[thoughtomator]

Long overdue, but bravo anyway.

[newzjunkey]

Badly thought out policy. The seminaries' problem is not that they are attracting homosexuals but that they're attracting pedophiles just like coaching and teaching jobs tend to do. The article doesn't seem to suggest any distinction made between homosexual adult relationships and propensity towards pedophilia which is their actual problem.

The catechism says that homosexuals are called to chastity and unjust discrimination should be avoided. Obviously the Church is contented with lumping all homosexuals (even ones with no sexual behavior for a decade) with pedophiles. This is a practice doomed to fail.

2358...They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

[hershey]

This looks like discrimination. What about homosexual rights and the Boy Scouts? They've been hounded from pillar to post over this. Will the Catholic Church have to...er...back down?

[drlevy88]

Let's see, for years the Vatican ignores what anyone on FR can find out in one hour, then there finally begins a highly formal, elephantine investigation. Many words can describe the RCC but nimble doesn't seem to be among them.

[sneakers]

bump

[kidd]

Benedict is turning out to be an even better Pope than JPII.

IIRC, there was something about JPII's experiences in WWII that made it difficult for him to accuse people of homosexuality. Benedict does not have these scars, and can thus give the church a much needed house cleaning.

[JohnnyZ]

Sounds great to me! I'm generally more optimistic about these things, and I didn't expect them to even start with objectives that sound this good.

Of course the application will almost surely fall short of the goals, but setting blunt, pointed standards is a great starting point.

[A.A. Cunningham]

The Vatican has already spoken, 2 February 1961 to be exact. What we need are obedient Bishops who implement Vatican policy and a purge of those who don't.

"Advancement to religious vows and ordination should be barred to those who are afflicted with evil tendencies to homosexuality or pederasty, since for them the common life and the priestly ministry would constitute serious dangers."

[numberonepal]

The Inquisition, what a show.
The Inquisition, here we go.

[Van Jenerette]

...reading file.

[NewJerseyJoe]

They're also going to close the barn doors now that all the horses have escaped.

[longtermmemmory]

a newspaper with a significant number of homosexuals in their employ, the NYT, objects to the church purging homosexuals from the priesthood.


No wonder that homosexual denomination is advertising so much on TV.


Who wants to bet the "source" for the NYT is another homosexual.

[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

for once the NYT did not have this story first!

Vatican to Start U.S. Seminary Evaluations
Apostolic Seminary Visitation To Begin This Fall
U.S. Bishops to Begin Inspecting Seminaries
Prelate Says Gays Shouldn't Be Ordained
American overseeing Vatican evaluation of US seminaries says gays should not be ordained

Vatican to Check U.S. Seminaries on Gay Presence

[pissant]

As Cardinal, Benedict had already started pushing for this, as well as for a cleanup of the idiocy at some of the "Catholic" universities. Good News!

[al_c]

WOOHOOO!!! Go get 'em, Benedict!

[Dominick]

From the CCC:
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity

This is precisely the issue. A person who has engaged in homosexual practices, which may not include a physical act with another person, is unfit for Public Ministry because they did not make the mundane calling of celibacy with respect to people of the same sex.

To turn it around, a womanizer would also be a unwise choice as a priest, as the risk to begin womanizing again would be too great! It is irrelevant that they may now repudiate that lifestyle which is just as sinful as any other deviant lifestyle, the fact remains that the ex-womanizer would be at risk to take a job as a public minister of God.

Most pedophilia cases were actually cases of pedastry, not actual pedophilia, and pedastry falls into the modern homosexual lifestyle, as was mentioned earlier. It is correct to say homosexuals are not pedophiles, per se, even though pedophiles may be homosexuals. However, many homosexuals do seek out younger males, just as older men and women like to meet younger members of the opposite sex.

It is also abuse when a Priest has having sex with a vulnerable woman from his Parish, or when a Doctor would have sex with patients. The betrayal of a sacred trust is what is at stake here.

[frogjerk]

"You could have somebody who's been in the seminary for five or six years and is planning to be ordained and the rector knows they're a homosexual," said Father Reese, now a visiting scholar at Santa Clara University in California. "What are they going to do, throw them out?

Yes.

[ElkGroveDan]

Next they are going to say that this will worsen the shortage of priests. Even if that were true, I'd be happy to drive 50 miles to mass every Sunday, knowing that the Church has been cleansed of this evil filth.

I also believe that absent the homosexual culture in the seminaries, many good men will return to the ranks of the priesthood.

[mosquitobite]

I grew up Catholic. One thing I've debated with my father since Santorums comments is this: I disagree with Santorum. It was not "liberalism" that caused the Catholic church's problems. In fact, I'd say kinda the opposite. Here's my take: agree or disagree?

Most priests I know are at least 70 or 80 years old. Sure some are younger, but the MAJORITY of priests today, I'd say are old. Back when they joined the priesthood, homosexuality was a social NO NO. Your options in the 50s and before were to get married or become a priest. Therefore MANY closeted homosexuals went into priesthood because they could "hide" their sexuality.

Thing is, priests take the vow of chastity. Doesn't matter if they are hetero or homosexual, priests shouldn't be having sex - PERIOD. That is the vow they took.

Anyhow, now that being gay is more accepted today, I don't see it being as big of an issue.

And I think where the church messed up was letting these men stay in the priesthood. They broke their vows. PERIOD.