Posted on 07/27/2002 8:06:59 AM PDT by sinkspur
The Church can minister to homosexuals, as to any who suffer from an acute affliction. But you are right, A.Pole. The Church does not need homosexual priests. It has paid an unbelievable price in ruined lives, mental and physical anguish, a massive loss of trust and faith, among young and old alike. They couldn't have done worse if they'd tried.
But improper sexual thoughts are also sinful. (A man who looks at a woman with lust in his heart...)
God does love each and every one of us, assuredly!
Being gay requires demonstration of some sort; either an announcement or a witnessed act. Absent an act, how are we to believe that a priest is gay or simply sad?
Those priests who are active homosexual (what, 1/3 of the priesthood?) have no business being around my sons, ever.
This is the best description of the """GAY""" """PROBLEM""" in the church I've read. Note the use of quotes because it goes much deeper than Gay sex.
How about Ted Kennedy and all the crap he's pulled off.
It is the American Bishops!
Great numbers of priests are shouting it from the rooftops, both in word AND IN DEED.
Most of them are little Ted Kennedys - so greatly concerned about intellectual political correctness - and so little concerned about the welfare of children. They are little, cowardly, banal and sometimes evil men. We deserve a million times better.
Enpowerment.
They can because they have the govenment and media.
Based on what I've seen from you on this forum, I'd say much more of a Christian than you.
Sounds like they have really known about this all along.
Maybe the priesthood should limit their membership to Christians only.
< Hey thanks Scripter. My older son was just accepted to a very prestigious Catholic (all boys) high school in our area. 25% of those who apply are accepted. He worked hard to prepare for the tests and interviews. He is excited and ready to work hard there. But it seems like every school in our area (but this one) has been hit somehow with this sexual scandal. I want so much to believe that it won't happen here as well. But I really don't know who to trust in the Church anymore. I don't believe the bishops on anything at all. I have researched the school very, very thorougly, and there was only one incident (homosexual molestation again) over ten years ago. Still I am fearful and torn. I want so much to trust, and I want my son to obtain all the good things that the Church has to offer. But if something bad happened to my son at the hands of a priest, I would be shattered. It's unbelievable that I find myself in this position as a parent in Christ's Church. Just unbelievable.
OK, so you are more of a Christian.
In my opinion, it boils down to the priest's opinion about his own sexuality. If the priest has gay inclinations but professes that such activity is immoral according to church doctrine, then I see no great problem.
BUT...in my experience, most of the gay priests are flaming liberals who, aside from being gay, do not believe that such a lifestyle is sinful. Thus, they are playing a dishonest game. They are (even when not practicing) attempting to hide behind tolerance to change church doctrine.
Its a question of priority....is the priest a believing catholic who happens to be gay (and who commits his life to spreading the church's doctrines of morality)....or is he a liberal who is attempting to alter the church's doctrines to suit his liberal philosophy? Is he more concerned with spreading catholocism to the world...or liberalism in the church? That is the question.
If I had my way, I'd prefer that the church ONLY ordain priests who are in a heterosexual marriage...thus by and large rendering this point moot (in ancient Judaism, one had to be married before one could be a rabbi).
My advise is that you have a thougthful discussion or two with your son. Make sure that he understand what he needs to understand. Everywhere are problems and part of parenting is to instruct children when it is needed.
Are you really so naive? Imagine a few years in a close knit seminary with 50% of homosexuals. Can you imagine co-ed monastery?
Thank you! The idea that we shouldn't care what a priest's sexual orientation is as long as they are "celibate" is totally naive.
By the same token we shouldn't care if their orientation is pedofilia, bestiality, sado-masochism etc. just as long as they behave themselves. Right.
Sorry, but people with such sexual orientations do no belong in positions of such great responsibility as to be representatives of Christ.
Well put, M. quebecois. That is one of the central questions here.
At the time, I warned the libs not to get too cocky, as this whole affair could well blow backwards against the gays in the church and their liberal apologists. Lo and behold, that seems to becoming true. The laity is angry and afraid....they see church doctrine being openly flouted by gay priests, and are seeing the top management covering for them. They are afraid for their kids, and are baying for blood.
Since I believe that gays (esp liberal ones) who join the priesthood are entering their post under false pretenses, I have little sympathy for their situation now. If they were gay, and had a sincere belief that it is merely an "alternative lifestyle"...then they had no business joining the priesthood to begin with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.