Bishop Gene Robinson Led Retreat for Gay Catholic Priests

[RevDrNorth]

This is not new news but it is new to me and I found it interesting. Seems that Bishop Gene Robinson led a retreat a few years ago for about 75 gay Catholic priests. He advises them *“Among the many suggestions and instructions he gave to the priests in attendance was to tell them, “It’s too dangerous for you to come out as gay to your superiors, but I believe that if you work for the ordination of women in your church, you will go a long way toward opening the door for the acceptance of gay priests.” *

catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=30503

Several sources note the story.

I found it interesting in terms of the occassional resistance to Benedict XVI in some quarters of the Catholic Church. I think it is important as the Catholic Church looks around at some of the denominations today that have taken a detour from biblical Christianity that they ensure that they hold fast to the faith. For example, the requirement for the Mandatum in Catholic universities should not be disguarded. I pray that the church ensures that it avoids the trap of giving in to cultural pressures (what Gene Robinson seems to advocate is to chip away at this slowly).

The church has a rich and impressive history of advocating for ethical and moral issues. No more so than in the area of the dignity of life (issues ranging from Natural Family Planning through Euthanasia).

 

[Irish_Polock]

This is not new news but it is new to me and I found it interesting. Seems that Bishop Gene Robinson led a retreat a few years ago for about 75 gay Catholic priests. He advises them *“Among the many suggestions and instructions he gave to the priests in attendance was to tell them, “It’s too dangerous for you to come out as gay to your superiors, but I believe that if you work for the ordination of women in your church, you will go a long way toward opening the door for the acceptance of gay priests.” *

catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=30503

Several sources note the story.

I found it interesting in terms of the occassional resistance to Benedict XVI in some quarters of the Catholic Church. I think it is important as the Catholic Church looks around at some of the denominations today that have taken a detour from biblical Christianity that they ensure that they hold fast to the faith. For example, the requirement for the Mandatum in Catholic universities should not be disguarded. I pray that the church ensures that it avoids the trap of giving in to cultural pressures (what Gene Robinson seems to advocate is to chip away at this slowly).

The church has a rich and impressive history of advocating for ethical and moral issues. No more so than in the area of the dignity of life (issues ranging from Natural Family Planning through Euthanasia).

I wouldn’t bet the farm on the words of the Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson has to say. It is obvious that his Bishopric status was the root of the Episcopalian’s uncertain demise.

 

[Anselm1970]

If the Catholic church did open up and let women become priests that would open the door for a downward spiral. Look at what happened to the Episcopal church in the USA as a example.

 

[RevDrNorth]

Yes, I think God has raised Benedict the XVI up for such a time as this. Just amazing what God does. Benedict has been a powerful witness. Certainly, the injection into the Catholic Church of traditionalist Anglicans will be a gift of BXVI to Anglicans and to the church.

It would be great to see a Catholic revival breakout with the church bearing witness to the world in a strong and loving way to the Christian faith. If I recall correctly, the Holy Father has advocated a type of evangelism in Europe and elsewhere.

 

[Dale_M]

Sheesh, no wonder he retired. Its not as if he didn’t have enough problems in his own denomination without trying to muck around with the Catholic Church.

 

[hxcCatholic413]

why would these 75 Catholic priests even choose to go on a retreat with him in the first place?

 

[RevDrNorth]

why would these 75 Catholic priests even choose to go on a retreat with him in the first place?

Unfortunately, because there are Catholic priests who believe in Bishop Robinson’s goals. There was an article I read at the Bishops Accountability site where gay Catholic priests were interviewed (the article was written independenly and looks like it is from the Advocate magazine). One was a former priest who is gay and a professor at Notre Dame (Ed Ingebretsen who criticized Arinze’s visit). It was a couple of the others that cracked me up. One complained because he and another male priest were not well received but in a relationship. Another because he and some other priests had some sort of on line discussion site and it had been “was infiltrated by a conservative right-winger" According to the article the priest was upset (even though exchanging inappropriate pictures was going on). He stated, “I was incredibly angry. Now I just feel an enormous pool of sadness at the way the church treats gay priests.” Despite his hard times, he insists, “I always knew this is what I should be doing. Even when the church seemed to have forsaken me, God was always by my side.”
bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/timeline/2002-07-23-Dahir-DangerousLives.htm

