Posted on 12/08/2016 5:37:10 AM PST by Petrosius
December 7, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) A new document from the Vatican's Congregation for Clergy released today reiterates that "those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture'" are not to be admitted to seminaries or be ordained Catholic priests.
In a new 90-page document titled The Gift of the Priestly Vocation, the Congregation for Clergy wrote that those who live the homosexual lifestyle, support the "gay culture," or have "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" "find themselves in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women."
"One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendences," it continues.
The Gift of the Priestly Vocation directly quotes the Congregation for Catholic Education's 2005 document Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders. It stresses that it would be "gravely dishonest" for a man to hide his homosexual inclinations for the sake of seeking ordination and that confessors and spiritual directors "have the duty to dissuade" same-sex attracted candidates "in conscience from proceeding towards ordination."
Lying about one's sexual attractions demonstrates a "deceitful attitude [that] does not correspond to the spirit of truth, loyalty and openness that must characterize the personality of him who believes he is called to serve Christ and His Church in the minsterial priesthood," the document reiterates, again quoting the Congregation for Catholic Education's 2005 Instruction.
If a candidate for the priesthood experienced "homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem" like "that of an adolesence not yet superseded," then such a case would be "different," the document states. Nevertheless, "such tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before the ordination to the diaconate."
"It must be remembered that, in a relationship of sincere dialogue and mutual trust, the seminarian is obliged to reveal to his formators...doubts or difficulties he should have in this regard," The Gift of the Priestly Vocation continues.
Also, "the possibility of a candidate having homosexual tendencies" must be considered when a man is psychologically evaluated for entrance to the seminary. The candidate must have "self-control and a well-integrated sexuality" in order to be suitable.
Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect for the Congregation of Clergy, Congregation Secretary Archbishop Joël Mercier, Secretary for Seminaries Archbishop Jorge Carlos Patron Wong, and Undersecretary Monsignor Antonio Neri all signed the document. Pope Francis approved it.
The media and secular forces have long criticized the Church for its ban on ordaining homosexual men. Since the priestly sex abuse scandals and cover-up by the Church more than a decade ago, Catholic experts like Bill Donohue of the Catholic League have pointed out that the majority of the offending priests were preying upon young boys.
This is the real news here.
A couple of years ago, on board an airplane, Francis uttered his now infamous..."who am I to judge?" statement when asked about homosexuals in the priesthood. He could simply have referred the questioner to the 2005 Instruction on this matter which the present document reiterates. Yet, he didn't.
So what's going on here? Will this be simply another document which says one thing, while in practice......*wink*.....it is completely ignored?
Is Francis attempting to build his credit score with the growing opposition in view of the current dubia crisis? Too much water has gone under the bridge in this pontificate for me not to see Jesuitical manoevering in this.
Looking back, it seems to me that other boys I grew up with having, what you might say, female (or homosexual) tendencies had more empathy than the typical boys. I don’t know how many of these boys became homosexual, but I have always wondered whether they would have made better ministers (or priests) than a typical boy.
I understand that once someone becomes a practicing homosexuals it seems to become very hard for them to control their actions. However, for those that resist going down that path, wouldn’t they make better ministers (or priests) because they understand better other temptations we all face? I have wondered whether that was a reason underlying the Catholic church requirement of celibacy.
How about including pedophile priests on that list.
There goes half of the priesthood.
Since most were/are homosexuals, they are included.
(Ignite media firestorm over rejecting homosexuals to distract from heresy.)
I doubt that this is happening. Please remember that Pope Benedict XVI Emeritus sent inspection teams to all US seminaries to rout out this problem. Since then, vocations seem to be flourishing.
If you want my entire collection of FR posts about this I can supply them.
Yes. A pervert is a pervert. Someone who wants to bugger other men is a pervert, even if he doesn't actually do it.
If someone abstains from sex all their life how does anyone really know if they heterosexual or homosexual?
Even if you don't do either, you know whether you want to bugger men or have intercourse with women.
no..what I meant is, what if they are already priests ?
How will they know that a candidate is homosexual? Many priests were converted in the seminary.
Since most were/are homosexuals, they are included.
Are you for real?! Not every homosexual is a pedophile. Some priests have also molested girls. Pedophiles need to be on the list, period.
I thought this faux pope loved sexual perversion. The real pope (forced into retirement) not so much.
Perhaps they are merely invalidly ordained faux-priests (similar to "womyn-priests" who claim to be priest, but obviously are not). In many cases, they have intentionally ignored and circumvented the "Mind of the Church" in unprincipled pursuit of their own ends.
So what? Not every Muslim is a terrorist.
According to the John Jay Report, over 80% of sex abuse incidents in the US were male-on-male. That is, a cohort which makes up somewhere between 1% to 5% of the general population, was responsible for over 80% of cases.
This was a predominantly homosexual issue. Removing homosexuals from this equation goes a long way to solving the problem.
Hey, Brother Buck! Then you haven’t seen most of my religion posts for the past 5 years.
Yes. First of all, as seminarians and priests they will often be in all-male environments (classes, retreats and so forth), surrounded by attractive men. You don't want to put a homosexually-inclined man in those kinds of tempting circumstances.
Plus, many homosexuals can find it difficult to relate normally to either men or women. That's a negative as far as pastoral effectiveness is concerned.
"If someone abstains from sex all their life how does anyone really know if they heterosexual or homosexual?"
By persistent and often quite powerful feelings of attraction and desire.
I don't know anything about you, of course, but --- assuming, if I may, that you are not a virgin ---- did you not know what sort of person you desired sexually, until your first intercourse?
We had two not-always-chaste homosexual priests in my small Diocese. It seems people “in the know” had more than a hunch what was going on. Our bishop questioned them directly and then suspended both of them permanently from the active priesthood.
Murder marks a man’s soul, yet Moses, who murdered a man out of anger, led a people out of bondage. We deny the power of the Holy Spirit to change a person when we say “once a homo always a homo”....all men sin. Thieves and liars go to hell just like homosexuals, so do adulterers and gluttons and out of control unrepentant drunkards. Would you trust a drunk with young children, or even your older daughters as in the case of Lot? I wouldn’t!
Thanks for your comments.
“did you not know what sort of person you desired sexually, until your first intercourse?”
I know for me but not for thee.
“Plus, many homosexuals can find it difficult to relate normally to either men or women. That’s a negative as far as pastoral effectiveness is concerned.”
If I may stereotype, many homosexuals seem to do well in relating to women in a non-sexual roles such as hairdresser.
“Yes. First of all, as seminarians and priests they will often be in all-male environments (classes, retreats and so forth)”
That is a good point I hadn’t thought about. Perhaps Catholics separate the priests and nuns better than Protestants do with their staff.
I do think God can use men or women with homosexual preferences who abstain from sexual activity. Perhaps priests or nuns are not a good choice.
But --- I say this from admittedly limited but first-hand observation --- I think it would be very hard for a Lesbian-inclined woman to remain chaste in a convent, or a homosexual-inclined man in a monastery or a rectory. Yet like everyone, they need good, strong, abiding spiritual friendships --- they, perhaps more than most.
Their way is hard and we need to be sensitive to that and pray for them.
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