Sexuality in Christianity and Judaism in Australia
The Christian Church has always taught that:"the purpose of the sexual faculty is the expression of married love and the generation of new life in the context of the family. To use the sexual faculty in a way which causes the generation of new life to be impossible is to misuse and is wrong. Genital sexual behavior between two people of the same sex is such a misuse and is therefore wrong."This is not the only thing that needs to be taken into consideration though, as there needs to be the distinction between homosexual activity and a homosexual orientation. A true homosexual orientation is that person's principal and permanent sexual orientation, and is a spontaneous inclination or physical attraction to others of the same sex. On the other hand, homosexual activity is engaging in genital sexual activity with others of the same sex. The Christian Church considers deliberate homosexual activity wrong and as a misuse. The fact that it is done knowingly and freely makes it a sin.The fundamental Christian truth is that homosexual people enjoy the same human worth as everyone else. They have claims to the same reverence and respect as all other people. Their orientation does not mean that they give up God's
The role of the Jewish synagogues in Australia is to respect homosexuals, homosexuality, and at least acknowledge homosexual relationships. The Torah itself prohibits and condemns homosexuality. They support homosexuals, but not encourage their lifestyle. As well, when asked whether there were homosexual priests in Sydney he replied:"Oh please God, no. This would be a complete about-face in the teaching of the Church. The Church's ministry should exclude no one. Church authorities are portrayed as pastorally harsh when they oppose the homosexual tendency. Many of the traditional community today say that they will accept a homosexual person as a Jew. Judaism Traditionally, Judaism has seen homosexuality as an abomination. " He had suggested that the church should bless such unions and concentrate on the spiritual quality of the friendship and not inquire into intimate physical matters. There are three branches of Judaism; Conservative, Orthodox and Reform. "Another argument is that those who refrain from genital expression of their sexual orientation cannot discover themselves or realise their full potential. Some believe that homosexuality does not follow the mizvot and that anyone living in a lifestyle that goes against Jewish teachings will not survive. However, at this time the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, had prompted a national debate due to his attitudes to sexuality.
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