(p.s. . . . thought you might like one of these, I've ordered one . . . )
Posted on 09/12/2005 1:04:00 PM PDT by SmithL
The American prelate overseeing a sweeping Vatican evaluation of every seminary in the United States told a weekly newspaper that men with "strong homosexual inclinations" should not be enrolled, even if they have remained celibate for years.
Archbishop Edwin O'Brien made the comments to the National Catholic Register newspaper as Roman Catholics await word of a much-anticipated Vatican document on whether homosexuals should be barred from the priesthood. O'Brien and several other U.S. bishops have said they expect that document to be released soon.
"I think anyone who has engaged in homosexual activity, or has strong homosexual inclinations, would be best not to apply to a seminary and not to be accepted into a seminary," O'Brien told the independent newspaper. He said that even gays who have been celibate for a decade or more should not be admitted, the Register reported in its Sept. 4-10 edition.
O'Brien, who leads the Archdiocese for the Military Services in Washington, declined through an assistant Monday to comment to The Associated Press.
The Vatican ordered the seminary review three years ago in response to the clergy sex abuse crisis to look for anything that contributed to the scandal, which has led to more than 11,000 abuse claims in the last five decades. The evaluation is set to begin later this month and much of the focus is expected to be on sexuality, including what seminarians are taught about maintaining their vow of celibacy.
The Vatican agency overseeing the evaluation — the Congregation for Catholic Education — is also reportedly drawing up guidelines for accepting candidates for the priesthood that could address the question of homosexual seminarians. The church considers gay relationships "intrinsically disordered."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
If Damiano could brief Leo IX on this matter in 1049, why does O'Brien need to brief Benedict XVI in 2005?
Just decree it formally all over again and be done with it.
Of course the seminaries -- or a lot of them anyway -- have already been cleaned up a great deal in the past 20 years.
Arch-
Nihil Obstat: Auburn Tiger
Good.
Now make sure that all diocesan vocations directors, and seminary rectors also understand it and ABIDE BY IT.
So when will they remove the gay priests that are ordained now?
He is correct; they should not be ordained.
Good on him! Now make it stick.
It seems that this is symptomatic of a Church that will not enforce Church discipline on those living in sin or defying Church practice. Church discipline is not moving priests or bishops that are living in open sin, or cordoning such behavior, to another parish or assignment. Church discipline is not permitting politicians that defy Church practice or Scriptural teachings to be members in good standing. Scripture is clear that these people should be given the due process of Matthew 18 and if they persist and there in no repentance and obedience, then the sinning believer is to be rebuked publicly and disfellowshipped. The Roman Catholic Church has reaped the fruits of disobedience to these Scriptural prescriptions.
BTTT!
Pray for this purification!
(p.s. . . . thought you might like one of these, I've ordered one . . . )
LOL!! Great shirt!
Ideal for lifting in a seminary!!
Three cheers for BXVI!
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.