Jesuit Official Rips Expected Ban on Gays

AP Religion ^ | 9/30/2005 | RACHEL ZOLL

[NormB]

Estimates of the numbers of gays in the priesthood vary from 25 percent to 50 percent. About one-third of the 42,500 U.S. priests are members of religious orders.

[NormB]

Let's have a rational discussion on homosexuality in the Church!

[ECM]

Does anyone know if the Jesuits are still worth a damn ouside of the US?

[Windsong]

"Estimates of the numbers of gays in the priesthood vary from 25 percent to 50 percent.

imagine that..

[Pyro7480]

"Those crazy Jesuits" Catholic ping!

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

I went to a Jesuit High School, I treasured the education. But the theology in retrospect left something to be desired. It is time to suppress the Jesuits.

[billbears]

Okay rational discussion. The Bible condemns homosexuality. Anyone who condones homosexuality should not teach the Bible nor be a leader in the catholic (little c!!) Church. Discussion over

[hombre_sincero]

start your own homosexual church

If you do not beleive in the Churches Dogma - do what Lucif --- Luther did and break away!

Do NOT pollute the Catholic Church.

[hombre_sincero]

Yess I know Churches should be Church's

SUE ME!

[jb6]

My God, I hope that's a lie. If that's the truth, then the Devil has truly infiltrated one of the two main branches of Christianity and nothing but evil will or is coming of it.

My advice to the Catholics is to slice the cancer away with the detachment of a surgeon, until the wound is truly clean. Take no compromises, make no packs.

[CWW]

First, the estimate that 25 to 50% of the clergy is homosexual is total B.S.

I have met many, many priests in my 43 years, and have only met one who was a homosexual and who was removed for molestation of a minor.

The issue is, of course, is whether a celibate homosexual can be a Catholic priest. An active homosexual cannot given both the unambiguous teachings of scripture and the fact that priests must ovserve a vow of celibacy.

Given the fact that the Church has stated that homosexuality is intrinsically disordered, I don't see how the Church can allow ordination of a celibate homosexual.

That may seem unfair, but the priesthood is not about fairness. It's about representing the message of Christ and providing example of that message.

I pray for those men who struggle with this issue. But I would no more want a homosexual (celibate or otherwise) to be a priest any more than I would want an cleptomaniac to work the jewelry counter at Nordstroms or a reformed alcoholic to work ina bar.

[griz74]

I tought the only sexual orientation appropriate for a priest was the gift of celibacy.

[conserv13]

Let's have a rational discussion on homosexuality in the Church!

Good luck with that.

For my part, I have no problem with gay priests and I think the Vatican is wrong in this decision. I'm an ex-Catholic.

I do think there is something wrong though if 25-50% of priests are gay, when only 10% of the general population is gay.

[griz74]

Church didn't state it, God did: See Leviticus and Romans.

[conserv13]

Does the church follow all the laws in Leviticus and Romans?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Anyone want to place bets on how long he lasts?

[Right Wing Assault]

I imagine both percentages are highly exaggerated.

[NormB]

I have met many, many priests in my 43 years, and have only met one who was a homosexual and who was removed for molestation of a minor.

I am sure they wouldn't want you to know. I personally know a guy who went to seminary and dropped out at least in part because he KNEW half of the guys in there were gay fags.

[Sthitch]

Not sure about elsewhere, but here the "Catholic" schools they run are vaguely Catholic anymore.

[Hat-Trick]

Chojnacki wrote in the letter, dated Monday, that he had participated in the funerals of several gay Jesuit clergy over the last few years. "I find it insulting to demean their memory and their years of service by even hinting that they were unfit for priesthood because of their sexual orientation," he wrote.

I'm not Catholic, but am curious to know if the Pope has the authority to remove this defender of perversion from the Catholic priesthood? If so, what keeps him from doing it?

Sincerely,

H-T

[kcvl]

The Rev. Gerald Chojnacki, head of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus, said in a letter to his priests that he was asking bishops to tell Vatican officials who are drafting the policy "of the great harm this will cause many good priests and the Catholic faithful."

Chojnacki wrote in the letter, dated Monday, that he had participated in the funerals of several gay Jesuit clergy over the last few years.

"I find it insulting to demean their memory and their years of service by even hinting that they were unfit for priesthood because of their sexual orientation," he wrote.

Chojnacki said he would be working with the Conference of Major Superiors, which represents leaders of religious orders in the United States including the Jesuits, Franciscans and others, and with bishops to fight "for the opportunity of a gay person to say yes to God's call in celibate service of priesthood and chaste religious life."

A priest who supports the protest provided the letter to The Associated Press. A spokesman for the New York province did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

A Vatican official said last week that the upcoming "instruction" from the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education will reaffirm the church's belief that homosexuals should not be ordained.