The New York Times - October 31, 1986
Roberto Suro

The reference came in a new document that reinforced previous church teachings on homosexuality.

Although acquired immune deficiency syndrome was not mentioned in the document by name, a senior Vatican official said the document was "certainly" referring to the deadly virus in a passage that severely criticizes the pro-homosexual movement.

The Vatican official, who asked not to be identified, said, "In 1986 AIDS cannot be ignored in any consideration of the moral and ethical issues raised by homosexuality."

Task Force Is Outraged

In Washington, the passage in the Vatican document drew an angry reaction from Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washington.

"That is outrageous," Mr. Levi said. "A church that is supposed to be showing compassion and caring for those who suffer from the horrible disease instead is furthering bigotry and hatred. The hostility of the Catholic Church to gay men and lesbians has made solving this problem more difficult. A statement like this from the Vatican is only going to worsen the AIDS crisis, not resolve it."

The document said: "Even when the practice of homosexuality may seriously threaten the lives and well-being of a large number of people. Its advocates remain undeterred and refuse to consider the magnitude of the risks involved."

"The church can never be so callous," it added.

Inclination Now Condemned

In the document, which was a letter to all Roman Catholic bishops, the Vatican for the first time explicitly condemned the mere inclination toward homosexuality as an "objective disorder." Previous Vatican statements spoke primarily of the sinfulness of homosexual acts.

Noting that "increasing numbers of people today, even within the church, are bringing enormous pressure to bear on the church to accept the homosexual condition," the document calls on the Catholic authorities to resist "an effort in some countries to manipulate the church by gaining the often well-intentioned support of her pastors with a view toward changing civil-statues and laws."

The document made public today was issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office charged with preserving the orthodoxy of Catholic belief. It had been approved by Pope John Paul II.

Senior Vatican officials, who asked not to be identified, said the letter had been issued partly in response to increasing activity by homosexual groups in Western nations including the United States.

Clarifying the Doctrine

The officials said the Vatican was trying to clarify its position while countering what the document called "deceitful propaganda" used by pro-homosexual groups. Concern over erroneous interpretations of the church's position on the subject by some pastors and theologians was another reason for producing the document, they said.

Publication of the Vatican's letter follows two disciplinary actions against prominent American churchmen who were accused, among other things, of lax attitudes toward homosexuality. The Vatican document in effect offers strong support to bishops in New York and Chicago who have recently spoken out against legislation aimed at preventing discrimination against homosexuals.

While deploring crimes against homosexuals, the letter says that "when civil legislation is introduced to protect behavior to which no one has any conceivable right," people should not be surprised when "irrational and violent reactions increase."

The letter, sent to more than 3,000 bishops around the world, also offers a series of recommendations on how priests can assist a homosexual "by affirming that person's God-given dignity and worth." But it insists on a recognition of the sinfulness of homosexual acts as a first step.

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