Gay priest publically "comes out"

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Riley259

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I’d like to get people’s impressions of this article about a gay priest in New York who came out publically from the pulpit. Although he calls himself a celibate gay priest, I’m concerned about his position on homosexuality. Although not explicit, his quotes seem to imply an approval of gay relationships and an embracing of the gay culture (note his explicit use of the word “gay” when describing himself). It’s this sort of rhetoric that confuses the faithful on the church’s stance on homosexuality, in particularly actively sexual homosexuals.

boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/11/06/a_gay_priest_receives_the_sacrament_of_acceptance/
 
From the article, it’s looks as though he’s done a lot of good.
However, I do not see why he felt it was necessary to trumpet his sexuality. He is a celibate. Sexuality should be a non-issue.
Also, why does he say:
In Sudan, Sunday said, ''You’d be isolated if you said you were gay, and stoned to death" for homosexual activity. ''But in the United States, it’s normal. I have to go with the present."
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Um, no it is not “normal”, here or anywhere. He uses the word “gay”, rather than homosexual and seems to be advocating that “homosexual activity” is okay.
Does he want to be the “poster priest” as he was termed by the Jesuit? It looks that way.
My :twocents:
 
This is the second priest, after a Canadian priest, who came out to proudly and publicly proclaiming that he’s gay. What’s the point?? What does it serve?? Well, the message is clear and simple. Being gay is normal. Yep, soon there’ll be more gay priests coming out of the closet showing their true color…rainbow color! Talk about Satan infiltrating the Church for decades as a tiny seed and now just starting to mature.

I strongly hope that Rome will bar all homosexual from entering the seminary AGAIN, this time with greater enforcement. NO COMPROMISE! :mad:
 
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cathgal:
This is the second priest, after a Canadian priest, who came out to proudly and publicly proclaiming that he’s gay. What’s the point?? What does it serve?? Well, the message is clear and simple. Being gay is normal. Yep, soon there’ll be more gay priests coming out of the closet showing their true color…rainbow color! Talk about Satan infiltrating the Church for decades as a tiny seed and now just starting to mature.

I strongly hope that Rome will bar all homosexual from entering the seminary AGAIN, this time with greater enforcement. NO COMPROMISE! :mad:
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A chaste homosexual has no need to declare himself. If he does it’s to advance an agenda.
 
First, he said, ''I did it for my own integrity. I have never experienced more inner peace and spiritual peace in my whole life.

And there you have his motivation…it’s about him, not the Lord, not his ministry, not God’s plan…

I side with the gentleman who said:

''If he is celibate, I don’t object to his being a priest," Brooks said. ''What I’m not comfortable with is that ordained priests are considered icons of Jesus Christ. They administer sacraments and teach the gospel. Why is it necessary for them to talk about their sexuality?

I hope the Bishop of this parish removes him from the public life. He can live out his priesthood in prayer. To have no consequence for openly making a statement like this sends the wrong message to Catholics. To have the bishops in Rome developing policy over the matter, and yet not take action when it’s right in front of them would be a shame.
 
It sounds as if he is sincere and a faithful priest who does a lot of good. However, these types of public announcements are in extremely poor taste and an unfortunate sign of the times. I see no reason for anyone to make public disclosures of what should be private matters.

I think this priest has been influenced by the Oprah type mentality where people go on TV and air their personal dirty laundry and weaknesses. This is an aspect of our present day culture that I personally find obnoxious, but apparently others think it’s a positive thing.
 
I am sure we have all received Eucharist from a gay priest. The thing is we never knew. When a priest “comes out” thats when a problem arises. If celebate his sexual pref is a non-issue given to God as a sacrifice. I agree that when he “comes out” the focus is on him and not on God.
 
“Celibate gay” sounds to me like a contradiction in terms.

Would that be like declaring oneself a “celibate pedophile” or a “celibate adulterer” or a “celibate fornicator” or “celibate S&M”? Why declare sexual predilections if one does not intend to act on them?
 
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bauerice:
I am sure we have all received Eucharist from a gay priest. The thing is we never knew. When a priest “comes out” thats when a problem arises. If celebate his sexual pref is a non-issue given to God as a sacrifice. I agree that when he “comes out” the focus is on him and not on God.
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That raises an interesting point…now that they know, wouldn’t that put the parishioners in a scadalous/compromising position???

That’s just how selfish such a ‘coming out’ is - with no regard for his own parishioners, so long as he feels better. :tsktsk:
 
JimG said:
“Celibate gay” sounds to me like a contradiction in terms.

Would that be like declaring oneself a “celibate pedophile” or a “celibate adulterer” or a “celibate fornicator” or “celibate S&M”? Why declare sexual predilections if one does not intend to act on them?
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Few grasp that the word “gay” has specific implications.
 
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fix:
Few grasp that the word “gay” has specific implications.
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I take it to mean he still has sexual desires for people of the same sex, he doesn’t give in to them, not because he’s trying to conquer the disorder, but because he’s a priest under a vow of celibacy.

