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Vatican Prepares Draft Directives Against Admitting Gays as Priests
Arlington Catholic Herald ^ | 10.10.02 | John Thavis

Posted on 07/11/2005 9:27:03 PM PDT by Coleus

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Ready for Release says Vaticanologist

ROME, July 11, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - One of the best known English-speaking Vatican reporters, John Allen, reports that the long-expected Vatican document calling attention to the fact that homosexual persons are not to be admitted to the priesthood is "now in the hands of Pope Benedict XVI".  The document will come as no surprise to Vatican watchers since Rome has previously released two official documents barring homosexuals from the priesthood.  As Allen puts it, with the new document, the teaching won't "change, but the level of authority and clarity" will, since the new document will be directly authorized by the Pope.

The former Church documents make it clear that not only men who have been sexually active as homosexuals but also those inclined to homosexual sex would be barred from the priesthood.  A 1961 document produced by the Sacred Congregation for Religious states: "Those affected by the perverse inclination to homosexuality or pederasty should be excluded from religious vows and ordination," because priestly ministry would place such persons in "grave danger".  (See coverage here: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/mar/02032701.html )

In a 2002 statement, Cardinal Estevez of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments stated in answer to a question by a bishop: "Ordination to the deaconate and the priesthood of homosexual men or men with homosexual tendencies is absolutely inadvisable and imprudent and, from the pastoral point of view, very risky. A homosexual person, or one with a homosexual tendency is not, therefore, fit to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders." (see that full letter here: http://www.adoremus.org/Notitiae-Ordination.html )

However, Allen suggests that some American bishops are hoping the Vatican shelves the document since they contend it will "generate controversy and negative press". 

Last month, as the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was meeting, Chicago Cardinal Francis George spoke on the subject.  The Chicago Tribune quoted the Cardinal as saying, "Also, anyone who has been part of a gay subculture or who has lived promiscuously as a heterosexual would not be admitted ... no matter how many years in his background that might have occurred."

See John Allen's 'Word from Rome' column: http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/


1 posted on 07/11/2005 9:27:03 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; american colleen; annalex; ...


2 posted on 07/11/2005 9:32:06 PM PDT by Coleus ("Woe unto him that call evil good and good evil"-- Isaiah 5:20-21)
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To: Coleus

I believe this is the hand of God.


3 posted on 07/11/2005 9:37:18 PM PDT by Sun (Call the U.S. SELL-OUT senators toll-free, 1-877-762-8762 & give 'em "heck.")
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To: Coleus
An Unneeded Headache (Vatican document on admitting homosexual to the priesthood)
 
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4 posted on 07/11/2005 9:40:37 PM PDT by Coleus ("Woe unto him that call evil good and good evil"-- Isaiah 5:20-21)
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To: Coleus

A vow of celibacy and reflective worship may actually be the answer to homosexual tendencies. I'm not sure preventing someone who has taken (and living) a vow of celibacy from becoming a Priest is the answer. Now if they break the vow (homo or hetero) that is a whole different story.


5 posted on 07/11/2005 9:45:34 PM PDT by lp boonie (Telling someone you're going to whip their butt and doing it are two entirely different propositions)
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To: Coleus

Vaticanologist? John Allen is a gossip. There is no such thing as a Vaticanologist.


6 posted on 07/11/2005 9:47:46 PM PDT by bnelson44 (A proud parent of a tanker!)
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To: Sun

It's VERY encouraging!


7 posted on 07/11/2005 9:56:08 PM PDT by Frank_2001
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To: lp boonie

I agree with you that a vow of celibacy and reflective worship may actually be the answer to homosexual tendencies, and homosexuals are free to adopt these without becoming priests.


8 posted on 07/11/2005 9:56:33 PM PDT by sailor4321
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To: sailor4321

What if they are already a Priest? Should they renounce their religous vows and ordination?


9 posted on 07/11/2005 10:00:18 PM PDT by lp boonie (Telling someone you're going to whip their butt and doing it are two entirely different propositions)
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To: Coleus

I like that term "objectively disordered." I'm going to start using it.


