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).
It’s the duty of everyone that God calls to be celibate, whether or not they’re gay. No one’s forcing it on them, though (and I have no belief that gays don’t go to heaven if they don’t choose celibacy)… There are a lot of sacrifices that my religion demands. To quote Jesus, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” I don’t view it as being an unfair demand, just a different one.
That being said, I understand perfectly why you see it as being unfair. I wouldn’t expect you to understand why sacrificing such important things for a deity makes any sense, because from an atheistic/agnostic perspective, it’s stupid. But to say that gays have an unfair restriction placed on them is also only half true.
But I’m sure you know my personal views. I don’t think any of this stuff should be imposed on anyone.