temptation an win a victory over the unwelcome tendencies related to his orientation. Was the student genuinely surprisd that a priest would encourage him to gain self-mastery by the grace of God to remain free of sin?
catholic doctrine says sexual intercourse is for married people. Marriage is between a man and woman. That is all.