Becoming a priest, nun, or monk is a choice. Celibacy is not imposed on anyone, but those who choose it seem to get by just fine. Black people, on the other hand, do not choose to be black.
Obviously I was exaggerating for effect. But you’re exactly right, being celibate is a choice. So God creates heterosexuals and homosexuals, and he tells heterosexuals they have a choice about having sex or not having sex, and either choice is ok as long as they’re married (or not priests). He tells homosexuals they have no choice.
Sounds reasonable.
Ah, that’s what you’re getting at. A person’s vocation (whether it be marriage, the priesthood, lay celibacy, or the religious life) is pretty much predetermined by God. It is the decision of the individual to follow it or not. In the case of gays and lesbians, their vocation is celibacy. That being said, there is an obvious difference, since someone called to the priesthood can still marry (a sin if they deliberately reject their vocation) can remain married without any further sin, but the same is not true according to Catholic teaching if a gay man marries another gay man and remains married.
The idea that our lives shouldn’t be difficult and sometimes painful is not one that I subscribe to, however, and I’m afraid that while I have sympathy for people who suffer this way, I don’t think remaining celibate is the end of the world. If someone imposed celibacy on me, it would be a bummer, but I could live with it just fine. I have many fulfilling relationships that do not involve sex and never will, and I would be willing to keep it that way if that is what God wants. If I didn’t want what God wants, I wouldn’t be Catholic…
Hang on. Tell me if I’m misunderstanding you, but you’re saying that God chooses certain people to be homosexual and it’s their duty to be celibate?
If I’ve understood you correctly, I think this is a perfect example of how religion brainwashes people (who are otherwise intelligent, like yourself) into justifying hate. I know, I know, you don’t hate the sinner, you hate the sin, but this is absolute lunacy.
In addition, I’ve always found the idea that any one religion knows what God wants to be extremely arrogant (let alone completely unlikely).