10 posted on 07/11/2005 10:08:41 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (I'm sick and tired of being sicked and tired!)
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To: Sun

if it was the church would never have allowed it to happen.. man has made this and it is time for priest to marry


11 posted on 07/11/2005 10:14:40 PM PDT by ARA
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To: lp boonie

No, they should keep their pants zipped, keep their hands away from little boys, and stick to the vow of celibacy. Just like all of the other priests.
If they can't do that they should be defrocked.


12 posted on 07/11/2005 10:16:43 PM PDT by pieces of time
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To: lp boonie

We must be careful with the use of the word "celibacy", as it often refers only to those taking a vow "not to marry". As I read it, one can be "celibate" and still practice sexual activities.

See below from:
http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/faith/living/celibacy.htm

Celibacy
The Church sees great value in the way of life of those who renounce marriage so that they can dedicate themselves to serving the kingdom of God. For spiritual as well as practical reasons, the Catholic Church in the West also requires priests and bishops to live lives of permanent celibacy, unless they have been given special dispensation.

Definition
The dictionary definition speaks of a celibate person as someone who is not married and is bound or committed to remaining unmarried (so while two people who are engaged, for example, are not married, they are not committed to remaining unmarried).

The word 'celibacy' is often confused today with 'chastity', which means "abstaining from unlawful or immoral sexual activity" (Oxford English Dictionary). Strictly speaking, the word 'celibacy' does not govern sexual activity. So, while some people may be technically celibate, they may be having sexual relations and yet are committed to remaining unmarried. Nonetheless, many will describe themselves as 'celibate' because they are not having sex, when strictly they mean they are 'chaste'.


13 posted on 07/11/2005 10:17:58 PM PDT by OrionSeven
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To: Coleus

WooHoo!

What good news!


14 posted on 07/11/2005 10:19:13 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Coleus
Pope Defends Clergy Celibacy Order
Has the Time Come to Consider Making Celibacy Truly Optional In the Western Church?
Catholic Scandals: A Crisis for Celibacy?
Celibacy of the priesthood is a church strength, not a liability
Celibacy s history of power and money

Pope: Priests Must Stay Celibate
Giving Thanks for the Good Shepherds ( A Defense of Priestly Celibacy)
Don't end celibacy for priests
The celibate superhero
Priestly Celibacy And Its Roots In Christ

How to Refute Arguments Against Priestly Celibacy
Priestly Celibacy Reflects Who - and Whose - We Are[Father George W.Rutler]
Celibacy
Tracing the Glorious Origins of Celibacy
God’s call to celibacy for the sake of His Kingdom - by Card. George

Vatican Says Celibacy Rule Nonnegotiable
Bishop Attacks Move to End Celibacy
A response to Fr. Joseph Wilson's defense of mandatory celibacy
The gift of Priestly celibacy as a sign of the charity of Christ, by Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Archbishop Dolan:"We Need to Be Renewing Our Pledge to Celibacy, Not Questioning It"

Celibacy is gift cherished by church
Celibacy Will Save the Priesthood
Celibacy Defended by EWTN's Fr. Levis
Call To Action: Dump Celibacy
The (Catholic) Church Has Always Prospered When Celibacy Is Honored

John Paul II Hails "Inestimable Value" of Priestly Celibacy
For Priests, Celibacy Is Not the Problem
Fr. Shannon Collins Discusses Celibacy
5 Arguments Against (Catholic) Priestly Celibacy and How to Refute Them
Why A Married Priesthood Won't Remedy the Priest Shortage

New Vatican Document on Homosexuality and the Priesthood Coming Before Fall 2005
Catholic priests demand the right to marry
Catholic priests urge Church to reconsider celibacy rules
Alternative Priests´ Council Hits Back on Mandatory Celibacy
Married Priests? The English Experience

Saying Yes to God: a Look into Vocations
New Vatican Document to Eliminate 1961 Papal Ban on Ordaining Homosexuals
Saying Yes to God: a Look into Vocations
Is it time to ordain married men to the Catholic priesthood?
40% of Scots priests want end to celibacy

A small, sturdy band of 'John Paul priests'(JPII legacy of conservative priests)
Yes, Gay Men Should Be Ordained
Cardinal says Priests will marry
Fathers, Husbands and Rebels: Married Priests
An Unneeded Headache (Vatican document on [NOT] admitting homosexual to the priesthood)

Vatican Prepares Draft Directives Against Admitting Gays as Priests

15 posted on 07/11/2005 10:21:17 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: lp boonie

Given the Church's view of homosexuality, yes.


