Posted on 10/03/2015 7:16:07 AM PDT by markomalley
Bishops and cardinals from around the world are traveling to the Vatican over the next few days to prepare for the start of the conclusion of the Synod on the Family. So are reporters and activists, but at least one of the latter didn’t need to travel far to give the former a story. A priest at the Vatican got fired after telling a leading Italian newspaper that he was dating another man, and staged a protest to lecture the Synod on homophobia.
AFP didn’t do much better:
But, er, that wasn’t actually the problem here. Emphasis mine:
Charamsa, 43, and a Polish theologian, announced he was gay and had a partner in a long interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper on Saturday.
He later held a news conference with his partner, a Spanish man, and gay activists at a Rome restaurant. They had planned a demonstration in front of the Vatican but changed the venue several hours before it was due to have started. …
In Saturday’s interview, Charamsa said his partner had helped him come to terms with his sexuality and knew he would have to give up the priesthood, although the Vatican statement made no reference to this outcome.
“It’s time for the Church to open its eyes about gay Catholics and to understand that the solution it proposes to them — total abstinence from a life of love — is inhuman,” he was quoted as saying.
Now I know that much of the media has little understanding of Catholic teachings. That’s one of the reasons I went to the opening Extraordinary Synod to report directly on it a year ago. However, I assumed that it was pretty common knowledge even outside of Catholic circles that priests are to remain celibate. Regardless of sexual orientation, a priest who starts dating anyone is going to find himself removed from his ministry as soon as the relationship is discovered. It wouldn’t make any difference if it was “a Spanish man” or Monica Bellucci.
Celibacy does not mean the absence of sexual intercourse for Catholic priests and consecrated. It means the sacrifice of romantic relationships of any kind. Even if this particular relationship remained unconsummated, so to speak, it would still violate the priest’s vows; they are not allowed to “date,” nor are monks, nuns, or even widowed deacons. And regardless of whether the priest worked at the Vatican or in local parish, the bishop would remove him from his ministry for public disobedience to those vows, especially if the priest in question publicly used his dating relationship to attempt to mislead people about Catholic teaching.
So no, the Vatican did not fire the priest for being gay or even publicly acknowledging his orientation. The sexual orientation of priests who adhere faithfully to their vows of celibacy is irrelevant. They fired Charamsa and will probably laicize (defrock) him because he broke his vows of celibacy and obedience, remains defiant of them, and intended to set an example that would mislead Catholics.
In that last effort, Charamsa has accomplices in the media. Again. Still.
Fr Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, revealed exactly why Charamsa was canned if you simply read his statement on the matter carefully:
With regard to the declarations and interview given by Msgr. Krzystof Charamsa it should be observed that, notwithstanding the respect due to the events and personal situations, and reflections on the issue, the decision to make such a pointed statement on the eve of the opening of the Synod appears very serious and irresponsible, since it aims to subject the Synod assembly to undue media pressure. Msgr. Charamsa will certainly be unable to continue to carry out his previous work in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical universities, while the other aspects of his situation shall remain the competence of his diocesan Ordinary.
In plain English, he got canned because he made a provocative statement just before the opening of the Synod. No other reason.
I'm very sorry to disappoint people, but his homosexual inclination had nothing to do with it, nor did his living in a sodomite relationship. His inability to control his mouth was his downfall.
It’s a don’t ask don’t tell situation.
So love=sex? How sad...
And one can’t call that freakish act sex, in truth, if you ask me.
That picture doesn’t need a thousand words. In five words - He’s gay and the catcher. For only being 2% of the world’s population, they’re getting way more than 2% of the headlines. Enough already. Bedrooms have doors so use them.
Wait, the so-called Catholic hierarchy at the Synod can not handle media pressure? Media pressure may affect Catholic teaching?
Looks like they have found their scapegoat when all is said and done.
According to the Left; love is love; however, there are some caveats. Societies' promotion of and privilege granted Marriage is not premised upon the potential of procreative sex that benefits society; but rather, 'love' sex which some hope will one day usher in a social love utopia of orifice equality.
I gather he wanted to be canned. He wants the homosexually-inclined MSM to be printing lots of articles before the Synod, so they’ll take out those pesky abominational homosexual scriptures.
I’m so glad you posted this, because I had the same thought. That’s the one thing this scum said that may cause him degradation.
Let’s keep it simple, the man is a trucebreaker who broke the oaths he made. He was dishonest. He lied and covered it up. That alone makes me not feel that sorry for him or his proclaiming himself a martyr.
The guy is being an attention whore, and seeking to support the enemies of the church, doing this comparably for a nation would properly be considered treason.
Well let’s say it this way, I would like to actually be proven guilty of something to actually get excommunicated or fired from my job.
Somehow I don’t see his and his Spanish lover’s relationship lasting till death does them part. I get a nagging feeling the “Spanish lover” targeted this weakling for this specific purpose, and when its purpose is done, so too is the soon to be former priest.
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