Spiritual Directors, whose work is done in absolute secrecy, are the weakest link of several in the enforcement and effectiveness of the Vatican "Instruction".
And it is that SECRECY shrouding the homosexual problem that must be broken!
Where is the binding MORAL teaching from the Pope?
The following are quotes from a Rocky Mountain News story, March 8, 2002: "Remarks on Gays Confuse Some Catholics" which was published just two months after the Boston Globe broke the story - and many thanks to the judge who refused to seal the previously secret church documents.
"The church is very strong and clear on THE FACT that (sexual) orientation is not the problem..." said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
http://www.usccb.org/sdo.htm
"It should not matter if they're straight or gay."
"Flags are going up because in the U.S. homosexuals have LONG BEEN ALLOWED to study for the priesthood."
Leading to: http://www.cwnews.com/offtherecord/offtherecord.cfm?task=singledisplay&recnum=2791
So, what happens to these spokespeople of the bishops,
and to these pastors,
and to these bishops and leaders,
and to all those homosexual men who were ordained and who now hold offices of power and authority, and who were so clearly misinformed, and misinforming, about Catholic morality and teaching?
Do they lose their jobs?
Do they lose their credentials to teach?
Do they lose their power to govern?
Do they lose their authority to lead?
The instruction relies on the honesty, integrity and conscience of homosexual seminarians and their (potentially homosexual) spiritual directors, vocation directors, seminary rectors and bishops – all who have shown a deplorable deficiency when it comes to truth, integrity and conscience. The gatekeepers and enforcers of the document are among those who have been most prominent in saying for years that “there is nothing wrong with homosexual priests, just as long as they are celibate (whatever that is, since they do not want to marry women).”
"So, what happens to these spokespeople of the bishops,
and to these pastors, and to these bishops and leaders,
and to all those homosexual men who were ordained and who now hold offices of power and authority, and who were so clearly misinformed, and misinforming, about Catholic morality and teaching?
Do they lose their jobs?
Do they lose their credentials to teach?
Do they lose their power to govern?
Do they lose their authority to lead?"
The answer should be Yes. Their true calling was not to the priesthood, their true vocation is religious though (just like St. Francis of Assisi) and their cross to bear is no harder than those who they misled, misgoverned and mistaught. They need to take St. Benedict's words to heart, Ora et Labora and refocus themselves perhaps by (re?)reading the classics of Catholicism such as The Imitation of Christ.
If the cleansing isn't done by the dioceses, it will be done by the Hand of God. The Pope pulled no punches when he spoke and there was a reason - time is of essence:
"Should we not also think of how much Christ suffers in his own Church? How often is the holy sacrament of his Presence abused, how often must he enter empty and evil hearts! How often do we celebrate only ourselves, without even realizing that he is there! How often is his Word twisted and misused! What little faith is present behind so many theories, so many empty words! How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him!"
Let us pray that the coming war of words will not come to a war of acts. Even so, defeat is not an option.
I suggest their choice be made known to those they serve. Let their parishioners or students know who these priests are. If they are celibate, if they are pure, they should have nothing to fear. At the least, it would take away the ability to "hide in the Church."