Posted on 04/03/2010 1:44:58 PM PDT by NYer
A seminary is not the place where you'd expect sex to be a regular topic of conversation.
But at the North American College in Rome, where student priests from across the United States are sent, new efforts to prevent sexual abuse are changing that.
Part of the psychological element of the examination, says the Rev. Gregory Grannazzisi, involves asking students directly about sex and celibacy.
"Some will ask you about your friendships," Deacon Michael Novajosky says. "They will ask about what is your sexual past."
The difficult questions aren't kept secret, but discussed openly at the seminary as an integral part of the education and screening process for priests.
"It's done in a very dignified, thoughtful manner. It's not crass. It's not bar talk," says Grannazzisi. "But they want to know how you have integrated your sexuality as part of your own person -- same as your intellectual formation and everything else that goes into you."
The Rev. David Songy, a psychologist, screens the priests and even teaches classes on celibacy, telling seminarians to think of it as marrying the church rather than a wife.
"As far as talking about it ... a lot of guys come to me, talk with me," Songy says. "They are very serious. They want to be celibate. They know it's not just automatic.
"[It's] something they need to learn and grow into, so they are very open," he says. "I tell the guys to be able to admit, 'This is what I feel. This is what I want to do, and to be realistic, not to hide from it but to face it."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
My son faces this battery of tests on April 6th. It is his last hurdle before being accepted as a candidate to the priesthood and entering seminary this fall. Please offer prayers for him this Joyous Easter season. Thanks to all my FReeper friends for your prayers and good wishes. Will let you know when we hear yes or no...
May God bless him and your whole family!
Best wishes to your son. Is he applying for diocesan priesthood or a religious order?
God Bless, I will pray for you. Having a son discern the priesthood brings extra attacks by Satan against you and him, and your family. Persevere. God Bless you and your Son.
Rest assured of my prayers for your son! (Can you possibly post his name?)
Here in the Diocese of Albany (NY), your son would be turned away. One of the questions asked of the seminary candidates is whether or not they feel women should be ordained to the priesthood. If one answers "no", they are immediately taken off the list. Needless to say, the number of candidates for the priesthood has shriveled up to one or two. The majority of ordained priests in this diocese are advanced in age. To address the "problem" of an aging priesthood, the bishop has closed parishes and turned others over to the governance of female "Lay Ecclesial Ministers". This was the only way he could place women in charge.
As the studies pointed out, the overwhelming majority of the cases involved post pubescent boys and homosexual clergy -clergy who by default did not believe in God but maybe only believed in the idea of God -it was a homosexual problem -who, if truly a believer would engage in homosexual sex and abuse the most innocent while doing so... Where is the media reporting of this?
Also, where is the media reporting of the answer to the root of the problem by the Church. Not a new teaching but a clear succinct re-emphasis to prevent the previous passive resistance by the liberal homosexual activists that was in essence at the root of this "crisis":
2. Homosexuality and the Ordained MinistryFrom the time of the Second Vatican Council until today, various Documents of the Magisterium, and especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church, have confirmed the teaching of the Church on homosexuality. The Catechism distinguishes between homosexual acts and homosexual tendencies.
Regarding acts, it teaches that Sacred Scripture presents them as grave sins. The Tradition has constantly considered them as intrinsically immoral and contrary to the natural law. Consequently, under no circumstance can they be approved.
Deep-seated homosexual tendencies, which are found in a number of men and women, are also objectively disordered and, for those same people, often constitute a trial. Such persons must be accepted with respect and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. They are called to fulfil God's will in their lives and to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter.
In the light of such teaching, this Dicastery, in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question[9], cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called "gay culture".
Such persons, in fact, find themselves in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women. One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.
Different, however, would be the case in which one were dealing with homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem - for example, that of an adolescence not yet superseded. Nevertheless, such tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate...
My conclusion is that the main stream media, as supporters of the homosexual agenda that hold all things homosexual as a sacred cow, will not even suggest advancing the homosexual agenda may present inherent and fundamental problems for society...
