Gay priest publically "comes out"

[st.jerome]

My opinion is that the Church is caught in a social debate in which it has to use terms that are foreign to the Bible and to Church history. The Bible has no pronouncement on sexual identity because its a non-issue. The Bible, however, is clear on lust and certain sexual acts such as sodomy and masterbation–these acts are sinful and should not be performed by anyone.

These days the Church is compelled by society to view sex not as certain acts but as a person’s identity–who a person “really is.” Therefore, gay people, in a sense, call condemnation upon themselves for insisting that their humanity is inseparable from their sexual preference. This is sad.

With that said, I think that an openly gay priest can no doubt be celebate, but they are expressing themselves through the language of secular society and not the language of the Church.

 

[fix]

st.jerome:

My opinion is that the Church is caught in a social debate in which it has to use terms that are foreign to the Bible and to Church history. The Bible has no pronouncement on sexual identity because its a non-issue. The Bible, however, is clear on lust and certain sexual acts such as sodomy and masterbation–these acts are sinful and should not be performed by anyone.

These days the Church is compelled by society to view sex not as certain acts but as a person’s identity–who a person “really is.” Therefore, gay people, in a sense, call condemnation upon themselves for insisting that their humanity is inseparable from their sexual preference. This is sad.

With that said, I think that an openly gay priest can no doubt be celebate, but they are expressing themselves through the language of secular society and not the language of the Church.

There is much merit in your post, but the CCC says:

2333 Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. Physical, moral, and spiritual *difference *and *complementarity *are oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life. The harmony of the couple and of society depends in part on the way in which the complementarity, needs, and mutual support between the sexes are lived out.

The problem is those with SSA has a problem. That problem needs to be sorted out with the help of psychiatrists and holy priests.

 

[estesbob]

I too wonder what possible purpose his “comimg out” serves?

I am also concerned that one of the resaons he gave was his concern over the Church scapegoating Gay Priests in the sexual abuse scandal. In my opinion the opposite is true. The church went out of their way to try and cliam this was a problem with pediophilic Priests-even though over 90% of the abuses were of boys past the age of Puberty. A miniscule number of the abuses fit the definition of pediophilia.

Why is this important? Well if the Church wants to solve the problem they shouldnt be screening potential seminarians for only pediophilic tendencies-they should be screening for homosexual tendecies too. Although homosexual make up only between 1 and 3% of the populace the accout for nearly 40% of sexual abuses. I do not beleive that homosexuality and the Priesthood are compatible-regardless of wether the Priest is celibate.

 

[st.jerome]

fix:

2333 Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. Physical, moral, and spiritual *difference *and *complementarity *are oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life. The harmony of the couple and of society depends in part on the way in which the complementarity, needs, and mutual support between the sexes are lived out.

Thanks for quoting the CCC. I got mine out and saw that the subject of homosexuality is part of the teachings. Having read 2357-2359, I must conclude that the virtue associated with a person struggling with their own homosexuality is chastity. Chastity brings on “self-mastery” and “inner freedom.” Sex simply isn’t part of the hand that they’re dealt. I can certainly understand why many gay men would join the priesthood!

 

[convert_2000]

st.jerome:

These days the Church is compelled by society to view sex not as certain acts but as a person’s identity–who a person “really is.” Therefore, gay people, in a sense, call condemnation upon themselves for insisting that their humanity is inseparable from their sexual preference. This is sad.

With that said, I think that an openly gay priest can no doubt be celebate, but they are expressing themselves through the language of secular society and not the language of the Church.

You have the words I cannot find, thank you! So well stated.

 

[fix]

st.jerome:

Thanks for quoting the CCC. I got mine out and saw that the subject of homosexuality is part of the teachings. Having read 2357-2359, I must conclude that the virtue associated with a person struggling with their own homosexuality is chastity. Chastity brings on “self-mastery” and “inner freedom.” Sex simply isn’t part of the hand that they’re dealt. I can certainly understand why many gay men would join the priesthood!

Yes, and so we have what we have today. IMO, the answer is not ordination for these folks, but proper medical and spiritual therapy.

 

[Jennifer123]

spiritblows:

The problem is that we really still don’t know the origins of Homosexuality. Even with the scientific advancements we’ve made, we don’t know a lot about what causes this disorder.

It’s not relevant. I agree that this priest’s statement is part of an agenda and has more to do with selfish motives than part of God’s plan. Goodness - I don’t know how anyone can not think we aren’t in “endtimes”. Can you imagine this in any other time?

 

[JimO]

buffalo:

A chaste homosexual has no need to declare himself. If he does it’s to advance an agenda.

Agreed. And, frankly, it doesn’t surprise me to see this happening. It’s all part of the purification process. When the light goes on, all the roaches run around in circles and then scatter to hide in the darkness.

 

[Jennifer123]

fix:

There is much merit in your post, but the CCC says:

2333 Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity.

My two cents, but I take this to mean identity as in acceptance of the gender God created us - not acceptance of whatever identity you wish to assume? Only when we can fully embrace our roles as God intended will we truly be comfortable as the person God created. Homosexuals hve a distorted view of humanity and themselves. I don’t think this passage from the CCC should give any homosexual hope for acceptance of their “sexual identity”.

 

[soccerDad]

EstesBob,

Can you give me a reference for your statistics? I’m not challenging, but I would like to present these statistics to others, and I can’t do so without a reputable source. Thanks.

 

[fix]

Jennifer123:

My two cents, but I take this to mean identity as in acceptance of the gender God created us - not acceptance of whatever identity you wish to assume? Only when we can fully embrace our roles as God intended will we truly be comfortable as the person God created. Homosexuals hve a distorted view of humanity and themselves. I don’t think this passage from the CCC should give any homosexual hope for acceptance of their “sexual identity”.

I agree and your point is the one I was making. When we say sexual identity is of little importance we are overlooking an important truth.

 

[Orionthehunter]

fix:

I agree and your point is the one I was making. When we say sexual identity is of little importance we are overlooking an important truth.

Every person was made by God “very good” as it says in Genesis. Everyone’s sexual identity is the same (attraction to people of the opposite gender). People who develop same sex attraction do so as a result of sin (the sin in the environment they live and their own sin). It is with the power of prayer, determination from our God-given will, and actual graces given to us through sacramental living that we can correct our sinful nature and become in tune with our God-given sexual identity.

 

[estesbob]

soccerDad:

EstesBob,

Can you give me a reference for your statistics? I’m not challenging, but I would like to present these statistics to others, and I can’t do so without a reputable source. Thanks.

The most cited study on Homosexual Molestation was a 1988 study by Erickson, Walbek, and Seely, They asked convicted molesters to declare their sexual orientation, 86% of child molesters identified themselves as homosexual or bisexual.

The most comprehensive study of the Priest sex abuse scandal was done by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

It found that:

– An overwhelming majority of the victims, 81 percent, were males. The most vulnerable were boys aged 11 to 14, representing more than 40 percent of the victims. This goes against the trend in the general U.S. society where the main problem is men abusing girls.

– A majority of the victims were post-pubescent adolescents with a small percentage of the priests accused of abusing children who had not reached puberty.