In any case, this undercurrent is why it is important for Benedict to continue to push the orthodox biblical agenda he has and stregthen those faithful to the teachings of the church. Priests (gay or straight) should be faithful to their vows. I recall a 60 Minutes program (as best I can) where a gay priest reported a superior who was harrassing him sexually. The priest was upset because though he was gay in terms of orientation he believed in the vows he had taken (ie called to live a chaste life). Henri Nouwen was such as priest (in terms of that fact that he was gay but living chaste life). That is more honorable than attempting to undermine the church or its teachings. Truly, Bishop Robinson has no business sticking his nose into the Catholic church by encouraging priests to in anyway go against the Catholic Church’s teaching. Catholic Priests are called to uphold the teaching of the church and instruct others to do so.

 

[Nine_Two]

I was under the impression that the Catholic Church accepted gays as priests as long as they were celibate, which is also a requirement of straight priests.

Don’t they take vows of celibacy?

 

[Dale_M]

I was under the impression that the Catholic Church accepted gays as priests as long as they were celibate, which is also a requirement of straight priests.

In 2005, the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education issued its long awaited 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 . The document was approved by Pope Benedict.

After mentioning the Catholic Church’s opposition of homosexual activity, but also its opposition to unjust treatment of homosexuals, the document states:

In the light of such teaching, this Dicastery, in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question[9], cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called “gay culture”[10].

Such persons, in fact, 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 tendencies.

Different, however, would be the case in which one were dealing with homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem - for example, that of an adolescence not yet superseded. Nevertheless, such tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate.

Some people say there is wiggle room in there which allows for priests who don’t identify as gay, even if they have momentary homosexual urges which they do not act on. Others say it is more strict than that. But to me it seems pretty clear that the document does not allow Catholic priests to openly identify as gay or to support gay rights proposals such as same-sex civil marriage.

 

[JonNC]

If the Catholic church did open up and let women become priests that would open the door for a downward spiral. Look at what happened to the Episcopal church in the USA as a example.

Example 2: ELCA

Jon

 

[BlankFace]

Catholics sin, simple as that. And that goes from the laity all the way up to the pope! I actually think the Catholic view of Homosexuality is the most reasonable, without contradicting the bible.

If your gay, you have some intrinsic disorder. Maybe you WERE born with natural attraction to the same sex, but if you want to serve God than you repress your sexual urges. It’s not the orientation but the action that’s a sin. I’m a liberal person and it’s difficult for me to accept this, but the Catholic church remains strong on this doctrine and I suppose I must as well if I want to get closer to God.

Faith is Hard.

 

[Dave_Noonan]

Example 2: ELCA

Jon

Actually, some U.S. church bodies that don’t ordain women (e.g., Southern Baptist Convention, LCMS) are posting declines as well, so I’d say the correlation to womens’ ordination isn’t entirely clear. In absolutely numbers, the biggest decline in membership in 2009 was in the Roman Catholic Church, which does not ordain women.

 

[Mikeoffaith]

Example 2: ELCA

Jon

That wasn’t terribly charitable Jon. I am sure there is more than one member of WELS that would be more than happy to point out that the LCMS is going to hell in a hand basket for allowing women to vote and hold office.

 

[gamewell45]

If the Catholic church did open up and let women become priests that would open the door for a downward spiral. Look at what happened to the Episcopal church in the USA as a example.

I wouldn’t use “downward spiral”, rather I think its more accurate to say that The Catholic Church would be evolving, though not in the direction as some would like.

As to the Episcopal Church I believe it will be around long after we are all gone. When the dust settles, those who want to leave will have left and those who remain will be the faithful who attend church in addition to those who join our parishes.

 

[Musicadmirer]

I wouldn’t use “downward spiral”, rather I think its more accurate to say that The Catholic Church would be evolving, though not in the direction as some would like.

