Posted on 11/29/2005 5:56:11 AM PST by NYer
The Rev. Leonard Walker, 58, who as pastor was chief executive of Queen of Peace church, is the first priest in the Phoenix Diocese to resign over church treatment of gay men, specifically a new Vatican document aimed at keeping gay men out of the priesthood.
Walker declined to disclose his sexual orientation, but he said he was no longer comfortable "wearing the uniform" of the priesthood.
"It's like a Jew wearing a Nazi uniform," Walker said. "I could no longer stay in that institution with any amount of integrity."
His decision comes on the eve of the release of an instruction from the Vatican that limits entrance into seminaries primarily to heterosexual men.
Many Catholics believe the document addresses concerns that the clergy abuse scandal was caused by gay priests because so many of the victims were young men. They also believe it will lead to a much-needed reform of seminaries, where a gay subculture has thrived, according to some reports.
The Vatican document, leaked to the Italian media last week, says candidates for the priesthood who are "actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture" cannot be ordained. It added that their sexual orientation "seriously obstructs them from properly relating to men and women."
The Rev. Chris Carpenter, pastor of Christ the King Catholic church in Mesa, said although the document speaks only about seminarians, "clearly it is sending a message that gay priests are unacceptable, not for what they are doing but for who they are."
The Rev. Fred Adamson, vicar general of the diocese and Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted's second in command, said no decision has been made about how they will implement the Vatican document. The diocese does not ask directly about candidates' sexuality.
Olmsted was not available for comment.
The new Vatican document reinforces long-standing policy for a church that teaches that homosexuality is immoral.
Walker said Monday that he had planned to resign quietly, telling his parishioners only that his decision was unrelated to any "accusation, suspicion or request by church authorities." But, he said, he changed his mind after what he called "mistreatment" by Adamson, who told him that he could not celebrate Mass for the final time at Queen of Peace and that his health insurance would be cut off immediately.
Adamson declined to disclose details of the discussion.
"I can tell you we were not aware of the reason for his resignation," he said.
Walker, a member of the Salvatorian religious order, said he also took a leave of absence from the order.
In the Catholic Church, a priest is ordained for life unless he resigns or is defrocked, a lengthy legal process. Priests serve in a variety of roles. Walker said he will continue to work as a hospice chaplain until he decides whether to leave the priesthood.
He said that Olmsted has been "aggressively anti-gay," unlike previous bishops, and that the Vatican also has taken anti-gay positions.
Among them:
• In 2000, the Vatican suspended the Rev. Robert Nugent, Walker's colleague in the Salvatorian order, from continuing a ministry to gays and lesbians in Washington, D.C.
• The Vatican is visiting American Catholic seminaries to assess their treatment of gay candidates, directly as a result of the clergy abuse scandal.
• Olmsted rejected the pro-gay Phoenix Declaration, signed by nine Catholic priests, after his two predecessors made no such move. He required the signers to revoke their support or risk their jobs. Walker did not sign.
• Finally, according to Walker, a Phoenix-area priest, whom he declined to identify, lost his job as pastor recently because of his homosexuality, a reason not disclosed by the diocese. Adamson said he knew nothing about that.
Carpenter, who is a diocesan priest, said Walker could be the first of many to step aside. He added that any priest who discloses that he is gay "risks immediate reprisals."
Walker was well-liked at Queen of Peace, which is in downtown Mesa.
"He will definitely be missed," said Loralynn Quintero, 33, of Mesa, who had worked with Walker on a counseling program.
"Everyone has an opinion" about homosexuality, she said. "(It's) a matter between him and God."
Maria Delgadillo, 29, of Mesa, said she was surprised and sad to hear Walker had resigned.
"I don't think he should be leaving," she said. "I don't think it is a good reason."
"We are sorry to see him go," said Sandra Lopez, a church member for a couple of years. "I'm going to stay neutral (on why he is leaving)."
Kudos to his shred of integrity. The church, nonetheless, will be much better with him gone.
BAM! Emerilize 'em! Left foot of fellowship out the church-house door! With a size 15 footprint on their cabooses!
He seems to not understand that what they do is not who they are. This has nothing to do with who they are (a child of God unfortunately in habitual sin) and everything to do with what they do (choosing to remain in that sin rather than repent and be made whole) If they identify as 'gay' then they are doing something that is immoral, contrary to church teaching, and anti-biblical.
Casualty is so not the right word here. How about "the first fruit of enforcing longstanding church teaching".
But then again "fruit", while fitting, isn't quite right either.
How about "The first evidence that the church's efforts to clean house and return to sound doctrine are working."
The identity of men such as this is completely consumed with being gay, not with being either a child of God OR a priest The Church is right to create a situation such as this, where more and more of these men will feel uncomfortable enough to want to leave. And a possible priest-shortage that might result from this is no cause for regret either. The Church already has a priest shortage, and clearing the decks for new, and totally orthodox, recruits will hopefully swell the ranks, not decrease them.
