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To: jec1ny
banning in strong and specific language candidates "who are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called 'gay culture

A candidate who is actively homosexual is not celibate.

A priest who encourages homosexuality in the "gay community" encourages sin.

A priest who has homosexual tendencies has a burden of temptation but he may keep it in check. It is questionable to put him in a position of authority where he may manipulate someone into an affair, but I don't know how common that is.

If he acts on any of his sexual desires, he has sinned (regardless if it is with a man or a woman, an adult or a child). If thoughts of his carnal desires dominate his day, then he will probably not be a good moral leader. If he finds men more attractive than women but does not ever bring it up or act on that desire, I don't know that there is a problem.

I say this because if the position is to urge that sinners "go forth and sin no more", what sin is the priest committing? Lust? Depends on how much he thinks about it.

7 posted on 11/22/2005 11:49:37 PM PST by weegee (Christmas - the holiday that dare not speak its name.)
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To: weegee

If he acts on any of his sexual desires, he has sinned (regardless if it is with a man or a woman, an adult or a child).

This is the point that so many people miss. The rules are not written just to target homosexuals.


26 posted on 11/23/2005 4:09:40 AM PST by perez24 (Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap.)
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To: weegee
If he finds men more attractive than women but does not ever bring it up or act on that desire, I don't know that there is a problem.

A Catholic priest, at least one who is a pastor, is more than a preacher or expounder of doctrine.

He is supposed to lead his flock by example as well as by word.

The document (as leaked) says it very well - a man who finds men more attractive than women cannot establish normal relations with either men OR women, at least not the normal relations that the Church desires its pastoral leaders to have.

This is clear and, within the terms of reference of Roman Cathlicism, convincing.

37 posted on 11/23/2005 5:12:02 AM PST by Jim Noble (Non, je ne regrette rien)
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To: weegee
"A candidate who is actively homosexual is not celibate. A priest who encourages homosexuality in the "gay community" encourages sin.

A priest who has homosexual tendencies has a burden of temptation but he may keep it in check. It is questionable to put him in a position of authority where he may manipulate someone into an affair, but I don't know how common that is.

If he acts on any of his sexual desires, he has sinned (regardless if it is with a man or a woman, an adult or a child). If thoughts of his carnal desires dominate his day, then he will probably not be a good moral leader. If he finds men more attractive than women but does not ever bring it up or act on that desire, I don't know that there is a problem.

Weegee, you stated that very clearly. It is a cruelty to a man to put him into a situation (seminary, rectory life, altar servers, etc.) where he will be tempted intolerably to disregard his vows of celibacy and chastity, and it is cruel for the parishoners who expect him to shepherd them away from sin. The Church is wise to insist that it not be burdened with employees who cannot or wilfully will not refrain from sin in order to coddle their own lustful pleasures. It is better for these men, "godly" as they may be, if such be the case, to remain in the world.

123 posted on 11/23/2005 10:14:08 AM PST by redhead (Alaska: Step out of the bus and into the food chain...)
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To: weegee
If you cause one of these children to sin, you may as well put a millstone around your neck and cast yourself into the lake. Seems I've heard that somewhere before?

We are all sinners. I do know one thing for sure, Jesus had a heart for children. I would not want to stand before the creator and have to explain being a priest/child molester/homosexual.

I've heard the argument that male/male pedophilia is not necessarily homosexual---yea right. I think the Vatican has learned a lesson here. In the search for priest, they allowed this evil to enter the church. It didn't raise it's ugly head for sometime. Now God is saying enough is enough!---then comes the purge. Glad to see it. The Vatican is headed in the right direction by banning gays.

That just creeps me out big time. You go to a priest for spiritual guidance and all the while he is plotting to take advantage of your weakness.

OK--disclaimer: The majority of priest are fine godly men who seek only to serve the Lord in their ministry.
231 posted on 11/24/2005 1:47:00 AM PST by servantboy777
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