Posted on 09/19/2005 3:35:59 PM PDT by NYer
Vatican, Sep. 19 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI has given his approval to a new Vatican policy document indicating that men with homosexual tendencies should not be ordained as Catholic priests.
The new document-- which was prepared by the Congregation for Catholic Education, in response to a request made by the late Pope John Paul II in 1994-- will be published soon. It will take the form of an "Instruction," signed by the prefect and secretary of the Congregation: Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski and Archbishop Michael Miller.
The text, which was approved by Pope Benedict at the end of August, says that homosexual men should not be admitted to seminaries even if they are celibate, because their condition suggests a serious personality disorder which detracts from their ability to serve as ministers.
Priests who have already been ordained, if they suffer from homosexual impulses, are strongly urged to renew their dedication to chastity, and a manner of life appropriate to the priesthood.
The Instruction does not represent a change in Church teaching or policy. Catholic leaders have consistently taught that homosexual men should not be ordained to the priesthood. Pope John XXIII approved a formal policy to that effect, which still remains in effect. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, that policy was widely ignored, particularly in North America. The resulting crisis in the priesthood-- in which one prominent American commentator observed that the priesthood was coming to be seen as a "gay" profession-- prompted Pope John Paul II to call for a new study on the question.
The Congregation for Catholic Education prepared the Instruction after soliciting advice from all of the world's bishops, from psychologists, and from moral theologians. A draft of the Instruction was then circulated among the Vatican dicasteries concerned with the issue, notably including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The pending release of the Instruction, in the face of certain criticism from liberal forces in America and Western Europe, demonstrates the determination of the Vatican to improve the quality of priestly ministry, and to protect the Church from some of the scandals that have recently shaken the Catholic community-- and no doubt deterred many men from entering priestly training.
Informed sources in Rome indicate that the Instruction probably will be made public after the Synod of Bishops, which meets in Rome from October 2 through 23.
We ladies of the auxiliary have covered our heads and are ready to serve.
What's your point here? Am I supposed to laugh? Clue me in dude.
If you want on/off the ping list let me and little jeremiah know.
Gee Slob,
You're at it again.
An excellent document and rigurousy fair to those that have been ordained and by the grace of God have remained celibate.
Expect resistance from "progressive" dioceses.
-Theo
WOnderful news!! I love this Pope!!
ENFORCEMENT?
And how did you get that "Gee" is my first initial?
The heck with the cucumber sandwiches, crack open the Champagne or shake us up some martinis :-)
You realize, of course, the repercussions that will be forthcoming from this 'formal' announcement.
... like mine :-)
How about asking for forgiveness and repenting? Does not the admonitions and prescriptions of Scripture apply here?
Don't forget the fire wood.
Excellent point.
I always like asking the following question when I hear a Leftist arrogantly call himself or herself "progressive." Progressing to what: caveman morality, or apostasy in this case.
What about closeted homosexual bishops like Cardinal Mahony or
Bishop Andrew Pataki of the Eparchy of Passaic? Shouldn't they go too?
Not if you don't feel like it.
I hope you aren't serious.
Au contraire. Getting them gelded would have salutary effect.
There seems to be a lot of mean-spiritedness in this forum. I am a proudly traditional Catholic, yet I suggest that we pray for homosexuals while at the same time offering our religious assent to Benedict's instruction.
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