Posted on 11/24/2005 11:27:53 AM PST by NYer
Gay U.S. Anglican bishop Gene Robinson said on Thursday a Vatican document barring practicing gay men from becoming Roman Catholic priests showed a profound misunderstanding of homosexuality.
The document, due to be published next week, says men with "deep-seated" gay tendencies cannot become priests and that only those who have overcome their homosexuality at least three years before ordination can do so.
"I think the Vatican, or whoever wrote this statement, should spend a little more time listening to its gay and lesbian members rather than putting out statements," said Robinson, having read media reports on the document.
"This strikes me as language from people who profoundly do not understand gay and lesbian people ... who know next to nothing about being gay or lesbian," Robinson, whose ordination as bishop in 2003 plunged the Anglican Church into crisis.
The document reinforces existing Roman Catholic policy that many in the Church believe has not been properly enforced, but Robinson told Reuters during a visit to Stockholm it would only force people to lie about their sexual orientation.
"It's very clear here that if you want to be a priest in the Roman Catholic Church and you know you're gay, you have to lie about it," he said.
DEEP DIVISIONS
Robinson was the first openly gay man to be ordained as a bishop in the U.S. Episcopal church, sparking deepening divisions among the world's 77 million Anglicans.
Earlier this month, almost half the world's Anglican archbishops demanded action from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams over "unrepented sexual immorality" in the church. Williams has always been personally tolerant of gay clergy.
Robinson said there were probably many Roman Catholics like himself.
"There are plenty of gay men who have faithfully served the Roman Catholic Church, who know themselves to be gay and who are faithful to their vow of celibacy. To exclude them from the ordained ministry is a real mistake," he said.
"It appears that being celibate is not good enough."
The document, parts of which were read to Reuters by a Vatican prelate on Tuesday, differentiates between "deep-seated" gay tendencies and a "transitory problem," but also says homosexuals cannot relate "correctly to men and women."
"That's offensive to me, and this language just strikes me as profoundly separated from the real lives of gay and lesbian men and women that I know," said Robinson.
During his visit to Stockholm, Robinson met leaders of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, which allows gay clergy and recently decided to hold formal blessing ceremonies for registered same-sex partnerships.
The Right Reverend Gene Robinson acknowledges the applause from the congregation during Investiture ceremonies, making him the Ninth Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, at St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Concord, New Hampshire March 7, 2004. Robinson said on Thursday a Vatican document barring practicing gay men from becoming Roman Catholic priests showed a profound misunderstanding of homosexuality. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Gene Robinson....all gays all the time.
Not only does this "bishop" live an openly gay lifestyle with his partner (after divorcing his wife in Church!), he has the timidity to suggest that gay catholic men should lie to gain admission to the priesthood. Does the word "sin" not exist in his vocabulary? What sort of shepherd is he?
I'm a Catholic. If the Anglicans want to make a pig's breakfast out of their church, that's their problem. Robinson has no say in Catholic matters, and should be treated as the interloper he is.
Regards, Ivan
A shepherd? More like a goatherder. Lying is a sin, and telling a lie about your sexual preference in this context, makes your vows invalid.
Happy Thanksgiving!
What a jerk.
Give me a break! What is there to understand? Homosexual males and females choose to copulate with members of the same gender and they want everyone to accept their immoral choices or else. The Vatican simply chooses not to allow homosexual males who actively engage in this immoral, sexual practice to be priests. So, what's the misunderstanding?
Oh, and he condones LYING also, huh? What a surprise. 
How ab-tho-loot-ly tewwible!!!
This man is an embarrassment. He just seems entirely too focused on his concept of sexuality and of an unnatural kind at that, for to represent as sane, moral or leadership. A sick individual, from what I've read of his writing.
Ping!
Whatever. Gene Robinson's opinion means as much as any other laymen's, and that's exactly what he and any other Anglican bishop are -- laymen playing dress-up.
What were his parents thinking by giving him the name Vicki Imogene Robinson? Perhaps this was the genesis of his psychological issues. Also, according to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3208586.stm
Robinson “has run youth camps and support groups for teens questioning their sexuality.” This sounds very much as if he condones pedophilia.
I wonder if the Vatican came out and made the same statement about active hetrosexual men, would people be up in arms? The only thing it is to those people is open recognition and open season on anyone who disagrees with their perverted agenda.
You think Gene ever wonders what fate he would have met if he were answering to Henry VIII?
Antinomian certainly fits him.
This is laughable, if it weren't so sad.
Gay U.S. Anglican bishop Gene Robinson >>
on the outside looking in. and except for the liberals, nobody cares what he has to say. He's ruined his soul and is now corrupting other people's souls to take with him.
Vicki and Frank Griswold need to shut their yaps and watch a real man lead a real church.
That's like the pot callin the kettle black.
<< "It's very clear here that if you want to be a priest in the Roman Catholic Church and you know you're gay, you have to lie about it," he said.
Not only does this "bishop" live an openly [Sodomist] lifestyle with his [Fellow deviant] -- [After divorcing his wife ... ] he has the timidity to suggest that [Sodomist] Catholic men should lie to gain admission to the priesthood. Does the word "sin" not exist in his vocabulary? What sort of shepherd is he? >>
No sort, at all.
He is the stuff of nightmares and of horror films.
An evil bastard of the ilk that has infiltrated and sought to bastardize every Christian Church on Earth.
Including and perhaps especially the Roman Church.
But, as will the Roman Church be strengthened by its reaction to, its struggle with and its ridding itself of its dose of and the detritus left by the sodomist virus, so will the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Anglican Church, already stronger than ever in Africa and in Asia, also be strengthened by its identical battles.
BUMPping
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