A reader offers some theological education:

“Dear Mr. Derbyshire—Fascinating column today. I recall my own confusion

when I read your column in National Review, so I was grateful for your piece

today in that it clarified your main point. Thank you. I have one point of

disagreement with something you wrote today, however, involving the

following paragraph: ‘I can’t even agree with the Roman Catholic church

that homosexuals are “called to chastity.” While I have nothing against

chastity per se – I think it can be an honorable choice for a person to make

in some circumstances, and would even go so far as to say that I believe the

very low status of chastity in popular culture is regrettable – it seems to

me arrogant and unkind to tell people that they are “called to chastity” if

they do not hear the call themselves.’

“From the viewpoint of faith, or belief in the teaching of the Roman

Catholic church, your assertion of perceived arrogance and unkindness misses

the point. Using your own example of an arsonist, I hardly think you or I

would find it arrogant or unkind to tell people they are ‘called to not burn

down your neighbor’s house.’ Likewise, the church views one’s engagement in

homosexual acts (or any sexual activity outside the sacrament of marriage)

as damaging to the person’s soul, a risk that endangers their eternal life

with God in heaven. And furthermore, the church teaches that the meaning of

our very existence is to spend eternity with God in heaven (from the old

Baltimore catechism: Why did God make us? He made us to know Him, love Him

and serve Him so that we may be happy with Him forever in heaven). You

obviously disagree with the church’s point on this matter; fine. However, it

seems a bit off the mark to use terms such as arrogant or unkind, when in

reality the pure motivation is mercy and kindness.

“This particular line of reasoning of yours (in regard to homosexual sex and

the church) seems to be a starting point for general agreement with Andrew

Sullivan and his long-running jihad against the church’s teachings on sexual

morality. That battle, ultimately, is a losing one.”