Bishop Morlino: 'Homosexual subculture' is source of 'devastation' in the Church

[_Abyssinia]

Madison, Wis., Aug 18, 2018 / 02:21 pm ([CNA](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/)).- In response to recent sexual abuse crises, the Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin, has said that the Catholic Church must renew its conviction to identify and reject sin, and admit that a homosexual culture among some clerics has caused great harm in the Church.
The bishop also called Catholics to join him in offering acts of reparation for the sins of sexual immorality among Catholic deacons, priests, and bishops.

“For too long we have diminished the reality of sin — we have refused to call a sin a sin — and we have excused sin in the name of a mistaken notion of mercy. In our efforts to be open to the world we have become all too willing to abandon the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In order to avoid causing offense we offer to ourselves and to others niceties and human consolation,” wrote Bishop Robert Morlino in a pastoral letter released Aug. 18.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/...ure-source-of-devastation-in-the-church-54040

 

[Cathoholic]

Thanks for posting this _Abyssinia.

We need to listen to our bishops when they give warnings such as this. (You know that but I reaffirm it because of lurkers here).

The bishop was particularly candid in his assessment of the cause of those problems: “In the specific situations at hand, we are talking about deviant sexual — almost exclusively homosexual — acts by clerics. We’re also talking about homosexual propositions and abuses against seminarians and young priests by powerful priests, bishops, and cardinals.

Thank you for your candid honesty and God bless you Bishop Morlino.

Cathoholic

 

[abucs]

“For too long we have diminished the reality of sin — we have refused to call a sin a sin — and we have excused sin in the name of a mistaken notion of mercy. In our efforts to be open to the world we have become all too willing to abandon the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In order to avoid causing offense we offer to ourselves and to others niceties and human consolation,”

Of course there are always different views and different emphasis but this does speak loudly to me.

 

[Shakuhachi]

The Church’s teaching is clear that the homosexual inclination is not in itself sinful, but it is intrinsically disordered in a way that renders any man stably afflicted by it unfit to be a priest,” he added.

“Stably afflicted”? That could be aa much as half the number of priest. Only God knows the true percentage.

 

[FirstFiveEighth]

You truly think that 50% or more of Priests are gay? That is a pretty big accusation.

 

[Mark121359]

…the Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin, has said that the Catholic Church must renew its conviction to identify and reject sin, and admit that a homosexual culture among some clerics has caused great harm in the Church.

Don’t think for a moment, that a certain high profile priest who promotes the LGBTQ agenda and lifestyle isn’t having a huge impact on how many Catholics, including those in the hierarchy, view homosexuality today. And the fact that the Vatican promotes him, and has even invited him to speak as keynote speaker at the World Meeting of Families 2018 is particularly troubling to me. Some strange times we find ourselves in.

 

[Shakuhachi]

Don’t think anyone knows but: The John Jay Report suggested that “homosexual men entered the seminaries in noticeable numbers from the late 1970s through the 1980s”, and available figures for homosexual priests in the United States range from 15–58%."

Homosexual clergy in the Catholic Church - Wikipedia

As a former seminarian it seemed like at least 40%. If anyone has more recent estimates please share.

 

[Cathoholic]

A slightly larger excerpt from Bishop Morlino and the Catholic News Service . . . .

The bishop was particularly candid in his assessment of the cause of those problems: “In the specific situations at hand, we are talking about deviant sexual — almost exclusively homosexual — acts by clerics. We’re also talking about homosexual propositions and abuses against seminarians and young priests by powerful priests, bishops, and cardinals. We are talking about acts and actions which are not only in violation of the sacred promises made by some, in short, sacrilege, but also are in violation of the natural moral law for all. To call it anything else would be deceitful and would only ignore the problem further.”

“There has been a great deal of effort to keep separate acts which fall under the category of now-culturally-acceptable acts of homosexuality from the publically-deplorable acts of pedophilia. That is to say, until recently the problems of the Church have been painted purely as problems of pedophilia — this despite clear evidence to the contrary,” he added.

“It is time to be honest that the problems are both and they are more. To fall into the trap of parsing problems according to what society might find acceptable or unacceptable is ignoring the fact that the Church has never held ANY of it to be acceptable — neither the abuse of children, nor any use of one’s sexuality outside of the marital relationship, nor the sin of sodomy, nor the entering of clerics into intimate sexual relationships at all, nor the abuse and coercion by those with authority,” he wrote.

Morlino said that McCarrick was guilty of abusing power “for the sake of homosexual gratification.”

“It is time to admit that there is a homosexual subculture within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church that is wreaking great devastation in the vineyard of the Lord. The Church’s teaching is clear that the homosexual inclination is not in itself sinful, but it is intrinsically disordered in a way that renders any man stably afflicted by it unfit to be a priest,” he added.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/...ure-source-of-devastation-in-the-church-54040

An astonishing asessment considering this is coming from one of our Bishops!

