Posted on 12/18/2002 11:06:17 PM PST by ultima ratio
Roman Catholic Faithful announces "Operation Second Chance"
"I'm 47 years old. I'm divorced. I'm a recovering alcoholic. I'm gay!" Homosexual activist seeks ordination to the priesthood as Roman Catholic Faithful announces "Operation Second Chance"
The president of an international Catholic watchdog group today called upon the St. Louis Catholic hierarchy to block a self-proclaimed homosexual activist from seeking ordination to the priesthood.
Citing a 1961 Vatican directive which declared that "advancement to religious vows and ordination should be barred to those who are afflicted with evil tendencies to homosexuality or pederasty" as well as a more recent declaration from Rome which states that admitting homosexual men to the priesthood is "absolutely inadvisable," "very risky" and further added that men with homosexual tendencies are "not fit" to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, Stephen G. Brady of the Roman Catholic Faithful called upon Archbishop Justin Rigali of St. Louis to expel Patrick Baikauskas from the Dominican Order of Preachers at St. Dominic priory on the campus of St. Louis University. Baikauskas, 50, was recently showcased in a 5-page Illinois Times spread, which highlighted his history of homosexual activism, his divorce, his homosexual relationship with a "partner" who subsequently died of AIDS, his battle with alcoholism, and his eventual admission to the Dominican priory.
Brady also insisted that Francis Cardinal George of Chicago and Bishop George J. Lucas of Springfield must also express public opposition to the Baikauskas ordination. Baikauskas is a native of Springfield, Illinois and was a prominent voice in the homosexual wing of the Republican party. He was initially accepted into the Dominicans by the Chicago branch of the order.
"Mr. Baikauskas is openly homosexual. There is no argument on earth that should convince any prelate that he should be ordained. After all the cases of priestly homosexual abuse of teenage boys that have been brought forward, RCF is astonished that Archbishop Rigali would allow Baikauskas to even consider this as a viable option in his life." RCF is commencing a plan of action aimed at halting the Baikauskas ordination, including letter-writing campaigns to the Vatican and to the Dominican superiors in Rome, picketing the Dominicans, sidewalk demonstrations, and "all other steps not expressly forbidden by law."
RCF is also calling on its worldwide membership to contact Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the Papal Nuncio in the United States, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Holy Father, himself, to demand that Rome issue a definitive papal statement that homosexuals can under no circumstances be ordained. "We've heard enough ambiguous and unenforceable statements on this issue," said Brady. "It's now time to fish or cut bait."
Brady also announced a new campaign directed at American bishops and heads of religious orders, requesting that they publicly affirm that they will no longer ordain homosexuals to the diaconate or priesthood. In implementing "Operation Second Chance," RCF will personally address each prelate with this request. "As to each bishop who fails to publicly make this affirmation in 30 days," Brady explained, "RCF will commence an investigation of the moral fitness of all proposed candidates for the priesthood scheduled by that bishop to take place in 2003 and beyond." The Roman Catholic Faithful is a not-for-profit lay organization, with many religious members, dedicated to promoting orthodox Catholic teaching and fighting heterodoxy and corruption within the Catholic hierarchy.
Five years ago Bishop Daniel Ryan resigned in disgrace. He had been picking up teenage male prostitutes for years as well as hitting on young priests. After trying to have him removed by appealing to Rome and getting nowhere, RCF finally went public. The bishop resigned shortly thereafter, but now he is back--thanks to his fellow bishops who give every indication he is a bishop in good standing. He was recently invited to join Cardinal George and bishops Imesch and Kaffer in co-consecrating a bishop at the Joliet, IL cathedral. RCF properly resented his parading around as a "spiritual shepherd" before the world--and picketed the affair. One protester held up a sign that read: "Bishop Daniel L. Ryan had sex with teenage boys & Priests."
I commend RCF. These men have forfeited their moral right to lead the faithful.
Thirty years ago my answer would have been an easy "yes". Back then annulments, were rare, due to their very definition: a valid marriage, as recognized by the Catholic Church, had never existed. Extraordinary circumstances had to be proved; e.g., the marriage was never consummated due to undisclosed homosexuality on the part of a "spouse", etc.
Nowadays, annulments are freely dished out, if you have enough money and know the right Bishop. When you hear about Catholic couples who have been married for 25 years and raising 7 kids, being granted annulments only so they can remarry others, you've got to wonder what is the Catholic Church's current definition of a "valid marriage".
Another example is the Archdiocese of Boston granting Joseph Kennedy an annulment against his wife's wishes. That wasn't enough for Joe, he remarried even before the annulment was granted.
Actually his wife's book about that whole farcical annulment sort of shed a lot of light on the subject and seems to have slowed down the process of easy annulments. It also slowed down Joe's political career since he retired from Congress soon after that book came out.
It happens more than you know.
Married men can't be ordained, but divorced men (even those whose marriages haven't been annulled) can be.
Figure THAT one out!
I'm shocked! A divorced Catholic man, even though he is not permitted to remarry because the Church says he's still married, can be ordained as a Catholic priest. How long has that been permitted? Is is not a preclude to ordaining married men, who are not divorced?
These are sincere questions, Sinkspur. I'd appreciate any further information you may have pertaining to this.
Use the search engine with the ##
1577 "Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination."[66] The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry.[67] The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ's return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.[68]
1578 No one has a right to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. Indeed no one claims this office for himself; he is called to it by God.[69] Anyone who thinks he recognizes the signs of God's call to the ordained ministry must humbly submit his desire to the authority of the Church, who has the responsibility and right to call someone to receive orders. Like every grace this sacrament can be received only as an unmerited gift.
1579 All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven."[70] Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to "the affairs of the Lord,"[71] they give themselves entirely to God and to men. Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church's minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God.[72]
1580 In the Eastern Churches a different discipline has been in force for many centuries: while bishops are chosen solely from among celibates, married men can be ordained as deacons and priests. This practice has long been considered legitimate; these priests exercise a fruitful ministry within their communities.[73] Moreover, priestly celibacy is held in great honor in the Eastern Churches and many priests have freely chosen it for the sake of the Kingdom of God. In the East as in the West a man who has already received the sacrament of Holy Orders can no longer marry.
One of them is in the Land Unit, Huntsville, Texas, serving life for molesting nine boys. His name is Rudy Kos.
The other is a "delayed vocation," who serves honorably as a priest today.
I doubt the Church would ordain men who are still married, in the eyes of the Church.
But, men who've been married can be priests. Men who are married currently can't be, unless they've been Protestants, and then became Catholic.
This is why I (and everyone I know) will never trust a priest again to be alone with my sons. Think about it. Catholics who won't trust a representative of Christ to be alone with their sons. What a low the Church has fallen to.
RCF is doing the work of heros and saints.
Thanks for the clarification. I've recovered from my shock.
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