Sunday, May 01, 2005

Vatican review of seminaries to raise issue of gay priests

A Vatican evaluation of American seminaries planned three years ago in response to the clergy sex-abuse crisis is expected to move forward under Pope Benedict XVI and will likely tackle the polarizing issue of whether gays should become priests.

The appraisal will focus on conditions in the seminaries, including how instructors present church teaching on sexuality and celibacy, to look for anything that contributed to the scandal.
...
The Rev. James Martin of the Jesuit magazine America says four Vatican sources had told him that, under Pope John Paul, the Vatican was about to issue a decree placing severe restrictions or an outright ban on seminarians who acknowledge being gay, even if they are celibate.
The Church regards homosexuality as fundamentally disordered...

Advancement to religious vows and ordination should be barred to those who are afflicted with evil tendencies to homosexuality or pederasty, since for them the common life and the priestly ministry would constitute serious dangers.
Sam Sinnett, national president of DignityUSA, which represents gay and lesbian Catholics, said he was worried the seminary review and new enrollment standards could result in a "witch hunt" against gays, despite their contributions in parishes and elsewhere.
Dignity USA is an anti-Catholic organization and it promotes sinful behavior.

Source.

No comments: