Cardinal Zen: God is ‘disgusted’ by homosexual behavior
The emeritus bishop of Hong Kong said homosexuality ‘undermines God’s plan’ and causes societal harm, calling on the Church to speak truth in charity and not yield to worldly pressure.
Cardinal Joseph Zen
celebrates Mass at the Holy Cross Church on May 24, 2022, in Hong Kong,
China Louise Delmotte/Getty Images
Michael
Haynes,
Snr.
Vatican
Correspondent
- 30
Wed Jul 2, 2025 - 11:23 am EDT
Listen to this article
5 min
VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Cardinal Joseph Zen has issued a strong critique against homosexual activity and also warned against rushing to analyze “every action or word ” of Pope Leo XIV.
In a short commentary posted online, Zen urged Catholics to be patient in attempting to produce analyses and opinions on Pope Leo, encouraging them to instead support him by prayers:
Let us continue to pray for the Pope, without rushing or putting pressure on him, without creating fake news, and without overanalyzing his every action or word. Let us help him successfully dispel confusion and restore unity, not only within the Church, but also among Christians, so that the unity of Christians may soon become a reality.
Zen, the 93-year-old emeritus bishop of Hong Kong, was a participant of the general congregations prior to the conclave which elected Leo, being himself too old to participate in the voting itself. He has been a consistent voice highlighting Catholic teaching, particularly in light of concerns regarding Fiducia Supplicans and same-sex “blessings,” Latin Mass restrictions, and the Synod on Synodality.
Citing one of these, Zen noted that “chaos and divisions within the Church in recent years (especially caused by Fiducia Supplicans, make us feel like Jesus is asleep. Fortunately, we of the ‘little faith’ still woke Him up.”
“He woke up and gave us a Pope who could calm the storm,” Zen said of Leo.
Addressing the general congregations prior to the recent papal conclave, Zen warned that the much-touted concept of “reform” in the Church needed to be rooted in the Church’s founding elements, otherwise it was “not true reform.”
Lamenting the handling of abuse and the rebukes of “clericalism,” Zen opined that in the Church “we cannot help but see a misguided effort to adapt to the spirit of the world rather than firmly opposing it.”
In his latest commentary, Zen touched on the Church’s teaching on homosexuality.
Commenting on the Mass readings for the Novus Ordo rite of the liturgy for Tuesday, Zen noted the biblical condemnation of homosexual activity.
“The most merciful God is so disgusted with same-sex sexual behavior because this crime is too far away from God’s plan for man,” he wrote. “His plan is for a man and a woman to unite into one body with one and everlasting love and cooperate with God. New life can be born and grow in the warmth of the family.”
Haut du formulaire
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY HEADLINES
US Canada Catholic
Bas du formulaire
Reiterating Catholic teaching that homosexual tendencies are not sinful while the acts themselves are, Zen remarked how “same-sex behavior not only undermines God’s plan, but also clearly harms society and is more likely to cause personal tragedy.”
“The Church, of course, loves all people and welcomes all, regardless of their current state of understanding, but it cannot leave them in ignorance,” he commented. “It must give them the opportunity to come to know God’s plan within the Church, to find strength through prayer and the sacraments to overcome temptation, to walk the path of chastity, and to strive toward eternal life.”
Zen’s commentary echoes the Catholic Church’s teaching on the issue of homosexuality. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s (CDF) 1986 document “On the pastoral care of homosexual persons,” states that a “truly pastoral approach will appreciate the need for homosexual persons to avoid the near occasions of sin.”
The CDF – now known as the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith – added that Church teaching must not be sacrificed for the sake of being “pastoral,” since true pastoral motives have the soul’s benefit in mind:
But we wish to make it clear that departure from the Church’s teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is neither caring nor pastoral. Only what is true can ultimately be pastoral. The neglect of the Church’s position prevents homosexual men and women from receiving the care they need and deserve.
Therefore special concern and pastoral attention should be directed toward those who have this condition, lest they be led to believe that the living out of this orientation in homosexual activity is a morally acceptable option. It is not.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church #2357 teaches: “‘[H]omosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’ They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”
Undaunted by age, Zen has kept up a steady flow of activity, both with his writings online and with his local ministry offering talks.
Most recently he offered a traditional Mass for the feast of Corpus Christi and led a procession through the streets of Hong Kong.
TOPICS
TAGGED AS
- Catholic
- Catholic Church
- Catholic Teaching
- Fiducia Supplicans
- Homosexuality
- Joseph Zen
- On the pastoral care of homosexual persons
- Pope Leo XIV
