St. Pat Msgr. Hits Gays On Scandal / Blames woes on 'disorder,' U.S. immorality

New York Daily News ^ | 4/22/02 | NICOLE BODE and GREG GITTRICH

[kattracks]

Edward Cardinal Egan's stand-in at St. Patrick's Cathedral pointedly blamed the priest sex abuse scandal yesterday on homosexuality, a "sex-saturated" society and a constant assault on celibacy by liberals.

In a 15-minute homily from the most prominent Roman Catholic pulpit in the city, Msgr. Eugene Clark labeled the United States "probably the most immoral country" in the Western hemisphere. He also called homosexuality "a disorder" and said gay men shouldn't be allowed to become priests.

Clark, 76, a longtime key player and conservative voice in the Archdiocese of New York, delivered his stinging homily as Egan and other U.S. cardinals left for Rome to meet with the Pope about priestly pedophilia.

After preaching about forgiveness, Clark detailed reasons he believes some priests victimized children. He appeared to place most of the blame on homosexuality, saying the theory that people are born gay "is not true."

"The tendency to homosexuality is a disorder, not a sin," he said. "But the practice of homosexuality is truly sinful."

Some parishioners in the packed pews shifted uneasily, others nodded in agreement and a few walked out. But Clark continued, arguing that it was a "grave mistake" to allow gays in the priesthood. He blamed American society for being "very protective" of homosexuality.

"Homosexuality became in the American exchange of views a protected area," he said. "And unfortunately ... homosexual students were allowed to pass through seminaries. Grave mistake. Not because homosexuals in anyway tend to criminality, but because it is a disorder."

'The Most Immoral Country'

Clark also criticized what he called "the campaign of liberal America against celibacy."

He theorized that priests who have a tendency toward sexually abusing children — a group he pegged at 3% of the nation's clergy — were affected by a barrage of sinful images in society.

"Liberated sex is offered to people all day long, all evening long," he said. "There is nothing quite like it."

"We know — we won't mention it outside the cathedral — we are probably the most immoral country certainly in the Western hemisphere and maybe the larger circle because of the entertainment we suffer and what it's done to our [country's] morals ...," Clark said.

Christine Schubert of St. Paul dashed out of the cathedral midway through the homily. "I left because I realized I have no desire to be connected with the institution of the Catholic Church," said Schubert, 27. "I thought, wouldn't it be great if the entire church walked out?"

But few did. Most parishioners stayed, and many applauded Clark after his sermon.

Marianne Duddy, executive director of Dignity/USA, the nation's largest organization of gay Catholics, called Clark's comments linking the sex scandal with homosexuality "incredibly horrifying and irresponsible."

"This is a poor attempt to deflect attention away from the church's culpability for the sexual abuse of minors by priests and its attempt to cover it up for decades," she added.

But Catholic League President William Donohue praised Clark. "He makes a great deal of sense and to have this said so articulately by one of the brighter priests in the New York area is very encouraging," Donohue said.

"The internal problem in the church is a lack of governance and due to diligence," he added. "But there is no question about it — this is a societywide problem that goes way beyond the Catholic Church."

With Gretchen E. Weber

[Orual]

Christine Schubert of St. Paul dashed out of the cathedral midway through the homily. "I left because I realized I have no desire to be connected with the institution of the Catholic Church," said Schubert, 27."

Good riddance.

Marianne Duddy, executive director of Dignity/USA, the nation's largest organization of gay Catholics, called Clark's comments linking the sex scandal with homosexuality "incredibly horrifying and irresponsible."

Follow Christine's lead and get out.

[uncbob]

BTW
I should add. The one study I saw was by an EX Homosexual who talks in front of groups of homosexuals and trys to get them to seek help. He stated he is usually heckled and there are many catcalls until he starts to relate how he was abused as a youngster. Then he says things GET REAL QUIET and attentive

[elfman2]

"Not because of the thread, but because of the article -- the quotes from Christine Shubert and from Dignity etc."

Fair enough. I realized as soon as I posted that I should have better phrased my own comment that, ""Priest have been diddling little boys for a thousand years" to indicate that it's just a propensity, so that people don't think that I'm claiming all or even most priest are homosexuals.

