Priest Resigns Post Over Vatican Document

AP ^ | 12/15/5

[SmithL]

Collegeville, Minn. -- A priest at St. John's University said he was resigning his leadership position because of the Vatican's latest statement that homosexuals should be barred from entering the Roman Catholic priesthood.

"Because I can no longer honestly represent, explain and defend the church's teaching on homosexuality, I feel I must resign," the Rev. Bob Pierson said in an e-mail Wednesday to administrators and students at St. John's and the nearby College of St. Benedict.

The Vatican announced last month that it was toughening its stand against gay candidates for the priesthood, advising that men with "deep-seated" gay tendencies or who "support so-called gay culture" shouldn't be admitted to seminary or ordained. Others with "transitory" homosexual inclinations can be accepted if they have "clearly overcome" them for three years.

[indcons]

Ping...ping....ping

[Dark Skies]

Because I can no longer honestly represent, explain and defend the church's teaching on homosexuality, I feel I must resign...

I tink he dot his wittle feelings hurt.

It doesn't seem to occur to him that not overcoming the temptation for heterosexual promiscuity isn't acceptable either. Celibacy isn't just physical, it is mental and spiritual.

[The_Republican]

Hope he gets a Gold Watch and a Thankyou Note from Pope!

[big'ol_freeper]

See ya! Don't let the door hit ya in the arse on your way out!

[N. Theknow]

Well, so long and don't let the thurible hit you in the ass on the way out.

[siunevada]

I can no longer honestly represent, explain and defend the church's teaching on homosexuality,

Since the document contains nothing 'new', I wonder what the heck he was doing up until this point in time?

[atomicpossum]

I can see it now: "What? The Church is anti-homosexuality? Wha...?"

What's his parish, St. Oblivious?

[NYer]

From the AP Report

Several gay priests are now questioning whether they can continue serving the church. The Rev. Leonard Walker quit his parish assignment in Mesa, Ariz., in protest. The Rev. Thomas J. O'Brien, a Jesuit retreat director from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., disclosed his sexual orientation publicly — a rare step among clergy — saying the Vatican document promotes "bigotry."

Pierson, the chaplain and director of campus ministry, said in the e-mail that that he is gay and celibate. He said he did not accept several elements in the Vatican document, including the assertion that homosexuals are "objectively disordered."

"I am not an infallible person, but I cannot remain silent about my disagreement in conscience with this document, or the church's teaching on homosexuality," said the priest.

Pierson said he would resign effective Jan. 15. He will remain a member of the monastic community at St. John's Abbey, which is on the campus but technically separate from the university.

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[redgolum]

Little late, but at least he was honest.

[Palladin]

Way to go, Pierson! I hope all your butt-buddies do the same.

[Palladin]

Let's hope this is just the beginning of a huge exodus of gay priests.

[trisham]

Several gay priests are now questioning whether they can continue serving the church. The Rev. Leonard Walker quit his parish assignment in Mesa, Ariz., in protest. The Rev. Thomas J. O'Brien, a Jesuit retreat director from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., disclosed his sexual orientation publicly — a rare step among clergy — saying the Vatican document promotes "bigotry."

*****************

It's best for all involved, I have to say.

[randog]

Hope he gets a Gold Watch and a Thankyou Note from Pope!

I'd love to see the papal e-mail spam that goes out to all the parishes:

We regret to announce that the Rev. Bob Pierson of our Collegeville, Minnesota division will be departing the organization. Bob has done a great job for us, but due to philosophical conflicts we felt that he needed to pursue other opportunities, like starting his own damn church.

[Tax-chick]

Bu-bye!

I'll bet he was a big supporter of Humanae Vitae, too ... (/s)

[TotusTuus]

Since the document contains nothing 'new', I wonder what the heck he was doing up until this point in time?

Bingo!

[ArrogantBustard]

Go whole hog, ya flamin' poofter! Don't just resign from the University. Resign from the priesthood.

You WON'T be missed.

[The_Republican]

ROTFLMAO!!!!

[Im4LifeandLiberty]

"I can see it now: "What? The Church is anti-homosexuality? Wha...?"
What's his parish, St. Oblivious?"

that made me laugh. :-)

Unfortunately, a lot of these gay liberal priests who live in their own little worlds are oblivious. A local very openly heretical Jesuit was shocked when his testimonies in favor of gay marriage, sermons on the Church's responsibility to distribute condoms to gay men, and association with the gay clique in his seminary resulted in his being questioned to particular detail during the Vatican's Visitation.

[marshmallow]

If these drama queens only knew that their resignations were actually helping the Church, they'd probably stay where they are. As it is, they think their petulance will negatively impact the Church's mission and somebody will one day beg them to return when we see how much we need them. We won't.

Those who publicly indentify themselves as "gay" are precisely those who do not accept the Church's teaching on homosexuality and most likely, all sexuality.

We're best rid of them.