[BunnySlippers]

I totally agree. I back a celibate clergy.

How do you get rid of the gays? And, the priesthood has dwindled to a trickle. It will get much, much smaller.

[GCC Catholic]

Sorry for such a long wait... I went to sleep for the night right after my last post. I'll answer the two of you together, since what you're asking is related.

How do you get rid of the gays?

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The first is what sort of methods the church uses to screen out unfit men.

The "screening" process is rather extensive today (though in the past it hasn't been). Upon applying to a diocese, a man goes through interviews, needs letters of recommendation from clergy and from other people, and takes an extensive psychological examination. Once in seminary (which is usually between 6 and 8 years total), seminary formators have the opportunity to examine the man is his interactions with others; he is evaluated yearly, for many of these years he is evaluated with faculty, self, and peer evaluations. His interactions during pastoral work are evaluated and reported back to the seminary/diocese. If problems arise, they are addressed - be that through the seminarian working with a formator, working with a psychologist (if the situation warrants it), taking a pastoral formation year, or being asked to leave the formation program entirely.

It's not a perfect system, and not every diocese and seminary implements it perfectly, but I think it does a pretty thorough job of sifting out unfit candidates.