Can a gay man be a priest if he remains celibate?

[Mannyfit75]

A fallen catholic at work who is an active gay said the new Pope recently instituted that gays cannot be a Priest.

Is this true?

I would say it is true. Because of the sex abuse scandals the Vatican has issue a guideline that disallow homosexual men from becoming priests. Men discerning the priesthood will be psychologically evaluated and screen. The guideline was made in response to the recent sex scandal.

Since I am discerning the priesthood, I will let you what document it is. I personally don’t think that gays should be priest (coming from a military background). To think that someone may have some attraction towards me is rather disgusting especially since studying theology is the reason for becoming a priest.

 

[Mannyfit75]

The document that bans gay from becoming priest is called The guidelines, “Instruction Concerning The Criteria of Vocational Discernment Regarding Persons With Homosexual Tendencies In View Of Their Admission To Seminaries And Holy Orders”, were drafted by the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education and approved by Pope Benedict on 31 August.

The document states,

The Vatican document describes homosexual acts as “grave sins” that cannot be justified under any circumstances.

“If a candidate practises homosexuality, or presents deep-seated homosexual tendencies, his **spiritual director as well as his confessor have the duty to dissuade him **in conscience from proceeding towards ordination,” it says.

“Such persons in fact find themselves in a situation that presents a grave obstacle to a correct relationship with men and women.”

But the paper also stresses the Church’s deep respect for homosexuals, who, it says, should by no means be discriminated against.

link: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4480588.stm

On the article it said, Homosexuals had already been barred from priesthood in a 1961 document.

 

[goofyjim]

There are those in the Church approved ministry called Courage who would love to be priests and are for all intents and purposes living according to Church teaching. I feel it is unfair to forbid them because they can be the future priests who minister to future Courage members. If one does not understand what they go through they can possibly minister to them on an unjudgemental basis.

 

[Mannyfit75]

There are those in the Church approved ministry called Courage who would love to be priests and are for all intents and purposes living according to Church teaching. I feel it is unfair to forbid them because they can be the future priests who minister to future Courage members. If one does not understand what they go through they can possibly minister to them on an unjudgemental basis.

Since 1961, gay priest have been banned. Anyone who professes otherwise find himself in odds with Canon Law.

 

[goofyjim]

Since 1961, gay priest have been banned. Anyone who professes otherwise find himself in odds with Canon Law.

Those in Courage are not gay. They have same sex attraction. They will always be around and to expect perfect priests to minister to them is ridiculous. We have to allow some in who will understand the pain they go through, not simply condemn them for something that isn’t their fault.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Those in Courage are not gay. They have same sex attraction. They will always be around and to expect perfect priests to minister to them is ridiculous. We have to allow some in who will understand the pain they go through, not simply condemn them for something that isn’t their fault.

Have you not read what I wrote?

Since 1961, gay priest have been banned. Anyone who professes otherwise find himself in odds with Canon Law.

 

[goofyjim]

Have you not read what I wrote?

Since 1961, gay priest have been banned. Anyone who professes otherwise find himself in odds with Canon Law.

And have you not read what I wrote? These men in Courage do not profess to be gay. Why can’t they be priests and study theology like anyone else?

 

[lukewarm]

Those in Courage are not gay. They have same sex attraction. They will always be around and to expect perfect priests to minister to them is ridiculous. We have to allow some in who will understand the pain they go through, not simply condemn them for something that isn’t their fault.

What a bunch of nonsense, do we need to allow murders, adulterers, fornicators, thieves, liars, and rapists into the priesthood just so they can “understand the pain they go through”? A man chooses to be gay, just like a child molestor chooses to be a child molester, they let their warped lusts pervert their very being. It isn’t God’s fault that Tom likes Steve, it’s Tom’s fault. St. Paul stated it clearly.

 

[drpmjhess]

Celibacy can be defined as either it isn’t misusing the term at all.

And I can define “up” as “down” if I choose to.

Latin caelibatus, from caelib-, caelebs unmarried.

 

[goofyjim]

What a bunch of nonsense, do we need to allow murders, adulterers, fornicators, thieves, liars, and rapists into the priesthood just so they can “understand the pain they go through”? A man chooses to be gay, just like a child molestor chooses to be a child molester, they let their warped lusts pervert their very being. It isn’t God’s fault that Tom likes Steve, it’s Tom’s fault. St. Paul stated it clearly.

Very uncharitable. Noone chooses same sex attraction.

 

[Mannyfit75]

And have you not read what I wrote? These men in Courage do not profess to be gay. Why can’t they be priests and study theology like anyone else?

Because the Vatican said so.

Here is the copy of that document:

cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=40891

Some excerpts:

From Vatican II until today, several documents of the Magisterium—and especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church— have confirmed the teaching of the Church on homosexuality. The Catechism differentiates between homosexual acts and homosexual tendencies.