16 posted on 07/11/2005 10:22:04 PM PDT by sailor4321
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To: ElkGroveDan

Do you think that maybe left wingers are objectively disordered?


17 posted on 07/11/2005 10:24:44 PM PDT by sailor4321
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To: OrionSeven
Interesting--I hadn't seen that interpretation before, make sense. Priest can't marry as a vow of celibacy. They can't have sex outside of marriage (though shall not commit adultery) so in the case of a Priest, a vow of celibacy is the same as a vow of no sex. In other words, they could be true to the vow of celibacy and have sex (home or hetero)but at that moment they have committed a mortal sin--just as bad as breaking the celibacy vow (maybe worse in the eyes of the Church). Now a non-Priest could take a vow of celibacy and still be sexually active. The point being celibacy and spiritual reflection would not necessarily be an antidote to homosexual tendencies (outside the Priesthood). Chastity and spiritual reflection could be. A subtle but important distinction--a homosexual could be claiming celibacy and really just saying they won't marry.
18 posted on 07/11/2005 10:34:35 PM PDT by lp boonie (Telling someone you're going to whip their butt and doing it are two entirely different propositions)
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To: Coleus
"The wording in the catechism that describes the homosexual inclination as "objectively disordered" was added when the definitive Latin text of the catechism was released in 1997. Earlier editions of the catechism said homosexual acts were intrinsically disordered . . . "

Can anyone explain the difference between "objectively disordered" and "intrinsically disordered?" Sounds like it's important. Thanks in advance.

19 posted on 07/11/2005 10:39:22 PM PDT by Neanderthal
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To: lp boonie

"A vow of celibacy and reflective worship may actually be the answer to homosexual tendencies. I'm not sure preventing someone who has taken (and living) a vow of celibacy from becoming a Priest is the answer. Now if they break the vow (homo or hetero) that is a whole different story."

*****

Unfortunately, if he breaks his vow of celebacy, it is already too late. A child, or another "consenting adult", has already been harmed - either physically, spiritually, or both.

Putting a man who is a homosexual into an all-male environment, such as the priesthood, would be highly distracting to him, and constantly subject him to sinning (such as the sin of lust) - even if he never breaks his vows. Along with the much greater temptation for a homosexual priest to break his celebacy vow, there will come a consumately greater chance the he WILL break his vow, just because he has more "opportunities" to do so. That is not a spiritually healthy environment for anyone, much less someone who needs to be focusing their entire being on ministering to the needs of Christ's flock here on earth. As Catholics and Christians, we are called upon to avoid not only sin, but also "the near occasions of sin".

All of this would be like forcing normal heterosexual priests to live in the same house as a bunch of hot college co-eds or playboy bunnies. Sure, they might be able to do it, and remain celebant, but it is just not a position any priest should be in. In fact, if I recall my Catechism correctly, the church considers unmarried men and women living together in the same dwelling to be "scandalous" - even if they are not having sex with each other. The same concept would apply to a homosexual priest having to live in the same house with a bunch of other priests.

If a homosexual man is able to control his lusts, and remain celebant throughout his entire life, then there are many other ways in which he can serve the church, and his fellow man, besides being a priest. There are many roles into which God calls men to serve, and there is much work to be done out there. "A vow of celibacy and reflective worship may actually be the answer to homosexual tendencies", as you put it, may very well be true. However, there are ways to pursue these things outside of the priesthood.


20 posted on 07/11/2005 10:55:58 PM PDT by Zetman
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