Some of last week’s letters show an inability or unwillingness to understand that those who demand “gay rights,” though they preach tolerance, are intolerant of the core beliefs of the Catholic Church and most other Christians, Jews and Muslims, particularly African and African-American Christians.

Most societies in history, including Catholic ones, have disapproved but taken no serious measures against private homosexual acts (or other private sins, like adultery). But the word “gay” has now come to mean someone who proudly practices homosexuality, declares it’s essential to his identity (“this is who I am”) and demands public approval.

The Catholic Church has always tried to change the minds of both homosexuals and heterosexuals who make sexual satisfaction the center of their lives and think it can justify any behavior. The Church loves them enough to tell them when it believes they’re harming themselves or others.

The percentage of homosexuals who have taken advantage of some states’ legalization of “gay marriage” shows that this issue isn’t really about marriage. It’s about legislating approval of “gayness” and stigmatizing and silencing opponents, especially the Catholic Church.

Some “gay rights” activists have desecrated Catholic churches, worked to outlaw Catholic adoption agencies that won’t place children with homosexuals, and used public records in California to harass those who donated money to oppose “gay marriage.”

Such people think the Catholic Church is a vicious and bigoted organization, which should be forbidden to express or practice beliefs that the “gay rights” movement dislikes.

As Catholic professors at Saint Louis University, we are happy to see our University defending Catholic doctrine.

James Hitchcock
Professor of History

Warren Treadgold
Professor of History