Posted on 04/16/2002 8:54:13 AM PDT by history_matters
The Church will not begin to nullify ordinations of already ordained priests. It could attempt some kind of forced laicization, but even this would be problematic because somebody's got to start hunting down the homosexual priests, most of whom are celibate.
I know it's popular around here to keep repeating the bizarre statements of Navarro-Valls, but I find it interesting that no other bishop or theologian in the world has repeated them, nor did Cardinal Ratzinger ratify them.
The best thing to do, of course, is to prevent active homosexuals from being accepted into seminaries in the first place.
No, I reject historical fact because it will not work.It certainly worked in the case of Augustine and Jerome -- although I will grant you that the prevailing condition of an orthodox and unified populace present in those cases is not present now.
As opposed to the current method of episcopal selection, which has given us men who act like mafia dons?
The best thing to do, of course, is to prevent active homosexuals from being accepted into seminaries in the first place.I am in total agreement with you on this point, sinkspur.
As I said in a different thread, here's hoping that when each of the GUILTY Cardinals gets to his room, he finds a nice ivory-colored vellum letter sealed with the Papal seal, and inside, I hope there is a request for said Cardinal to surrender his Faculties, and get himself to a cloistered monastery to live out his days doing manual labor and keeping silence. I'm tired of these filthy-minded jerks getting coddled just because they were foxy enough to get themselves elected Cardinals ("Princes" of the Church, my foot!). I'm tired of them getting away with conspiracy to commit one felony upon another just because they wear a short cape and a little red beanie. I wish it were possible for them to be turned over to their victims and the victims of the "priests" they hid, covered up for, encouraged, partied with, and promoted.
Ratzinger is head of the Congregation of Doctrine and Faith. The Cardinal that needs to "ratify" Navarro-Valls's statements is the one who heads the Congregation of the Clergy (or whatever it's called). Do you think the Vatican's spokesman makes any public statements that haven't been thoroughly vetted?
Thanks for clearing that up.
Coincidence?
-PJ
No sexual active priests -- homosexual or heterosexual -- should be accepted into seminaries.
Again, I post this link to a book coming out: Good Bye Good Men which highlights the problem of the feminization of our seminaries and active homosexual recruitment in SOME.
God bless.
..And the beat goes on....
I'm starting to get the feeling that too many of the American Bishops are more than willing to cover-up the REAL story. And this is leading me to believe that's its bigger than any of us could ever imagine.
That flaming bishop of South Africa, Reginald Cawcutt, made the statement that if Ratzinger puts the hammer down, he would blow the whole thing wide open. This and all that has occured as of recent is elevating my fears as to the overall extent of this homosexual problem in the hierarchy!
If this one was vetted, it must have been by a theological incompetent.
The form and matter for the Sacrament of Holy Orders are the laying on of hands by a bishop on an adult male. Period. Nothing about education, nothing about sexual orientation.
Valid ordinations are valid, and no priest can do anything to invalidate it, nor can a functionary declare it invalid later, unless one suddenly discovers that the "man" ordained is found to be a woman.
You can laicize a validly ordained priest, but you can't "unordain" him.
Annulments of marriages are made at the request of one or both of the people in the marriage. The Church merely recognizes that invalidating circumstances existed prior to the marriage.
Don't get me wrong: one crime against one child is serious and must be punished.
And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! (Matthew 18:5-7)
I have great trust and faith in our Lord that the Holy Spirit will guide the decisions of the Pope, and they will be based on mercy and love for both the offenders and the victims.
God bless.
Ditto.
This is pretty much exactly what Fr. Benedict Groeschel said on Fox News last night.
I can't say I'm that surprised. I think his degree in psychology clouds his thinking sometimes, although overall he seems to be a great priest. His order certainly walks the walk in NYC.
That's why in the best case scenario, this thing is going to take decades to sort out.
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