This is wrong, imo, because it shows a disorder of the heart by a man who shows no desire to overcome it, and rather embraces it.

A person who is representing Christ in the Catholic Church. :tsktsk:
 
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YinYangMom:
I take it to mean he still has sexual desires for people of the same sex, he doesn’t give in to them, not because he’s trying to conquer the disorder, but because he’s a priest under a vow of celibacy.

This is wrong, imo, because it shows a disorder of the heart by a man who shows no desire to overcome it, and rather embraces it.

A person who is representing Christ in the Catholic Church. :tsktsk:
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So, would it be fair to say those who knowingly use the term accept the agenda that it represents?

That he claims celibacy is good, but it is seems strange to say one accepts the Church’s position, yet one “feels” free now that one has openly claimed one has an attraction to the same sex.

It is a bit unclear and perhaps intentionally so?
 
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YinYangMom:
I take it to mean he still has sexual desires for people of the same sex, he doesn’t give in to them, not because he’s trying to conquer the disorder, but because he’s a priest under a vow of celibacy.

This is wrong, imo, because it shows a disorder of the heart by a man who shows no desire to overcome it, and rather embraces it.

A person who is representing Christ in the Catholic Church. :tsktsk:
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You have an excellent point. This priest is obviously making a political statement that Homosexuality is an inherent part of ones nature that cannot be changed, therefore must be accepted. He is saying, “this is who I am, a gay man, and I must be accepted as I am”

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.
 
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spiritblows:
You have an excellent point. This priest is obviously making a political statement that Homosexuality is an inherent part of ones nature that cannot be changed, therefore must be accepted. He is saying, “this is who I am, a gay man, and I must be accepted as I am”

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.
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Agreed.
A greater problem is this man, being a priest, knows full well the teaching of the Church, in that he is called to carry this cross in humility and a sincere desire to change - and yet he is making that pronouncement you noted - ‘accept me as I am’ - as well as ‘look the the good I’m doing for the community’, ‘see how wrong your policy is about banning gay men from the priesthood’, ‘wd can be good for the Church as we are’, etc…
 
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fix:
So, would it be fair to say those who knowingly use the term accept the agenda that it represents?

That he claims celibacy is good, but it is seems strange to say one accepts the Church’s position, yet one “feels” free now that one has openly claimed one has an attraction to the same sex.

It is a bit unclear and perhaps intentionally so?
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I suspect as much, and that’s what’s so disturbing about the article. 😦

Do we expect something to be done about this???
I mean, now that he’s come out, should we expect him to be transferred in the near future?
And if he isn’t, then what would you all take that to mean???
 
My Pastor entered the seminary after being in sales for over ten years. I personally know some of his pre-seminary colleagues and friends who have privately intimated that my pastor did not live a chaste single life during this period. However, Father doesn’t dwell on this part of his life or “proclaim it from the pulpit” as it would not serve any real purpose. He has alluded to it in certain teaching moments like RCIA when he talks about Catholic Morality and his conversion of his personal life opened him up to better hearing God’s calling to the Priesthood.

Since I think my Pastor’s approach of not “proclaiming” his past sin but admitting it in limited appropriate audiences is the right balance, I believe this Priest’s PUBLIC proclammation from the pulpit was inappropriate to a serious degree and deserves some type of PUBLIC sanction or action from his Bishop. However, my view notwithstanding, I’ve just said a short little prayer that the Bishop discerns God’s instruction in this matter and support his decision whether it be a private or public action. IMHO, no action by the Bishop would be a deriliction of duty.
 
He makes a point of noting that he is a celibate gay priest. The beauty of celibacy is that the man is giving up something good for the sake of the kingdom. That “something good” is the vocation of marriage and having children. Giving up the disorder of homosexuality is not good in the sense that the vocation of marriage is - this really takes away from his sacrifice as a priest.
 
This priest has done us all a favor. If he is publicly removed now, the Church will be better for it. I don’t know how many times I’ve met priests who set off my inner alarms, but there was nothing to be done about it but watch closely, and hope they did not scandalize the Church in some abhorent way. (My parish went through two pedophiles, both exposed and removed.) Here, we have an easy one. He’s telling us. He needs to go.
 
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catsrus:
From the article, it’s looks as though he’s done a lot of good.
However, I do not see why he felt it was necessary to trumpet his sexuality. He is a celibate. Sexuality should be a non-issue.
Also, why does he say:

Um, no it is not “normal”, here or anywhere. He uses the word “gay”, rather than homosexual and seems to be advocating that “homosexual activity” is okay.
Does he want to be the “poster priest” as he was termed by the Jesuit? It looks that way.
My :twocents:
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👍 My point in another thread about the gay Bishop. Why is it they find it necessary to “come out?” That alone says to me they have problems. We are not identified by our sexuality.
 
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