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.
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.
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'.
"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.