 

[tseleehw]

Thanks for posting. I have seen numerous attempts by others, including the Pope, to brush off these abuses as mere “clericalism”, as if homosexual desire has nothing to do with it. This delusional attempt at avoiding the true cause of these crimes will only lead to these abuses recurring in the future.

 

[FollowChrist34]

This is a very frank, good letter by someone who wants to fix this - St Athanasius style. I wish these folks well.

 

[Cathoholic]

African cardinal: abuse scandal ‘rocking’ Church is caused by ‘same sex activity’​

Lisa Bourne 22 Aug 2018 LifeSiteNews

DURBAN, South Africa, August 22, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – South African Cardinal Wilfrid Napier identified the role homosexual activity has played in the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis on Twitter Tuesday.

Responding to an online news report saying that a high court may force all of South Africa’s churches to allow same-sex unions, the cardinal said this is “precisely” the same activity as with the scandal that is “rocking the Catholic Church to its roots.”

And he went on to further say that forsaking God’s law always leads to anguish.

“This morning’s newspaper headline: “Churches may have to allow same sex unions” clearly misses the point that it is precisely same sex activity that is the scandal rocking the Catholic Church to its roots” Cardinal Napier tweeted. “Deviation from God’s law always brings grief. Lord forgive us sinners!” . . .

. . . the overwhelming majority of abuse victims were male and also older than the age classification for pedophilia.

Anger persists among the laity, with calls for action from the bishops and Pope Francis, who, as Roman Pontiff, has sole authority to discipline bishops and cardinals. . . .

African cardinal: abuse scandal ‘rocking’ Church is caused by ‘same sex activity’ - LifeSite

We must ‘eradicate’ Church’s gay networks to fight sex abuse: moral theologian - LifeSite

 

[dumbox]

I’m so glad that some cardinals and bishops and solid lay people are finally speaking the truth.

The pope is on record, recently, affirming the Church’s teaching and the unsuitability of s/s for the seminaries.

I sense a big branch (s/s believers) of the Church is falling off the tree. Sad, but perhaps very necessary.

 

[Nichole]

Well good for him, at least some bishop is trying to do something about this crisis. I dont entirely agree with the way he is doing it, but at least he is doing something.

 

[goout]

What he says is true, but he still does not fully get it.

The problem is a disordered and entrenched power that has strayed from faithful servant leadership. It’s not just that people want to have disordered sex, it’s the disordered culture and power structure that allows it.

Sad to say, he is part of that. Whether he is culplable for specific sins or not, he is part of that culture.

 

[fin]

Thank God for Bishop Morlino, and in saying that homosexuality is the main problem.

 

[justanokdude]

When I read articles like this (which I agree with) it always brings to mind how the same people who feel so strongly about speaking out about this issue and are quick to use lines such as:

clearly stating that homosexual activity is immoral. and against natural law.

How we need to speak out and correct their disordered behavior that is a departure from the Church’s teaching, or how keeping silent about it, in an effort to be pastoral is neither caring nor pastoral,

But they tend to be silent about divorce. Explaining why we need to comfort all divorced, not just the abandoned spouse who tried to live within Church teaching.

It is striking how similar the language used is to what the Catechism uses for divorce.

2384 Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law.

2385 Divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and into society. This
disorder brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a plague on society.

Have they ever told one who files for divorce they need to reconcile?

Why don’t they treat an act that God Himself says He hates in the same manner? Jesus, when confronted with Mose’s exception, said how it had been from the beginning. Jesus never agreed with Moses. He explained hardness of hearts. He said it was not OK.

Ironic how so much effort is being put into comforting the divorced and remarried, in opposition to Church teaching and the fruit of the immoral act of divorce, when so much effort to keep the Church in line with its teaching when the homosexual issues being raised. Isn’t immoral always immoral? Disordered always disordered (see above, it is in there for divorce).

When one sees the outrage for one issue and not the other it shows even those who claim to be trying to uphold Church teaching on the homosexual issue are guilty of ignoring what God calls the same type of act when confronted with divorce. Know any divorce EMHC? No one says a word.
Just as we expend effort to stop homosexuality aren’t we called to do the same to divorce? Compare the efforts on keep marriages together to those that comfort the divorced and divorced and remarried. Pastoral?

Can one continue in mortal sin (grave matter for the one filing without just cause as listed in Canon Law) and be forgiven in the confessional? Are they willing to reconcile? Are they happy they divorced and would do it again? If you continue to partake in homosexual acts you can’t be forgiven.

Did they both lie to the Priest saying they repented and would return to living according to God’s plan. How is that different than a person filing for divorce because of a selfish reason, (mortal sin) who would never go back to the marriage even if their spouse (what the Church expects see Canon Law) is willing?

