[jtal]

If this is the real document, then I'm really disappointed.

So, I believe the timeline is this:

1961 : Vatican prohibits ordination of gay men

1960s to 2005 : Massive ordination of gay men, resulting in innumerable cases of sexual assault on teenage boys.

2005 : Vatican says, OK, we'll allow SOME gay men to be ordained.

Wow, so by loosening the prohibition against gay ordinations, you hope to achieve WHAT exactly? I am disappointed they didn't simply reissue a complete ban, with the words "THIS TIME WE MEAN IT!" added.

-jtal

[hispanichoosier]

2005 : Vatican says, OK, we'll allow SOME gay men to be ordained.

I disagree with your interpretation of the document. The fact is, homosexuality can be treated. This document merely reflects that fact. If a gay man gets treatment for his homosexuality and then lives an exemplary life for 3 years, this document would provide that he can be considered for Holy Orders (not automatically ordained).

[dangus]

Where in the document do you see there being mentioned "some" gays allowed in? The document does not say that a gay must be chaste for three years. It says that there must be no homosexual tendencies at all. It only notes that some heterosexuals experience some slight ambiguity during adolescence, and that this experience, it if is was only due to adolescence and if it is clearly in the distant past, should be no basis for staying out of the priesthood.

If you are worried about enforcing the policy, that clause will not make it more difficult to enforce the policy. It will only calm the conscience of some young seminarians who once had a wierd dream about cigars. Yes, infiltrators could lie to gain admission to the priesthood, but if they were going to lie, they would also lie about their adolescence.