Catholic bishop argues against gay priests

Modesto Bee ^ | 09/19/02 | RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer

[Polycarp]

NEW YORK (AP) - A staff member of an influential Vatican office has published an article arguing that gays should not be ordained as priests in the wake of the clerical sex abuse scandal.

If a man is gay, "then he should not be admitted to holy orders, and his presence in the seminary would not only give him false hope but it may, in fact, hinder" the therapy he needs, Monsignor Andrew Baker of the Congregation of Bishops wrote.

[Polycarp]

Finally, some common sense bubbling to the top...

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Catholic bishop argues against gay priests

CAT FIGHT!

[Cagey]

This morning Baker was a Monsignor and now he's a Bishop. Wow.

[Saundra Duffy]

PING

[Antoninus]

File this under, "Duh!" The idea that it is reasonable to ordain a man a priest when he manifests homosexual tendencies is so ludicrous that I imagine future generations will laugh at us for even entertaining the idea.

[Barnacle]

We are emerging from the "Modern Dark Ages".

[RAT Patrol]

Common sense is so refreshing.

[ikka]

Most of the victims of molestation by priests have been adolescent boys. Experts on sex offenders say there is no credible evidence that homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to abuse children, but several church leaders have concluded that gay clergy are to blame for the scandal that has plagued the American church this year

Umm, the boys in quetion were post-puberty, ie, physically they could better be classed as young men. Thus the priests involved were by definition homosexuals.

[MEGoody]

I would think a person who is planning to be a priest would not identify themselves as either gay or straight, but celibate. After all, that is the life he is claiming to desire.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Monsignor Andrew Baker of the Congregation of Bishops wrote.

Baker is still a Monsignor. The headline editor at the Modesto Bee either can't read, didn't read or made a mistake.

[Desdemona]

[Baker] also said gays "may be more familiar with certain patterns and techniques of deception and repression" as they learned to survive in a predominantly heterosexual world, hurting their spiritual development.

Worth emphasizing over and over and over...

[tomball]

Hallelujah!

[Barnacle]

CAT FIGHT!

This apparent attempt at humor eludes me. Do you care to elaborate?

[redhead]

"[Baker] also said gays "may be more familiar with certain patterns and techniques of deception and repression" "

ok. Emphasizing again...

[eastsider]

Reached by phone in Rome, Baker would not immediately say whether his superiors reviewed or approved the article before it was printed in the Jesuit magazine America due out Monday.... Baker is a priest of the Diocese of Allentown, Pa. ...

This would seem to be a good opportunity to let Msgr. Baker's bishop know that we approve.

The Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, D.D.
The Diocese of Allentown
4029 W. Tilghman St.
P.O. Box F
Allentown, PA 18105-1538

Phone: 610-437-0755
Fax: 610-433-7822
E-Mail

[Red Jones]

bump

[saradippity]

I bet the next few issues of America's "Letters to the Editor" will very interesting reads. The last time America started to slip into Catholicism their poor editor was removed post haste.IMO.(I am sure they would deny it.)