In my opinion, it is this witch hunt that provides an opportunity for the Church to shine a clear and bright light on this evil and I look forward to the main stream media's reaction -it will be delicious to see -my only question is when will this happen?
"Celibacy" means not marrying. This is commonly misapplied in this discussion.
"Chastity" means properly regulating your sexuality and expressing oneself sexually outside of the proper circumstances and reasons and ways.
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Pinging both lists - it looks as though candidates for priesthood are being vetted carefully. Very good news for anyone concerned about moral absolutes and of course, homosexuality.
Vetting needs to equate to no more open homosexuals, allegedly celibate or not.
From DBeers’ comment above:
2. Homosexuality and the Ordained Ministry
From the time of the Second Vatican Council until today, various Documents of the Magisterium, and especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church, have confirmed the teaching of the Church on homosexuality. The Catechism distinguishes between homosexual acts and homosexual tendencies.
Regarding acts, it teaches that Sacred Scripture presents them as grave sins. The Tradition has constantly considered them as intrinsically immoral and contrary to the natural law. Consequently, under no circumstance can they be approved.
Deep-seated homosexual tendencies, which are found in a number of men and women, are also objectively disordered and, for those same people, often constitute a trial. Such persons must be accepted with respect and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. They are called to fulfil God’s will in their lives and to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter.
In the light of such teaching, this Dicastery, in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question[9], cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called “gay culture”.
Such persons, in fact, find themselves in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women. One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.
Different, however, would be the case in which one were dealing with homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem - for example, that of an adolescence not yet superseded. Nevertheless, such tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate...
diocesan
“Having a son discern the priesthood brings extra attacks by Satan against you and him, and your family”
Hoo Boy. that is a fact I can attest to as an absolute!
I hope everything goes smoothly for him. My oldest boy will be 16 on Tuesday.
Sexual Abuse of Children by Protestant Ministers
Report: Protestant Church Insurers Handle 260 Sex Abuse Cases a Year
Abuse by Protestant Ministers of Every Denomination
Child Sexual Molestation by Various Protestant Clergy
"Yeshiva" of Brooklyn also Guilty of Child Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teachers and Pedophilia - In YOUR Backyard
Washington Post -- D.C. school officials reported 220 abuse allegations against teachers
Sex Abuse by Teachers Said Worse Than Catholic Church
WHEN BOYS ARE MOLESTED BY TEACHERS AND OTHERS IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY
Forgotten Study: Abuse in School 100 Times Worse than by Priests
Tell your son he has my prayers!
His name is Christian. Thanks for your prayers!
It is good that they are ordaining only a few in the warped mindset; will be less cleanup for my son and his brothers to do. These young ones are on fire for the tradition of Mother Church and God. They are not interested in touchy feely feminism, they seek God and His everlasting and unchanging truths. Hold fast, this new generation of priests are ready for battle and will be used mightily by God. The gates of hell will not prevail........
will do! He knows my freeper life is important to me, and though I have not been on and posting much lately (I finally got myself a full time job :) ) know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers as well. I also do a lot of lurking/reading since I don’t check in regularly enough for real debate anymore. Just wanted to ask for your prayers, as satan is doing all he can to shake my sons faith and sense of direction since time is growing short before he is to go. This world offers powerful distractions to our young people. He is struggling with just wanting to be like everyone else, yet knowing he is called to this vocation. Friends, “normal” teenage behaviors, drugs/alcohol, permissive sexual attitudes and the anything goes lifestyle lived by most people today war against these kids and bombard them from every direction. It is hard to watch, but he has survived and persevered, thrived, even, with proper guidance and tons of prayer. Even still, the world does tug at him. It is now we must have all the prayer warriors join together and implore St. Michael the Archangel to once again do battle with Satan for my son. Thanks again for all your prayers, and I will inform Chris that the freeper prayer warriors are on the attack!
May God bless and protect each and every one of you!
arent they amazing at that age tax? I absolutely adore having teens. Yes, there is some difficulty, but if you have trained them up the way they should go, the parenting is all but over at that point. You have men/women at that age and watching them put into practice that which you instilled is awe inspiring! My best to your son as he crosses the threshold!
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