Is that all the Church is to him, an "institution?"
Sounds like no one will lose any sleep over this guy!
Yes.
MASS FOR WORLD AIDS DAY TO BE CELEBRATED...
The Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E. Lincoln Drive in Scottsdale will celebrate a Mass of remembrance and healing in honor of World AIDS Day at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, November 30th.
Fr. Chris Carpenter, representing the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix HIV/AIDS Resource Committee, will preside. All infected, affected, or otherwise concerned individuals of any religious background are welcome to attend. For more information, please call the Franciscan Renewal Center at (480) 948-7460,
Gay and Lesbian ministry page info.
Given the context, is there something a bit unusual or inappropriate about the name of the "musical work" that is being offered? Hmmm?
Are they following the bishop of their diocese or are they following "Mahoney" [sic] - and maybe "sick" too.
Those familiar with the CASA and its history might wonder if perhaps these Franciscans will someday receive a letter from Benedict XVI similar to the one recently sent to the Franciscans in Assisi.
The movie review dude! (In the Catholic Sun)
Just what the Church needs. Priests to do movie reviews. It's not like there is enough laity to do this all important work.
...representing the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix HIV/AIDS Resource Committee, will preside.
Although I agree with you about the troublesome aspects of the Casa, I read the above line to state that the Bishop is aware and allowing him to represent the Diocese in this event. Perhaps tacky, but I presume it will be in line with correct Church teaching. Bishop Olmsted has been making it clear that to do otherwise....
...sigh...
Why is it that these immature people (can't bring myself to call them "men") think they deserve special treatment by virtue of the way they have CHOSEN to achieve their orgasms? A dead spiritual life has struck again, and another name added to my prayer list...
"It's like a Jew wearing a Nazi uniform," Walker said. "I could no longer stay in that institution with any amount of integrity."
A Priest who experiences his Priesthood as "wearing the uniform" and comparing it to a "Jew wearing a Nazi uniform"? Clearly over the top. His emotions must be in high gear.
While it is never a cause for rejoicing that a Priest of the Most High God breaks his vows and leaves the Priesthood, in this context it is probably best not only for himself but the whole Church. In this one sense I can respect his decision and be grateful that he is choosing to leave; his being honest about it and leaving on his own accord as opposed to sticking around and misusing his Priesthood to push agendae at variance with constant Catholic teaching.
Of course, most likely he is aware that the latter position would not be tolerated by the new Bishop of Phoenix - which speaks volumes to the wisdom of the new Bishop.
Draw inspiration from St. Faustina. In her diary, she writes about prayer. (Note: black text is Sr. Faustina, red text is message from Christ).
| On one occasion I saw a [priest] in the immediate danger of committing a mortal sin. I started to beg God to deign to send down upon me all the torments of hell and all the sufferings He wished if only this priest would be set free and snatched from occasion of committing a sin. Jesus heard my prayer and, that very instant, I felt a crown of thorns on my head. The thorns penetrated my head with great force right into my brain. this lasted for three hours; the servant of God was set free from this sin, and his soul was strengthened by a special grace of God. (41) |
| Prayer - A soul arms itself by prayer for all kinds of combat. In whatever state the soul may be, it ought to pray. A soul which is pure and beautiful must pray, or else it will lose its beauty; a soul which is striving after this purity must pray, or else it will never attain it; a soul which is newly converted must pray, or else it will fall again; a sinful soul, plunged in sins, must pray so that it might rise again. There is no soul which is not bound to pray, for every single grace comes to the soul through prayer. (146) |
| I recall that I have received most light during adoration which I made lying prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament for half an hour every day throughout Lent. During that time I came to know myself and God more profoundly. And yet, even though I had the superior's permission to do so, I encountered many obstacles to praying in such a way. Let the soul be aware that, in order to pray and persevere in prayer, one must arm oneself with patience and cope bravely with exterior and interior difficulties. The interior difficulties are discouragement, dryness, heaviness of spirit and temptations. The exterior difficulties are human respect and time; one must observe the time set apart for prayer. (147) |
| In the evening, when I entered the small chapel, I heard these words in my soul: My daughter, consider these words: "And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly." When I started to think about them more deeply, much light streamed into my soul. I learned how much we need perseverance in prayer and that our salvation often depends on such great difficulty.(157) |
| I desire that you know more profoundly the love that burns in My Heart for souls, and you will understand this when you meditate upon My Passion. Call upon My mercy on behalf of sinners; I desire their salvation. When you say this prayer, with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give him the grace of conversion. This is the prayer: "O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You." (186 - 187) |
amen
At this "Gay and Lesbian Ministry" do they offer homosexuals help in become free from same sex attraction, I wonder.
Oh, and what was the letter sent to the Franciscans in Assisi?
So sinning does NOT make us sinners?
Priests come, priests go; the people stay.
I pray this prayer numerous times daily. It is one of the most beautiful prayers for mercy I have ever heard.
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