Homosexuality Is God’s Intention, Not a Mistake, Says Theologian
Homosexuality is part of God’s “creative overabundance” says an Italian theologian, and not the result of some human defect or moral problem.
Father Paolo Gamberini, SJ
Progetto Gionata recently re-posted a theological reflection in which Jesuit Father Paolo Gamberini considers the place “homosexual orientation” has within God’s loving plan for creation. Gamberini, currently a theology professor at St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, notes that many have tried to answer such a question. Some insist that homosexuality is a mistake, a default, or even a result of sin. But are these really the best ways to consider the ‘origin’ of homosexuality, Gamberini asks, and if not,what is?
All too often, Gamberini says, attempts to discover the root ‘cause’ of homosexuality “assume that homosexuality is first of all a problem to be explained, an anomaly with respect to an allegedly obvious norm, an event that requires a negative cause — a sin, a mistake, a damage.” Upon reflection, however, it is clear that these modes of investigation always fall short.
Attempts to prove that homosexuality is a result of sin, for example, meet what Gamberini calls “a fundamental methodological limit”: namely, that theology does not have the tools to demonstrate a causal link between the theological category of sin and an existential condition that is not chosen. In other words, while theology can speak broadly about the wounded condition of humanity in general, it cannot concretely isolate and identify aspects of human identity as stemming from sin. Homosexuality, as a constitutive part of human identity, cannot be shown to be a result of sin.
Similarly, contemporary scientific research has shown that attempts to prove that homosexuality is a result of relational or environmental factors are ultimately fruitless.
Thus, theological reflection on this topic does not provide easy, definite answers about the ‘cause’ of homosexuality. Rather, it opens up a deeper question: what does the existence of homosexuality say about God and about creation? For Gamberini, the inexplicable existence of homosexuality invites reflection on the nature of Creation itself:
“Creation theology, from its biblical roots, teaches that the world created by God is intrinsically marked by variety: the multiplicity of species, the differentiation of individuals, the richness of life forms are not an accident compared to an originally uniform project, but constitute the very expression of God’s creative overabundance.
“If creation, as a whole, testifies to this logic of diversity willed and blessed by God, it seems legitimate to ask oneself — as the question that gave rise to this reflection suggests — if even in the context of human sexuality we cannot recognize a similar variety that does not contradict, but rather reflect, the richness of divine creative action.”
The human mind tends to attribute phenomena to specific causes, yet the nature of Creation is that God’s creativity and abundance cannot be limited or so narrowly defined. Homosexuality then, as a part of that Creation, “is simply one of the many forms in which the variety of the human condition manifests itself.” Gamberini concludes:
“The hypothesis remains open, and theologically sustainable,that [homosexuality] falls within that varied richness of creation that faith recognizes as a sign of God’s creative overabundance—a diversity that, far from violating the will of the Creator, can perhaps be read as one of the many forms in which this will manifests itself in the mystery of the human person.
—Phoebe Carstens, New Ways Ministry, September 25, 2026
Even in the animal kingdom it exists as does sex and gender transition. Nothing new under the sun. Unfortunately religion and ignorance as well as using fear as a tool for power comes from human beings with an agenda to dominate.
Thank you!! Reminds me of Fr. John McNeill’s thoughtful and intelligent consideration of how homosexuality figured in psychology.
The scripture lines that immediately jump to my mind are John 9:2-3. Who sinned, that we are as God made us? No one; we are as we are so that God’s works can be shown through us.
There isn’t anything holding us back from including Homosexuality except ourselves. Think of all the humans who have been born with lifelong disabilities and we don’t ask WHY??? Come on if we only choose to believe we will see this hold out is part of God’s plan, I believe!
There are no exclusions in God’s world that I understand. We are committed to Love, Kindness, Inclusion, of Everyone and if you don’t include EVERYONE you may be surprised as the Final Hour of Death and New Life becomes The Way. We are all given the opportunity to say Yes and No. We are always recipients of God’s LOVE.
Yes. To quote a Trappist monk, God loves variety.
As a 71-year-old, lifelong Catholic Christian, I pray that God will bless Father Gamberini, writer Phoebe Carstens, and all involved in New Ways Ministries!
What a beautiful, grace-filled, and loving article in the September 24 issue of New Ways Ministries! I have always believed that the debates about homosexuality being the result of error or sin completely miss the point. At last, Father Gamberini has explained that homosexuality (like, say, green eyes or red hair) is not a problem to be explained and “cured”, but a further example of God’s creativity.
The endless love and creativity of our God cannot be limited by human preferences. God looks at all creation and finds it good!
Of course, people of any group can make choices and take actions that hurt others – and those choices and actions are not approved by God. But homosexuality is not a choice, any more than we can choose heterosexuality. These are intrinsic parts of the human person. And they are parts that can either be lived in concert with God’s Law of Love, or used to hurt others. While I am not gay, I know many wonderful souls who are, and who live kind, generous, committed, prayer-filled, and God-focused lives. These are people who follow the Path to God, and in whom God delights.
Thank you, New Ways Ministries, for publishing this excellent article. I hope many people who need to see it will do so, and that they will be comforted.
Peace and all blessing,
Sherry