Soon to be Cardinal Abp. Sebastián Aguila: "Homosexuality is a deficient way of manifesting sexuality."

[Ed. note:  This story has been reported elsewhere without direct quotes.  I found a translation of the interview at Rorate Caeli.  If the translation is accurate, I see nothing wrong with what the Archbishop says about homosexuality.]

- The Pope go to great lengths in his gestures of respect and esteem for all persons, but he does not betray or modify the traditional Magisterium of the Church. It is one thing to display welcoming and affection to a homosexual person, and something else to morally justify the exercise of homosexuality. I can tell one person that has a certain deficiency that it is what it is, but this does not mean that I stop caring for him and helping him. I believe that is the position of the pope, and likewise regarding homosexual marriage or divorces. We will be on his [the person's] side, but the Church cannot change the moral demands. Love always demands fidelity and irrevocability. Human love is what it is, and the Church must defend the truth and the deep authenticity of man, helping all, those who accomplish it well, and those who make mistakes or fail.

- Many complain and do not tolerate it, but with all respect I say that homosexuality is a deficient way of manifesting sexuality, because the latter has a structure and an end, which is that of procreation. Homosexuality, which cannot reach this and, is faulty. This is not an outrage for anyone. We have in our body many deficiencies. I have high blood pressure, should I get upset because others tell me so? It is a deficiency that I have to correct as well as I can. To identify in a homosexual [person] a deficiency is not offensive, it is a help, because many cases of homosexuality can be treated and normalized with adequate treatment. It is not an offense, it is care. When a person has a defect, the good friend is the one who tells him so. - Source 

Again - it works for me.  There is nothing different in what the Archbishop says from what approved Church documents and the Catechism says: The inclination itself is intrinsically disordered.  Everyone must have that memorized by now.  People shouldn't get upset over such statements.

The Archbishop said what he said and did so with charity and understanding.  It may also be true, that in some cases, if and when a person is determined and committed to change, it may be possible to do so. Nevertheless, the person must be highly motivated to change, and he would need to have access to reliable treatment.  Likewise, if professional help is willingly pursued, a person must be able to afford the cost.  The poor cannot be expected to do this - therefore the Church does not make such a demand.  The Church calls all to conversion, and requires chastity and faith, but not therapy or treatment.

That said, nothing is impossible with God.  God's grace is sufficient.


NB: Some 'gay-Catholics' and most gay activists object to the idea of sexual orientation change or reparative therapy for unwanted same sex attraction or homosexual behavior.  The Church does not mandate such therapies nor does the Church address the issue of change.  Oddly enough, GLBTQ activists, Catholic and secular, who are almost always against reparative therapy, frequently cite research on sexual fluidity and gender-queer issues, proposing such theories that sexual orientation is not fixed.  ("The dogmatic assertion that if you are gay once, you will always be gay, overshadows the real experience of women who have undergone a change in their sexual attractions." - Melinda Selmys)  Hence it strikes me as somewhat inconsistent that these 'thinkers' are now against something as benign as voluntary, elective reparative therapy to help someone overcome unwanted same sex attraction and/or behavior.