Truth Vs. “the Truth of Lived Reality”

Is there such of thing as truth in regards to human sexuality?

Recently, I commented on another Catholic blogger’s article regarding conservative Catholic families attempting to protect their children from LGBTQ ideology. The article can be found here. My comment concerned the issue of truth, specifically, the truth of the Catholic Church’s understanding of human sexuality. Another commenter on that blog brought up the concept of the truth of lived reality. That got me thinking about the difference between the truth of human sexuality and the truth of lived reality in regards to human sexuality.

In this article, I will look at the Catholic Church’s position on human sexuality and address the truth of lived reality claim. How should a Catholic respond to the Church’s teaching on human sexuality? Is lived reality a possible consideration from the Catholic perspective?

Catechism of the Catholic Church on Human Sexuality

The Catholic Church has a definitive position on human sexuality and holds this position as true and binding on all Catholics.

2332 Sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others.

2333 Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. Physical, moral, and spiritual difference and complementarity are oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life. The harmony of the couple and of society depends in part on the way in which the complementarity, needs, and mutual support between the sexes are lived out.

Please note the key words and concepts above, such as, “unity,” and that men and women “acknowledge and accept” their sexual identity as men and women. This unity of body and soul reflects how God created us male and female to form loving bonds of community and to pass on this love to the next generation through procreation. This is the Catholic Church’s position. Therefore, the Catholic Church rejects gender ideology in all its forms.

Truth Vs. the Truth of Lived Reality

Now, back to the claim of the truth of lived reality. What does this mean? Technically, everyone alive and dead had (and has) a lived reality, even those who hold diametrically opposed positions on said reality. The concept of a lived reality is entirely subjective, as reality, in this case, resides in the one living the life.  The so called truth of lived reality relies entirely on a consensus of those who agree a specific lived reality is true, such as that a man can become a woman.  This truth does not exist in objective reality. The truth of lived reality therefore only exists within groups that agree it exists. I deny a man can become a woman. What of my truth? People who affirm gender ideology deny my truth and summarily dismissed it. They also viewed it as false (and hateful).

Catholics Must Unite and Take a Stand for Truth

Gender ideology has influenced the mind of those in the Church, especially the young. Speaking as someone who volunteers in youth ministry with Generation Z, we may be too late. Generation Z has been feed gender ideology since elementary school. Personal happiness is the goal of the individual. If something makes someone “happy,” it is not for them to disagree or say anything that limits the happiness of others. They also do not believe in ultimate truth. To Generation Z, truth is relative. It is up the individual to determine their own truth, and this is consequentially whatever makes the individual “happy.” Considering this, faithful Catholics must take a stand if they truly believe the Catholic Church holds the truth, especially regarding human sexuality. It is not too late, but the time is now. We must unite in faithful support of the Catholic Church’s teaching on human sexuality.

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