Most, if not all of the women who dare to aspire to become priests are homosexuals. Don’t need data, I’ve seen enough of their photos to know. Downward spiral would thus be an accurate description if such an abomination was ever allowed in the Catholic Church.

 

[WetCatechumen]

Most, if not all of the women who dare to aspire to become priests are homosexuals. Don’t need data, I’ve seen enough of their photos to know. Downward spiral would thus be an accurate description if such an abomination was ever allowed in the Catholic Church.

Um . . . that’s not a nice thing to say. I’m against women being priests. I think the organizations that support it are horrid. Their liturgies are not reverent. They completely lose their Catholicity, but, to say that they’re by far majority lesbian in uncharitable, in addition to being an unfounded accusation.

 

[gamewell45]

Most, if not all of the women who dare to aspire to become priests are homosexuals. Don’t need data, I’ve seen enough of their photos to know. Downward spiral would thus be an accurate description if such an abomination was ever allowed in the Catholic Church.

Tell me, how does one pick out homosexuals based on a picture? What do you look for?

 

[Musicadmirer]

Tell me, how does one pick out homosexuals based on a picture? What do you look for?

Women that try to appear masculine. And I’ve seen many such females that want to become priests. In addition to appearance, the articles that usually accompany the pictures mention sexual orientation.

 

[Sufjon]

This is not new news but it is new to me and I found it interesting. Seems that Bishop Gene Robinson led a retreat a few years ago for about 75 gay Catholic priests. He advises them *“Among the many suggestions and instructions he gave to the priests in attendance was to tell them, “It’s too dangerous for you to come out as gay to your superiors, but I believe that if you work for the ordination of women in your church, you will go a long way toward opening the door for the acceptance of gay priests.” *

catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=30503

Several sources note the story.

I found it interesting in terms of the occassional resistance to Benedict XVI in some quarters of the Catholic Church. I think it is important as the Catholic Church looks around at some of the denominations today that have taken a detour from biblical Christianity that they ensure that they hold fast to the faith. For example, the requirement for the Mandatum in Catholic universities should not be disguarded. I pray that the church ensures that it avoids the trap of giving in to cultural pressures (what Gene Robinson seems to advocate is to chip away at this slowly).

The church has a rich and impressive history of advocating for ethical and moral issues. No more so than in the area of the dignity of life (issues ranging from Natural Family Planning through Euthanasia).

If priests are celibate, what would it matter if they were gay or straight? One is then either a gay celibate or a straight celibate. Neither is ostensibly acting out their sexuality with others. If this is the case, then wouldn’t sexual orientation be superfluous and gay priests and nuns should be able to say “I am a gay priest or nun” or “I am a heterosexual priest or nun” ? To whom does it matter? If gay priests and nuns were prohibited and then submitted to polygraphs, what do we suppose the numbers of the ranks of the clergy would then be? There are probably lots of gay priests and nuns. So what? They are assumed to be celibate anyway. There are all sorts of people in this world, just trying to do their best. When we scoff at them, we are not doing our best.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[Dale_M]

Hi Sufjon,

If priests are celibate, what would it matter if they were gay or straight? One is then either a gay celibate or a straight celibate. Neither is ostensibly acting out their sexuality with others.

Yes, the sexual impulses of a priest are to be under control so that they do not affect his interactions with others.

If this is the case, then wouldn’t sexual orientation be superfluous and gay priests and nuns should be able to say “I am a gay priest or nun” or “I am a heterosexual priest or nun” ? To whom does it matter?

It matters to the Catholic Church because it runs counter to Catholic teaching. Homosexual activity is not to be encouraged and any normalizing of acceptability of gay identity is to be discouraged. According to Church, thinking homosexual impulses are not blameworthy, but they are not the basis for a self-identity.

Here is the 2005 Vatican document, signed by Pope Benedict, which addresses homosexuality among priests.

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

In the light of such teaching, this Dicastery, in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question[9], cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called “gay culture”[10].

Such persons, in fact, 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 tendencies.

Different, however, would be the case in which one were dealing with homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem - for example, that of an adolescence not yet superseded. Nevertheless, such tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20051104_istruzione_en.html