The Good Catholic's Response to Bad Priests

Bucks County Courier Times ^ | 4/3/02 | Claudio R. Salvucci

[Antoninus]

The Good Catholic's Response to Bad Priests
Claudio R. Salvucci

April 3, 2002

Our sex-obsessed culture has deluded itself with the ridiculous Freudian error that every sexual thought or fantasy not acted upon is a repression.

So muddled with lust have we become, so enslaved to our own self-gratification, that too many of us can no longer even conceive of a life lived in virginal purity. We see no dignity in it, only a condition to be pitied.

So some are suggesting that the Catholic priesthood, in the face of all the recent scandals, accept those ideas and make a grudging concession to human lust.

And that is exactly wrong.

It was precisely by conceding to lust in the first place that the priesthood got into this awful mess.

One curiously omitted question emerges from all of these so-called pedophilia scandals: Why do an estimated 80-90 percent of the victims of these molestations happen to be teen-age boys? True pedophiles tend to prey on pre-pubescent members of the opposite sex - not same-sex adolescents, which characterizes a different disorder called ephebophilia.

Many of us obedient Catholics, so ready to grant priests and bishops the benefit of the doubt, are now slowly becoming aware of a vast gay network quietly tolerated in the seminaries, the priesthood and even in the highest levels of church hierarchy.

Two respected and highly acclaimed books: Fr. Donald Cozzens' "The Changing Face of the Priesthood" and Michael Rose's "Goodbye! Good Men" frankly admit that the priesthood is "becoming a gay profession." Our local Catholic radio station, WISP 1570, recently featured a hard-hitting show describing how seminarians encountered difficulties for being "too masculine." St. Sebastian's Angels, a networking Website for gay priests, was only recently shut down. An anonymous priest interviewed by the Boston Globe described the sexual propositioning, harassment and intimidation he faced at the hands of a gay subculture in the seminary - "and I know guys who left because of it."

So what is to be done about this problem?

Some American bishops have adopted this idea that having homosexual inclinations doesn't matter in the seminary, that as long as the candidate lives in celibacy, there's no sin in the orientation. That is of course theologically true, but is it psychologically wise?

Suppose, analogously, we were to take a priest with the normal male attractions, and drop him right smack into a convent of nuns: eating, working, bathing, and sleeping among the opposite sex, 24 hours a day. Well, that would be sheer madness, utter insanity. Of course, we hope he wouldn't do anything to violate his chastity, but meanwhile we've vastly multiplied his near occasions to sin - the opportunities for sexual temptation to be enflamed and acted upon.

That is exactly what we are doing when we ordain gay men.

Folks, the monasteries and rectories are barracks in the army of Jesus Christ; housing men with a divine mission for which they need to be focused, clear-headed, and free from distraction. Just as in the military, a community of strong men provides the best environment for that condition to be met.

When homosexuality enters this system, the whole thing becomes utter bedlam. Suddenly, the opportunities for sex are numerous and immediate. Perhaps that is why the priesthood is said to be sought by some homosexual men.

Certainly, not every homosexual priest will act upon his temptations, but what right do we have to put him in danger of doing so? Do we have no healthy respect for the weaknesses of human nature?

There is only one solution here, and it is this: the seminaries must refuse Holy Orders to those with same-sex attractions. Not just for the overall good of the priesthood, but for the good of their own souls. For it is no act of charity to let a man become a priest in this life, only to be tempted into damnation in the next.

Claudio Salvucci of Bristol reminds Catholics that the best thing to do for priests - good or bad - is to pray for them.

An archive of Salvucci's columns may be found at: The I, Claudio web site

[ThomasMore]

That the seminaries are NOW "loaded with them" is not due to celibacy - rather it is due to the liberal takeover and attempt to destroy any semblance of Catholis doctrine at any and all Catholic institutions.

I agree! In no way am I trying to say that this problem is a result of the discipline of celibacy!

[joathome]

"If people had to sacrifice (drive an hour) to get to Mass on Sunday (due to a severe shortage of priests after the scum is skimmed) we would soon find out who is dedicated and devout."

True. But the purpose of the church is to win souls to Christ, not make it more difficult for them. <p

[ArrogantBustard]

Maybe I am wrong to comment about an internal matter for you, but you have a great Church and I absolutely believe that God would bless all of you with faithful priests if this rot and evil were to be plucked out.

I think your comment is precisely, 100% spot on, and I thank you for it.

AB

[ThomasMore]

I would rather we lose 90% of the priests in order to insure a return to sound doctrine and morality at the pulpits and altars of every place the Mass is said.

I agree again. I have no problem with the celibacy discipline. Nor do I have a problem with married priests. Celibate or married, if they are living their sacred orders according to Church law and doctrine and truly shepherding God's people, that's what matters to me. Fidelity to Christ and His Body; the only thing that matters.

[uncbob]

A celibate priest never has to choose between going out at 3 AM to adminster last rights to a dying parishoner, or staying home to care for his sick child.

Cut me a break .
How often does ANY priest go out at 3AM to administer the last rights
And how often would it occur with a sick child that needs attention at 3AM

If this is the best you can come up with your argument is worthless

[Renatus]

Fidelity to Christ and His Body; the only thing that matters.

Their sexual orientation then doesn't matter?

[ThomasMore]

Their sexual orientation then doesn't matter?

I didn't say that! That's up to the Magisterium. There are rumblings in the Vatican that it most certainly does matter, but I am not about to speculate on what the church is going to decide.

[redhead]

"Personally, I pray that the Church retains the discipline of celibate priests, even if it meant that we are able to recruit fewer of them in our materialist culture. Once the homosexuals are rooted out, there will be a revival. Count on it."

I agree. There are LOTS of candidates out there who have been turned away from one seminary or another because they weren't "conformist" enough: They didn't flit. They didn't pluck their eyebrows. They prayed the rosary and spent time before the Blessed Sacrament. Yes, they will all try again as soon as it is safe for them to knock on the door of a seminary and not have to run the risk of being hit on by Father Brucie.

[Renatus]

That's up to the Magisterium.

Thanks. Finally found someone on this thread who agree with me.

[redhead]

"Why do the bishops act as if the sin of heterosexual marriage by a priest is so uniquely horrible? I think it's because they truly feel sickened and horrified when a priest marries a woman. Why they don't feel this way about gay child abusers, I don't know."

You really DON'T know why?? Think...

[eastsider]

Assuming that homosexuality is the radical cause of ephebophilia and rooting the homosexuals out of the clergy will get rid of the problem, how does one propose doing this, short of hooking up all of our priests and seminarians to peter meters and showing them various types of pornography? And if there is a way short of peter meters to root them out, why not extend the same treatment to couples wishing to be married, in order to preserve the sanctity of marriage?

I don't pretend to have the answers to these questions, but my gut tells me that a witchhunt for homosexual candidates to the priesthood or marriage is as naive a solution for the present crisis as calling for an end to celibacy. That is, I don't believe that all men with homosexual temptations make bad priests, or even bad husbands and fathers, for that matter. In the end, I believe it all comes down to the individual's cooperation with God's grace to live chastely. JMO.

[Renatus]

In the end, I believe it all comes down to the individual's cooperation with God's grace to live chastely. JMO.

Thank God for your response. I agree with you totally. It's really quite a struggle fighting this battle. Now I don't feel so completely alone. In truth--It's all about grace. Everything is grace.

[sinkspur]

If people had to sacrifice (drive an hour) to get to Mass on Sunday (due to a severe shortage of priests after the scum is skimmed) we would soon find out who is dedicated and devout.

What's the point of finding out who's "dedicated and devout"? It might make you feel good, but American Catholics are not going to drive an hour each way to Mass, nor should they.

Nor should they have to tolerate third-world priests imported in, just so celibacy can be preserved. We've got a newly-ordained Hispanic priest in our parish who has to read his sermons and frequently asks me when I lector, before Mass, how to pronounce certain words. It's almost painful to have to attend one of his Masses.

There are some on this site who are almost salivating to see the priesthood reduced to some "remnant" of men who will drag the Church back to 1950.

[joathome]

Homosexual males shouldn't be tempted by living with other men.

[lds23]

I've heard that ministers ordained elsewhere (Lutherans, e.g.), can be married, apply for Catholic priesthood,and remain married even when they receive their vestments. I emphasize I've only heard this anecdotally, and am not sure this is a fact (and am not really sure how to check on it).

Anyway, I hope the celestial and temporal authorities will deal strongly with any priest (regardless of orientation) who breaks his vow of chastity. That being said, I pray for those priests who have kept to their vows and who have to suffer along with the bad apples.

[eastsider]

Good point. Perhaps we should be looking at the social living conditions of our priests as well.

[ThomasMore]

Hi eastsider, Happy Easter

but my gut tells me that a witchhunt for homosexual candidates

I agree that there should be no WITCHHUNT, but the Church most deal directly for positive affects with the active homosexuals already in the priesthood. Having many a priest friend and knowing what they know; believe me, they know where the trouble is. The bishops know where the trouble is. Its a matter of "do they want to deal with it". I don't think they have any choice any longer.

PS: LOL! and they won't need peter-meters to resolve the majority of the problem.

[Ann Archy]

Thank you for your clear-headed logic.

[CdMGuy]

Yes, the interesting thing is that this problem existed even before Vatican 2. However, having attended Catholic grammar school, high school and college, I did not see this as a big problem in the 50s and 60s. Although, I do suspect one of our parish priests was "sent away" due to possible sex abuse.

After Vatican 2, things chaged radically. So many of the Christian Brothers I had in high school and college left the order and got married. Many of them are still active with the brothers and have their own society. These men were wonderful, caring people who cared for and educated us. It was a tragedy to see them leave the order.

So much changed after Vatican 2. Some changes were for the better, but others have been disasterous. Today, we have a priesthood, brotherhood and sisterhood, each of which is full of aging religious. I think the average age of the US nun is 67.

The US Catholic Church is the strongest Catholic Church in the world due to its membership. Yet, we are governed by the leaders in the Vatican who bear little cultural resemblence to us. It is past time for the Church to allow priests to marry. After all, there are married priests in the Roman Catholic Church (Episcopal converts) and the Eastern Rites allow marriage.

Further, if we are allowing girls to be altar servers, then why not women priests. Historically, altar servers have been a key source of vocations. If girs cannot become priests, then every girl who is an altar server is replacing a boy who has the potential to join the priesthood.

[Renatus]

Homosexual males shouldn't be tempted by living with other men.

Then St. Benedict ought not to have founded his order and written the Holy Rule that saved civilization from the dark ages. Jeeeeeesh! Goofy!