homosexuality

• shift towards individual choice + relationship with God following Enlightenment
• until the late 1950s, all denominations officially regarded homosexuality as a sin
• legislation on homosexuality

  • Sexual Offences Act 1967: decriminalisation of homosexuality
  • Sexual Offences Act 2000: ages of consent made equal for both homosexuals + heterosexuals (16)
  • 2013: legalisation of same sex marriage
• Catholic response:

  • distinction should be made between tendencies + acts - remain celibate
  • homosexual acts violate NML - doesn't lead to reproduction
  • official Catholic Church teaching remains that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered"

  Pope Francis on homosexuality:

  • 2023: "being homosexual is not a crime"
  • Dec 2023: Vatican approved blessings for same-sex couples, provided they don't resemble marriage
  • despite this, he has not formally changed the Church's doctrine on homosexuality
• Church of England response:

  • official teaching of marriage between one man + one woman
  • has sought exemption from the Marriage Act 2013
  • has approved blessings for same sex couples following civil partnership, but only as a part of regular services - rather than exclusive service like weddings
  • has ordained gay clergy e.g. Revd Charlie Bell
• issue of biblical responses

  • many appear to condemn homosexuality, but others conflict with this - so the Bible offers little clear guidance