Posted on 09/19/2005 4:11:33 PM PDT by scripter
Pope Benedict XVI has given his approval to a new Vatican policy document indicating that men with homosexual tendencies should not be ordained as Catholic priests, reports Catholic World News.
The policy statement is a direct result of the pope's concern about the pedophilia scandal in the church especially in the U.S.
The new document, prepared by the Congregation for Catholic Education in response to a request made by the late Pope John Paul II in 1994, will be published soon. It will take the form of an "Instruction," signed by the prefect and secretary of the congregation: Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski and Archbishop Michael Miller, according to the report.
The report was first referenced on Joseph Farah's nationally syndicated radio program last week by Raymond Arroyo, author of the new book "Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve and a Network of Miracles." Arroyo has covered the papacy more than any other journalist
The text, approved by Benedict at the end of August, says that homosexual men should not be admitted to seminaries even if they are celibate, because their condition suggests a serious personality disorder that detracts from their ability to serve as ministers, says the CWN report.
Priests who have already been ordained, if they suffer from homosexual impulses, are strongly urged to renew their dedication to chastity and a manner of life appropriate to the priesthood.
The "Instruction" does not represent a change in church teaching or policy, according to the Vatican.
Catholic leaders have consistently taught that homosexual men should not be ordained to the priesthood. Pope John XXIII approved a formal policy to that effect, which still remains in effect. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, that policy was widely ignored, particularly in North America.
The Congregation for Catholic Education prepared the "Instruction" after soliciting advice from all of the world's bishops, from psychologists and from moral theologians. A draft was then circulated among the Vatican dicasteries concerned with the issue, notably including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The pending release of the "Instruction," in the face of certain criticism from liberal forces in America and Western Europe, demonstrates the determination of the Vatican to improve the quality of priestly ministry and to protect the church from some of the scandals that have recently shaken the Catholic community and no doubt deterred many men from entering priestly training.
Informed sources in Rome indicate that the "Instruction" probably will be made public after the Synod of Bishops, which meets in Rome Oct. 2 through 23.
There was a lot of that going around.
So is he also going to expel the thousands that have already been ordained?
Doesn't look like the pope to me. What satanic rituals does he perform?
Reading Harry Potter?
Now this is progress.
Good start. Now to go back and find the hetero's who were hounded out of the seminaries over the years.
"AMEN! No more pedophilia!"
Uh, dude...
While there is some overlap, pedophiles are not the same group as gays. One can have pedophiles who go for kids of the same sex, and ones that go for the opposite sex. Pedophiles may be men or women.
I seem to remember Pope Pius XII having done the same thing. So which bishops keep ordaining these faggots?
.
God's Rottweiler (Pope Benedict 6th) did exactly what was needed.
you were correct most are not.
see 29
This doesn't make much sense to me. Priests take a vow of chastity/abstenance. So it doesn't really matter which sex he is sexually attracted to, it's supposed to be hands-off.
Maybe no pedophilia involving boys (which has been what made all the news). You'll still have to lock up your girls, AND keep an eye on your sisters, wives, and mothers.
My brother is married to an Irish girl and lives in Ireland. She and her family can't believe how far the pedophilia scandal in the US. She said everyone KNOWS not to leave your kids alone with the priest, especially for overnight visits.
1) what part of "intrinsically disordered" don't you understand?
2) Priests live (or should live) in community with other men. Such a situation would constitute an occasion of grave sin for those afflicted with the intrinsic disorder of homosexual attraction.
Uh, dude...
80% of the sexual abuse cases were priests abusing teen-age boys...
You must have missed the part where he said that homosexuality is a serious personality disorder which would interfere with their ability to be priests.
Well I'm no Catholic. But even so, this old boy continues to improve his ranking on the list of people I respect.
Kudos Benedict !!
You must be a horticulturist.
Has this been reported anywhere other than WND?
Good question. But at least this is a step int he right direction.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.