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POPE APPROVES BARRING GAY SEMINARIANS
EWTN ^ | September 19, 2005

Posted on 09/19/2005 3:35:59 PM PDT by NYer

Vatican, Sep. 19 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI has given his approval to a new Vatican policy document indicating that men with homosexual tendencies should not be ordained as Catholic priests.

The new document-- which was prepared by the Congregation for Catholic Education, in response to a request made by the late Pope John Paul II in 1994-- will be published soon. It will take the form of an "Instruction," signed by the prefect and secretary of the Congregation: Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski and Archbishop Michael Miller.

The text, which was approved by Pope Benedict at the end of August, says that homosexual men should not be admitted to seminaries even if they are celibate, because their condition suggests a serious personality disorder which detracts from their ability to serve as ministers.

Priests who have already been ordained, if they suffer from homosexual impulses, are strongly urged to renew their dedication to chastity, and a manner of life appropriate to the priesthood.

The Instruction does not represent a change in Church teaching or policy. Catholic leaders have consistently taught that homosexual men should not be ordained to the priesthood. Pope John XXIII approved a formal policy to that effect, which still remains in effect. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, that policy was widely ignored, particularly in North America. The resulting crisis in the priesthood-- in which one prominent American commentator observed that the priesthood was coming to be seen as a "gay" profession-- prompted Pope John Paul II to call for a new study on the question.

The Congregation for Catholic Education prepared the Instruction after soliciting advice from all of the world's bishops, from psychologists, and from moral theologians. A draft of the Instruction was then circulated among the Vatican dicasteries concerned with the issue, notably including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The pending release of the Instruction, in the face of certain criticism from liberal forces in America and Western Europe, demonstrates the determination of the Vatican to improve the quality of priestly ministry, and to protect the Church from some of the scandals that have recently shaken the Catholic community-- and no doubt deterred many men from entering priestly training.

Informed sources in Rome indicate that the Instruction probably will be made public after the Synod of Bishops, which meets in Rome from October 2 through 23.


TOPICS: Activism; Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; General Discusssion; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: cathoic; gay; homosexual; homosexualagenda; inquisitorsneeded; pope; ruleone; seminary; toolittletoolate; torquemadaclub; vatican
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1 posted on 09/19/2005 3:36:07 PM PDT by NYer
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To: american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; ...


2 posted on 09/19/2005 3:37:00 PM PDT by NYer
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To: american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; ...


3 posted on 09/19/2005 3:38:08 PM PDT by NYer
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To: NYer

How uncollegial of him. I wonder if U.S. bishops will respond to this.


4 posted on 09/19/2005 3:40:54 PM PDT by nickcarraway (I'm Only Alive, Because a Judge Hasn't Ruled I Should Die...)
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To: NYer

It's a start, but what is really needed is an Inquisition.


5 posted on 09/19/2005 3:43:22 PM PDT by thoughtomator (Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. - Patrick Henry)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: ninenot; AnAmericanMother; BlackElk

Torquemada Club ping! Cleanup needed in aisle 4!

Frank


7 posted on 09/19/2005 3:46:50 PM PDT by Frank Sheed ("Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions." ~GK Chesterton.)
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To: NYer

GO PB17! Clean House!


8 posted on 09/19/2005 4:03:41 PM PDT by Clint N. Suhks (If you don't like Jesus, you can go to hell.)
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To: thoughtomator
It's a start, but what is really needed is an Inquisition.

LOL - Patience...

9 posted on 09/19/2005 4:08:30 PM PDT by DBeers (†)
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To: thoughtomator

There was that Origen in the 2nd(?) century - to avoid the temptation of the flesh, he castrated himself. Maybe following his example ought to be made obligatory.


10 posted on 09/19/2005 4:08:44 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: GSlob

That might run up against the prohibition in Leviticus against marking the body.


11 posted on 09/19/2005 4:10:23 PM PDT by thoughtomator (Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. - Patrick Henry)
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To: Clint N. Suhks

Actually, it's PB16...but we know what you meant and share the sentiments...lol!


12 posted on 09/19/2005 4:10:31 PM PDT by CatQuilt (GLSEN is evil)
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To: little jeremiah; EdReform; DirtyHarryY2K; Clint N. Suhks; scripter
poing!

Some Considerations Concerning the Response to Legislative Proposals on Non-discrimination of Homosexual Persons

II. Applications

10. "Sexual orientation" does not constitute a quality comparable to race, ethnic background, etc. in respect to non-discrimination. Unlike these, homosexual orientation is an objective disorder (cf. "Letter," No. 3) and evokes moral concern.

11. There are areas in which it is not unjust discrimination to take sexual orientation into account, for example, in the placement of children for adoption or foster care, in employment of teachers or athletic coaches, and in military recruitment.

13. Including "homosexual orientation" among the considerations on the basis of which it is illegal to discriminate can easily lead to regarding homosexuality as a positive source of human rights, for example, in respect to so-called affirmative action or preferential treatment in hiring practices. This is all the more deleterious since there is no right to homosexuality (cf. No. 10) which therefore should not form the basis for judicial claims. The passage from the recognition of homosexuality as a factor on which basis it is illegal to discriminate can easily lead, if not automatically, to the legislative protection and promotion of homosexuality. A person's homosexuality would be invoked in opposition to alleged discrimination, and thus the exercise of rights would be defended precisely via the affirmation of the homosexual condition instead of in terms of a violation of basic human rights.

Religiosorum Institutio

30. Those To Be Excluded; Practical Directives

Advantage to religious vows and ordination should be barred to those who are afflicted with evil tendencies to homosexuality or pederasty, since for them the common life and the priestly ministry would constitute serious dangers.


13 posted on 09/19/2005 4:11:30 PM PDT by DBeers (†)
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To: NYer
Image hosted by TinyPic.com
Forget the "don't ask"...just don"t tell.
14 posted on 09/19/2005 4:11:38 PM PDT by Old Seadog (Birthdays start out being fun. But too many of them will kill you..)
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To: GSlob

The ironic thing about the Origen castration thing is that he interpreted a passage about castration in the Gospels literally while he was an early major supporter of non-literal Scriptural interpretation.


15 posted on 09/19/2005 4:12:42 PM PDT by tlRCta (O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!)
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To: NYer
Hell yeah!

I mean, heck yeah!

16 posted on 09/19/2005 4:13:47 PM PDT by T. Buzzard Trueblood ("...there was a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda." - Thomas Kean, chairman, 9/11 Commission)
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To: tlRCta

Well, the passage about casting a tempting member away could and should (in this case particularly) be interpreted literally.


17 posted on 09/19/2005 4:19:14 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: nickcarraway

I will predict their response for you, Nick:

Yaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnn.

Sssssshhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrred this, Bruce!


18 posted on 09/19/2005 4:23:09 PM PDT by ninenot (Minister of Membership, Tomas Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: thoughtomator

You called?


19 posted on 09/19/2005 4:23:34 PM PDT by ninenot (Minister of Membership, Tomas Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: NYer

Great news.


20 posted on 09/19/2005 4:24:52 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past ("Let the wicked man forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord" Is 55:7)
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