Regarding acts, it teaches that, in Sacred Scripture, these are presented as grave sins. Tradition has constantly considered them to be intrinsically immoral and contrary to natural law. These, consequently, may not be approved in any case.

Concerning profoundly deep-rooted homosexual tendencies, that one discovers in a certain number of men and women, these are also objectively disordered and often constitute a trial, even for these men and women. These people must be received with respect and delicacy; one will avoid every mark of unjust discrimination with respect to them. These are called to realize the will of God in their lives and to unite to the Sacrifice of the Lord the difficulties that they may encounter.

In light of this teaching, this department, in agreement with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, holds it necessary clearly to affirm that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, may not admit to the seminary and Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, show profoundly deep-rooted homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture.

The above persons find themselves, in fact, in a situation that gravely obstructs a right way of relating with men and women. The negative consequences that may derive from the Ordination of persons with profoundly deep-rooted homosexual tendencies are by no means to by ignored.

If, however, one is dealing with homosexual tendencies that may be simply the expression of a transitory problem, such as for example an adolescence not yet complete, such tendencies must be overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate.

 

[drpmjhess]

What a bunch of nonsense, do we need to allow murders, adulterers, fornicators, thieves, liars, and rapists into the priesthood just so they can “understand the pain they go through”? A man chooses to be gay, just like a child molestor chooses to be a child molester, they let their warped lusts pervert their very being. It isn’t God’s fault that Tom likes Steve, it’s Tom’s fault. St. Paul stated it clearly.

This is hemorrhaging ignorance! Have you ever spoken to a gay man? Gotten to know one? Had a conversation about what his experience was coming to terms with his own sexual orientation? Learned how he understands himself as a homosexual and a faithful Catholic?

Thank goodness the priests in our cviliized parish ignore this claptrap, or we’d have only one priest and no choir director!

 

[goofyjim]

Once again charity disappears on a thread. I really don’t know why I stick around here at all.

 

[goofyjim]

This is hemorrhaging ignorance! Have you ever spoken to a gay man? Gotten to know one? Had a conversation about what his experience was coming to terms with his own sexual orientation? Learned how he understands himself as a homosexual and a faithful Catholic?

Thank goodness the priests in our cviliized parish ignore this claptrap, or we’d have only one priest and no choir director!

Thank you.

 

[Mannyfit75]

And have you not read what I wrote? These men in Courage do not profess to be gay. Why can’t they be priests and study theology like anyone else?

The Church since 1961 forbid it. Apparently that ruling has not been enforced. I think it is time for the Vatican to enforce its standards on who gets to become a priests. Homosexual men cannot be.

They should practice chastity and not practice the homosexual acts which defines them.

 

[goofyjim]

The Church since 1961 forbid it. Apparently that ruling has not been enforced. I think it is time for the Vatican to enforce its standards on who gets to become a priests. Homosexual men cannot be.

They should practice chastity and not practice the homosexual acts which defines them.

If they practice chastity how is one to know they are homosexual? There is no way to perfectly screen against it. Unless there is a magic formula for telling who is or who isn’t.

 

[Mannyfit75]

If they practice chastity how is one to know they are homosexual? There is no way to perfectly screen against it. Unless there is a magic formula for telling who is or who isn’t.

The Church has a way. If the supposedly gay priest happens to “come out of the closest” then there is no doubt the bishop will issue an investigation on his activities. He might as well resign his priesthood.

 

[goofyjim]

The Church has a way. If the supposedly gay priest happens to “come out of the closest” then there is no doubt the bishop will issue an investigation on his activities. He might as well resign his priesthood.

We will be quite surprised, when we get to heaven, how many chaste homosexuals we will find there. I have no doubt there have been many in Church history who just never told anyone, submitted to chastity and found their way to paradise. None of them were ever excluded from religious life. Why should we start excluding them now?

 

[Mannyfit75]

We will be quite surprised, when we get to heaven, how many chaste homosexuals we will find there. I have no doubt there have been many in Church history who just never told anyone, submitted to chastity and found their way to paradise. None of them were ever excluded from religious life. Why should we start excluding them now?

Because they have been banned since 1961. It is apparent the reports of homosexual priest is known in the US and perhaps even outside the US.

If the Vicar of Christ, Pope Benedict XVI, the successor of St. Peter bans gay priests? Would you not adhere. The Pope have spoken therefore the issue is closed. No gay priest period.

 

[drpmjhess]

I think it would be very foolish of the Pope to do so. Is the Church willing to shutter thousands of parishes, depriving the faithful of the Eucharist? What is more important – sustaining the sacramental life of the Church or catering to the whims of a few people who hate homosexuals? Most homophobes I’ve met are anxious and uncertain about their own sexuality.
Prayerfully,
Petrus