Posted on 11/30/2005 9:48:05 AM PST by NYer
The core misunderstanding is the conflicting terminology between the world and the Church.
Let's take a different example. If you have an alcoholism problem, the world calls you an "alcoholic" even if you haven't had a drink in ten years. The Church will occasionally use similar terminology for counseling purposes, but from a "sin" standpoint and (more important to our discussion) from a "can he be a priest" standpoint... you're simply a person whose concupiscence is a weakness for alcohol, but who (through the power of the Holt Spirit) has overcome this desire. You CAN be a priest.
If, however, you have been sober for a decade, but you are consumed with an ongoing strong desire for drink (or if you're heterosexual and technically "celibate" but in no way "chaste") you are consumed by this sinful desire and must not enter the priesthood.
Yes, you are confused. Comprehension seems to be your Achilles' heel. Read the definitions for tendencies and inclination again until you understand them.
What... the "definitions" that you chose to select? And I'm supposed to just take your word that's the one that was intended? BOTH words can be (and ARE in the cited portion of the catechism) dealing specifically with actions. 2357 makes this quite clear.
You have demonstrated that you don't understand what the Church is saying here. But it's quite clear in the paragraph you cited. Those candidates who cannot remain chaste (regardless of the reason) may not be priests. Those who CAN remain chaste (regardless of which way their "orientation" would lead them to temptation) may.
No I understand quite well what the Church is saying today and what it was saying in 1961.
IF you ever get around to backing that up in the face of contradictory evidence, you just let me know. :-)
Completely agree.
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