[St.Chuck]

This is a good post. Before any drastic measures are made regarding personnel changes and policy implementation the truth of the matter needs to be deceminated. This is the first story I have seen in the secular media attributing the bane of homosexuality to the scandal. Hope to see more; Hope to see the headline, " Boyscouts are Right."

[AmericanInTokyo]

"and a few walked out"

And has it not always been this way with the beauty and simplicity of heavenly-given "Free Will"?

Fact is, there will always be those who 'walk out' even when confronted with the Truth, just as they did in little Judean villages with Christ originally preaching that people ought to live in light and not darkness.

Human nature, Free Will, Light and Dark have not changed that much over the ages, after all......

[Clint N. Suhks]

I love this guy. He's on EWTN frequently. Spoke at our Church's Lenten Lecture Series two years ago. Time to make him a Cardinal.

Big Bump for simple truth and perception.

[Arthur McGowan]

If Msgr. Clark is a liberal, then you are the Pope.

You find it "liberal" to take note of the fact that the U.S. is full of abortion, pornography, and perversion?

What then is the "conservative" position on the moral state of the U.S.?

[elfman2]

"Hope to see the headline, " Boyscouts are Right." "

{smile} In the "mainstream media"? It'll probably be listed right under "Hell Freezes Over".

[07055]

I have been out of town and away from Free Republic for the past week. When I sat down to read the papers, I found an article about how Catholic Church Canon Law treats molestation of boys by priests much more leniently then sexual contact by priests with adult women.

Has this article been posted already? Can someone post a link? Thank you.

[RobbyS]

But few did[followed the lebian out as she left in a huff, (or was that an Oldsmobile)?]. Most parishioners stayed, and many applauded Clark after his sermon. Message to gay-lesbians:" No matter what your cohorts at Catholic University may say, the ordinary Catholic is fed up and won't tolerate take it anymore."

[uncbob]

" Boyscouts are Right."

Boy Scouts have done the Ctaholic Church a HUGE FAVOR

If the church comes to its senses and screens for homosexuals as a means of preventing them from entering the priesthood a court ruling is already in place to prevent discrimination suits on the part of the homosexuals .

Of course a new LIBERAL supreme court could turn that around real fast

[AmericanInTokyo]

Perhaps it is time for a New Reformation, perhaps this time generated from the fed-up ranks. The 'sleeping giant', the silent majority if you will, can and will be awoken in a stunning way.

It can and should be empowered and publically articulated by intellectual heroes like the great man who just stood up in NYC and told the truth to a corrupted world. You don't see too much courage like that these days.

This should be rewarded with the spreading of a movement to deal nationally with the decayed root of this spiritual cavity in churches, and the problem is not just in the Catholic Church. Those disaffected can go off and form their own decrepit, permissive Gay Catholic Church where they can get in touch with their secular humanist inner selves till the cows come home without polluting the great congregation of those who have just about had enough of this darkness and scandal.

[RobbyS]

I don't recall any huge assault by the liberals on celibacy then[In the 1960s]. What you don't remeber the number of priests and seminarians who quit to gett married. LIBERALS had been feeding them the lines for years that the pope was about to end celibacy as a requirement. When Paul VI--the LIBERALS' choice--disappointed them, the exodus began.

[Sonny M]

One of my liberal friends always says this wouldn't happen if priests could marry. I always ask the same question, If they could marry, how would that change the fact that an adult is molesting somone of the same gender? Somone who is underage, and not allowed to marry anyway? and how come the vast majority of these cases always seem male to underage male? If gay priests are the ones doing these deviant acts, then why not just say it? or is being gay somehow been redefined in some P.C. way that makes these priests somehow straight?

[Clemenza]

Bump.

[uncbob]

Those disaffected can go off and form their own decrepit, permissive Gay Catholic Church where they can get in touch with their secular humanist inner selves till the cows come home without polluting the great congregation of those who have just about had enough of this darkness and scandal.

The real danger lies in the courts sytems
Hate speech and suits by homosexuals demanding not to be discriminated against for employment by the churches etc etc .

The BSA were ONE vote away from disaster

[ELS]

If you get a transcript, would you post it here? If you don't want to type it up, I will.

[Alas]

After preaching about forgiveness, Clark detailed reasons he believes some priests victimized children. He appeared to place most of the blame on homosexuality, saying the theory that people are born gay "is not true."

It is about time a priest stood up and told the truth!