[LexiMax]

> Homophobia isn't the right word. The church isn't afraid of homosexuality. It has beliefs that are inconsistent with homosexuality but it isnt fear as the word falsely implies.

The church encompasses many beliefs and mandates. However, there is a reason anti-LGBT sentiment resonates so strongly with certain church-going crowds, and it's not merely because the clergy is telling them it's wrong. I believe it's because they're playing to a crowd who has a base fear or even disgust of LGBT folks and wants their preconceived notions validated.

In other words, the church is telling a crowd of homophobes what they want to hear. Does that make the church homophobic? To me, that's a distinction without a real difference and not even the most important thing to figure out. The real question is why that base disgust exists in the first place for the clergy to sell to.