[PLK]

(Bishop Wilton Gregory - head of the U.S. bishops' conference) - said the issue of homosexuality in the priesthood deserves discussion, in terms of how it affects a priest's ability to keep his promise of living a chaste life. But while it would be helpful to examine this question, Catholic News Service reported that he said it should not necessarily be linked to the sex abuse issue.

Great. We still have liberal bishops refusing to acknowledge the root of the sexual abuse problems with the priesthood. We have a LONG way to go I'm afraid. The influx of liberal seminarians in the 60's and 70's is still a major influence on the American Catholic Church. Even here, in our little town in rural Iowa, our priest assigns members of the parish council readings from America magazine (a lefty Jesuit publication) and makes statements during homilies like "the Pope should allow women to be in the priesthood."

[sussex]

This myth that somehow it all began with the 60/70s is rather misleading. As in most areas of society pre 1966 there was as much abuse but it was swept under the carpet or ignored. Which Catholic parishioner would dare criticise a priest in Boston, Limerick or Seville before the 1960s?