Vatican firms up plans for U.S. seminary visitation in 2005
Sometime before the process begins next fall, the Vatican expects to publish a long-awaited and potentially controversial document on whether candidates with homosexual inclinations should be admitted to the priesthood.
The document on homosexuality has been in the works for more than five years. An early draft of the document took the position that homosexuals should not be admitted to the priesthood; in its current form, the document takes a more nuanced approach to the whole issue, sources said.
The seminary visitation is expected to focus particularly on formation for celibate chastity and on admissions criteria. It was first announced in April 2002, after U.S. bishops and Vatican officials held an urgent meeting to map out a response to the sex abuse crisis.
Okay ... can we be frank here for a moment? While I agree with Sinkspur that there has to be some way to "measure" whether or not an individual is homosexual, we tend to already recognize the common traits (as sexist and biased as that may sound). Perhaps, dear Sinkspur, a more 'scientific' method needs to be implemented but to do so would draw down even more hellfire and brimstone on the Catholic Church which already has taken a stance against "homosexual unions". We are so un PC!! (/sarcasm).
I believe the Vatican 'knows' full well who the homosexual cardinals and bishops are or, at the very least, has a good idea. I happen to reside in a diocese that is brimming with 'actively' homosexual priests. Fr. Minkler's report to Cardinal O'Connor on this, was posted to the Internet, naming names and citing situations to justify its claims.
Fr. Minkler's (now outdated) report managed to reach the bishop's office in February of last year. When he returned from a retreat, he found a message on his answering machine advising him to come immediately to the Chancelry Office. Once he arrived, he was handed a legal document attesting that he was not the author of this report, told to sign it and report back on Monday, to meet with Bishop Hubbard. On Sunday, his sister found him dead, laying on top of a blanket on the floor of his kitchen.
This was a very orthodox priest, concerned with the ongoing decay in this diocese. At the request of the now deceased Cardinal O'Connor, he culled information from witnesses to produce this report. His 'death', though ruled a suicide, was most suspicious. What suicide victim drags a blanket into their kitchen, and lies face down on it? Nothing about his 'death' makes any sense, other than its connection to the report he wrote to Cardinal O'Connor.
Within days, the report was taken off and the web site was totally cleansed. Fortunately, I downloaded a copy, before it disapeared. Reading it through, it came as no surprise to see my (now former) pastor listed not once, but 3 times. There are certain physical characteristics that set homosexuals apart from heterosexuals. The way he walked, the way he "made eyes" at his Associate Pastor (until he was shipped out), surrounding the Risen Christ statue on the back wall of the Sanctuary with gold lame fabric and lace; wearing red vestments and covering the altar with a red altar cloth, at the Christmas liturgy. Granted, these are not 'scientific' proofs but, as a woman who spent nearly 20 years working with homosexuals, I can pick them out of a crowd, like radar.
Like Fr. Minkler, there are other orthodox priests out there who have monitored their dioceses. Ultimately, it comes from the bishop. Our bishop is a strong supporter of the feminist and gay agendas. Those of us who have met him, instinctively 'know' that he is gay. Again, that is not a scientific argument to indict him. However, over the past 27 years of his leadership, the top parishes have been assigned to his 'right hand' men. For the most part, these are run by homosexual priests.
We must, as a church, practice what we preach. It may take several generations to rout out these men but it must be done. Their effect on admissions to the priesthood, has been devastating. I have met and spoken with several 'former' seminarians who dropped out because of the homosexualism prevalent in the seminaries they attended. Here were men willing to devote their lives in service to the Lord, only to learn "they" were 'homo'phobic.
It is my daily and sincere prayer that vocations increase. What we truly need, however, are well formed, celibate, men, willing to lay their lives down in service to the Lord.