Gay men can be priests if celibate

Yahooooooo ^ | 10/07/05 | Philip Pullella

[Abathar]

"The Vatican has been working on the instruction on homosexual men and the priesthood for years. It will be a reform of a 1961 document which said men with "perverse inclination" to homosexuality should not be ordained. "

I like the old ways better myself.

[brewcrew]

This has got "Pure Trouble" written all over it.

[austinite]

Like a cancer, it grows.

[Abathar]

I agree completely, I know a lot of other Catholics that will be enraged over this.

[old and tired]

I don't believe this. A litmus test of having been celibate for 3 years? That doesn't sound like an official Vatican document. This is wishful thinking on the part of some liberals.

However, if it were an official Vatican document the fur would fly and people would start running, not walking, to Orthodox and SSPX masses.

[leadpenny]

I guess "Don't ask, Don't tell" works for the US Military?

[martin_fierro]

Meta-PING

[evolved_rage]

The Vatican will allow gay men into the priesthood if they can show they have been celibate for at least three years,

How are they going to prove it, ask the candidates about recent episodes of Queer Eye?

[ExcursionGuy84]

Dumb Question here:

"How can a Man possibly be Homosexual and Celibate at the same time [according to modern-day lifestyle examples found anywhere]???

[MBB1984]

This is a big mistake. In my opinion, a priest or pastor should be beyond reproach and question in this area.

[pgkdan]

You're right. Celibacy isn't the issue, chastity is, and we have loads of evidence that many gay priests are not chaste and are not ashamed of that. We need to clean out our seminaries and rectories now. I don't care if we lose half the total number of priests in America...that would be preferable to a priesthood filled with sexual deviants.

[livius]

I sure hope this isn't true. Did the Vatican back down so quickly? This is a terrible policy, uneforceable, and effectively gives the imprimatur to the whole secular concept of homosexuality as a state rather than a disorder and sin.

[saveliberty]

I have to say that Shep Smith made a great comment the other night when he asked "If they are celibate, why would their sexual orientation matter?"

[babygene]

bump for reading later

[zeebee]

My thoughts exactly. In my mind, one cannot be homosexual and celibate.

[R.W.Ratikal]

How can someone who does not know the difference between a man and a woman presume to teach me anything?

Homosexual priests are not just about sex. There surely is something seriously psychologically dysfunctional about a person who follows unnatural sexual desires specifically condemned by the religion he is supposed to uphold..

[livius]

Very important point. Homosexuality was considered a grave disorder, and it was this, aside from the matter of the sinfulness of the practice, that disqualified men for the priesthood.

[livius]

Random Catholic pings. Do you suppose there is any truth to this, or is it just wishful thinking on the part of the Tablet, Corriere della Sera, etc.?

[rface]

let's ask this question: Are you hetrosexual or homosexual?
..... and you might ask, "How can a celebate person be either?" Society insinuates that you are one or the other.

I am not sure how they (Vatican) can expect a priest to "prove" 3 years of celebate life....but perhaps a statement from the individual would work since lying is pretty sinful as is homsexuality.

I think it is appropriate for celebate men, who might have a tendancy toward homosexuality, to be a full part of the Catholic Church.......as long as they do not promote or fall into the homosexual lifestyle.

[bonfire]

So right. And just WHAT is a homo priest going to teach regarding sex??