Posted on 04/24/2002 2:11:43 AM PDT by kattracks
VATICAN CITYTop American clergy fretted yesterday that too many gays were becoming priests and their presence — particularly in seminaries — was hurting recruiting.
"It is an ongoing struggle," said Bishop Wilton Gregory, who was at the Vatican summit, "to make sure the Catholic priesthood is not dominated by homosexual men."
In unusually frank comments on an issue the church generally shies away from, Gregory, head of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, said the clergy faces recruitment problems "when there does exist within any given seminary a homosexual dynamic that makes heterosexual young men think twice before entering for fear they may be identified with that orientation or that they would be harassed."
He said seminary recruiters must make sure "the candidates we receive are healthy in every possible way — psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually."
The church does not officially forbid homosexual priests as long as they abide by celibacy rules.
Chicago's Francis Cardinal George said gays should be kept out of the priesthood, putting a subtle theological spin on the question.
"The important thing in seminary formation is to ask whether or not the candidate is capable of marriage and family — because an ordained priest is a married man, he's a committed man to the Bride of Christ, which is the church," George said.
Detroit's Adam Cardinal Maida said homosexuality is at the root of the church's sex problems.
"I think what the behavioral scientists are telling us, the sociologists, it's not truly a pedophilia-type problem but a homosexual-type problem," he said. "We need to look at our seminaries and see that we're doing a good job screening candidates."
Gay Catholic groups said they were outraged that the church appears to be blaming the pedophilia scandal on homosexuality.
Jeff Stone, a board member of Dignity New York, noted that the comments come on the heels of Msgr. Eugene Clark's comments at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday that appeared to link the scandal with homosexuality.
"We were just celebrating a little bit that the archdiocese had backed away on Msgr. Clark's comments, and now comes this bombshell," Stone said. "I think it's outrageous and appalling that the bishops are clearly trying to put this entire scandal on gay clergy."
Linda Pieczynski, a board member of Call to Action, fumed.
"I'm sorry, but this ... scapegoating is evil," she said. "How weak is their calling if they get the willies about being around gay men?"
With Derek Rose
The church should take their lead from the boy scouts.
Ah, could I broach the subject by saying, "That's exactly what they're afraid of getting Bright Path!" It's not from being around them. It's from them. Duh!
Can someone explain this one to me? It is my understanding that celibacy is defined as one who does not marry; one who practices sexual abstinance. So how in the hell do the pillow biters get away with just because they are not having sex with a woman, they a celibate?
Get rid of the queers--get rid of the problem. Simple as that.
SR
Indexing
The infiltration of this malignancy into the Church and it's propagation and subsequent cover up is the reason the church is having this problem. Now that they are beginning to understand this maybe they can fix it.
Just attend one gay pride parade and you'll understand completely why straight men would get the willies around that bunch.
"Get rid of the queers--get rid of the problem. Simple as that."
Not quite that simple. The problem arouse directly from pedophiles in the clergy, but the problem became ongoing and monumental in size because of the hierarchy – who thought they had to protect The Church at all costs, by covering up the problem.
The Pope did insinuate that violations of law concerning child molestation should be reported immediately and directly to law enforcement agencies.
If The Church wants to regain the trust and respect of the faithful, all violations of law should have been included. Who knows what might be the next scandal.
Whoa not quite that simple either! The problem arose originally from pedophiles and homosexuals who were enabled in their pursuits by a heirarchy that I beleive is itself homosexual.
Medicine may want to draw some distinction between a pedophile and homosexual but the NAMBLA cohort has already insisted that 8 is too late. Where are the screaming queens throwing condoms at NAMBLA?
Is there any JUSTICE for the VICTIM in the CHURCH?
I've heard that, but I also heard somewhere else that 95% of the cases are with teenage boys. If true, that's more homosexual than pedophilic.
A friend of mine entered the seminary last year. He skipped local St. John's Seminary in Brighton (under Cardinal Law) for this very reason. He's now at a traditionalist seminary (with a "no poofta" policy) under Bishop Bruskewitz in Nebraska.
I'm very happy that the Cardinals have spoken the unspeakable word. Now things will get interesting.
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