I really really want to contribute to this conversation, but I fear that I’m likely to write waaay too much. I want to re-emphasize to myself that this thread is about “ceding too much ground.” I believe that has indeed happened and I wonder if the cat can ever again be put back into the bag (not my metaphor, but it works).
I’ll start with this: I was an undergraduate diocesan seminarian in the 90’s. Even though I have learned that my experience was not unique, it was not universal. My first day at the seminary I was hit on by a classmate in my own dorm room as I was unpacking. I resisted and when I got angry the classmate not only backed down, but claimed that he was kidding. We left my room together to find another seminarian standing just outside the door waiting for us. This seminarian claimed that he was out there waiting to see if I would have “fallen for it.” What I know now is that I was being informally “vetted” as it were.
That was day one. People have asked me why I didn’t report it. Here’s what I know now. The highest posts in my seminary were held by homosexual priests. I gave those classmates of mine the benefit of the doubt, but I know now that even had I reported it, little would have been done.
I knew when I started this post that too much summary would probably lessen the impact of what I’m trying to say about “ceding too much ground.” I know that in the past (and perhaps now) there was a culture of DADT (don’t ask; don’t tell) in the seminary system. There have been MMPI tests given for years of course, but they are not perfect. I know that my seminary had a “gay” population of at least 30-40%. At least that. There are too many branches that can be developed from this. I used to believe that a man could be a good priest and suffer from what we’re now calling SSA. Not so sure anymore. I believe that there was, in some areas, an attempt by SSA/gay clergy to influence church culture for their benefit, not necessarily the church’s. I believe that happens still to this day and we need to watch for it. This thread is about “ceding too much ground.” I have to say based on my own experiences that I’ve seen at least a few subtle attempts in my time by SSA or gay laity/clergy to “take” ground, specifically by downplaying or outright lying about the nature of homosexuality.
I need to end this post, but I want it to be known that I’m not talking about any kind of vainglorious retributive strike. Homosexuality is a sin, just like masturbation and pornography viewing (I’ve been guilty of this), just like drunkardliness or heterosexual adultery et. al. There has been an overly deep fascination with homosexuality in recent years and sometimes I think we do put too much focus there while forgiving heterosexual vice which seems to us heteros as more sympathetic.
We must behave as Christ in all things, and not like Machiavelli. So much more to say…