They both choose to live in a way that is not in keeping with Church teaching and refuse to repent and return to what the Church teaches.

Funny how the language of the Church on both situations is almost the same… yet our actions… much different.

 

[Cathoholic]

justanokdude . . .

But they tend to be silent about divorce.

WHO are you talking about here?

Because I have been on many CAF threads defending the indissolubility of marriage over the years.

Also MANY folks here on CAF get in and battle ideas on behalf of marriage too.

We have defended marriage and its indissolubility despite insults and false caricatures about us and our posts, yet toil on defending marriage.

.

So I am not sure who you are alluding to here.

 

[justanokdude]

Your response proves my point. Those speaking on the priest crisis don’t give their thoughts on chastity and the good of being chaste. They discuss the sin… and the person who is carrying out the sin.

They mention the defending marriage bond… not the one who divorces and causes the damage. You ignore the person who is the one causing the damage to marriage and speak of the good of the teaching. That is not the way people speak about the homosexual issues…no mention of the good of chastity as a general norm for the church.

I merely pointed out how both issues are grave sin. With homosexuality those who defend church teaching go right at the sinners and those who defend them. With divorce those who consider themselves defenders of Church teaching, as you do and as your example above illustrates so well, choose to shift the level to a discussion of the good of the teaching alone. When is the last time you have seen someone tell a Catholic that filed for divorce for selfish reasons that they have sinned and need to reconcile? That they need to change their ways and get back in step with the Church unless in danger (dangerous situations are a separate issue and handled in Canon Law)? Instead, as you have above, the conversation on divorce ignores the sin and sinner and speaks of the indissolubility of marriage. No one gets offended. When is the last time you heard anyone say that a person who filed for divorce for selfish reasons and would do the same thing again should not be receiving the Eucharist (because they are not repenting and repairing the damage if possible… they plan to continue to act against Church teaching)? No Catholic can say they did not understand marriage was not able to be broken by a man… it is in the vows they spoke and in the vows they heard from their spouse… in the Nuptial Blessing too. Still not a word. Focus is on comforting both parties in divorce as if God understands means God would allow them to divorce… no matter what Jesus Himself said. Thanks for giving an example of exactly what I was alluding to.

 

[Cathoholic]

justanokdude . . .

Those speaking on the priest crisis don’t give their thoughts on chastity and the good of being chaste.

. . . no mention of the good of chastity as a general norm for the church.

To the readers here. This is phony.

justanokdude is making irresponsible generalizations against Catholics here.

This guy (gal?) has been a CAF member for about 24 hours and has three measly posts, two of them (here) carping about Catholics.

This is utter non-sense.

MANY good Catholics here on CAF support higher callings, spoken of sins against marriage, admonishing the sinner in mercy (right here for example), etc. MANY.

. . . . But the Lord ALSO calls some individuals to a celibate state too (This is also morality in the subjective order concerning that “individual”).

But consecrated celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom is objectively speaking, a higher calling. (This is morality in the objective order)

What Is So Special About Consecrated Virginity?

The point that makes Consecrated Virginity so special is that it is such a high calling.

The married life is a high calling too, but with Virginity you are already entering into a heavenly existence now in this sense .

It is a GIFT. It is not something somebody works up to on their own. They choose to follow this grace to be sure, but a grace it is.

Consecrated Virginity is more “toward Heaven” already on this earth.

MATTHEW 22:30a (DRV) For in the resurrection they shall neither marry nor be married . . .

Here is the CCC you cited . . .

CCC 1579 All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven."70 Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to "the affairs of the Lord,"71 they give themselves entirely to God and to men. Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church’s minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God.72

. . . . In the Mass, we see special veneration given to three different states in life. Virgins, Confessors, and Martyrs. Revelation 14 probably refers to Priests who are virgins (men who have “made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven”—c.f. Matthew 19:12)

“Chaste” in Revelation 14:4 = “parthenos" = “virgins” . . .

REVELATION 14:4 (New Jerusalem Bible) These are the sons who have kept their virginity and not been defiled with women; they follow the Lamb wherever he goes ; they, out of all people, have been redeemed to be the first-fruits for God and for the Lamb.

CCC 1618 Christ is the center of all Christian life. The bond with him takes precedence over all other bonds . . .

You Don't Need to be Celibate to "Love God with an Undivided Heart" Liturgy and Sacraments

If God calls you to marriage, then you need to get married to love the Lord in the best way possible DavidGonzalez. (This is morality in the subjective order) But the Lord ALSO calls some individuals to a celibate state too (This is also morality in the subjective order concerning that “individual”). But consecrated celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom is objectively speaking, a higher calling. (This is morality in the objective order) What Is So Special About Consecrated Virginity? The po…

 

[JulianN]

I believe @justanokdude is another poster who has many threads on his personal disappointment with the Church’s refusal to approach his ex-wife and demand that she cease receiving Communion.