Posted on 11/11/2005 5:21:14 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A new Vatican document will bar from the priesthood practicing homosexuals, men whose gay tendencies are "deeply rooted," or who openly espouse a gay culture, a leading Italian newspaper reported on Friday.
Il Giornale of Milan printed what it said were excerpts from the eagerly awaited document, expected to be issued at the end of this month.
"The Church cannot admit to the priesthood those who practice homosexuality, have deeply rooted homosexual tendencies or those who support the so-called 'gay culture,'" the newspaper quoted the document as saying.
In recent months there have been numerous leaks about the contents of the document but Il Giornale's report by its respected religious affairs correspondent Andrea Tornielli appeared to be the first with direct quotes.
A Vatican official in the department that drafted the document, which has been approved by Pope Benedict, declined to comment on the report.
Although the Vatican began working on the document years ago, its urgency has been highlighted by the 2002 sexual abuse scandal in the United States, which involved mostly abuse of teenage boys by priests.
By several accounts, the document is expected to be short and to the point.
The document, an "instruction" by the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, covers one of the most sensitive issues in the Roman Catholic Church.
It would not affect those men who are already priests but only those entering seminaries to prepare for the priesthood.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
a ping you might be interested in.
Bears much repeating! God bless Benedict XVI!!!
"You don't write off a candidate for the priesthood simply because he is a gay man."
Mmmmmm...nooo...actually....I think you do, Your Excellency.
This seems pretty self explanatory, they might as well be quoting Archbishop Dolan's "Priests for the Third Millenium" where he differentiates between "tendencies" and "lifestyle".
Nothing new here.
What would be new is if he can get the Bishops in the U.S. to actually listen......
Makes you wonder about the connection between this attitude and the problems in the Irish church....no, not really. They tend to go hand in hand.
I wonder what qualifies as "deeply rooted homosexual tendencies?" How will this be defined?
Presumably, it's something short of practicing homosexuality but more than passing gay fancies.
Bishop by bishop, it will change.
And just when you think things can't get any better...
By several accounts, the document is expected to be short and to the point.
I want to hear the MSM squeal!
I hope this isn't another "trial balloon". We're still several weeks away from the end of the month.
We will see. But this seems more likely than the previous one that had them watering it down, knowing what we know about the Holy Father...
There is nothing inherently wrong about homosexual feelings--it is the action or acceptance of the action that is wrong. We are all sinners, and homosexuals who lust are no different than heterosexuals who lust--it is the self-control and devotion to God rather than Man that is important. I like where Benedict XVI is going with all this.
I know what they're saying and so do most reasonable people but there's too much wiggle room here for me.
Rule #1: No poofters!!!
Anything less than this will be interpreted to mean that homosexuals are not ipso facto, ineligible for Holy Orders. Then it will all come down to what the defintion of "deeply rooted" means. We all know how that will be worked around- especially by people like the US episcopacy.
If this is for real, nothing is going to change. It gives the formation directors too many "outs."
Sounds good. Can't wait until it is released. Praying that it's as strong as it sounds.
Reporters, unnamed sources, highly placed officials, excerpts, experts, unidentified accouts ... barf. What a bunch of wankers. The document hasn't been published, you buffoons! When it is, we'll read it (and all about it). Until then, find something else to report on.
Hey! That's my line!
It took about six years for the reforms of the Council of Trent to take hold, to the extent they did. Unfortunately Europe was caught up in horrible religious wars which discredited Christians on both sides in the eyes of many.
OOPS! SIXTY YEARS
Well, I would say that homosexual feelings ARE wrong and need to be suppressed and or redirected, just as lust for a woman should be. Like the old gag that we see in the movies. A bunch of cowboys are confronted by a hot babe, and one excuses himself and says he has to go home to see the wife.
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