Hey there,
First off, I want to say I’m glad you’re going to talk with your priest about this. While these forums can be helpful, questions like this require a more in-depth conversation than you’re going to get here. Good for you on that decision.
I sympathize with you on the feelings you’re having. The cross you have to carry is not an easy one. I’ll be praying for you. Now, to answer your question…
In November 2005, a document was released dealing with admitting homosexual people to the seminary. You can read it
on the Vatican’s website. One important line reads:
In the light of such teaching, this Dicastery, in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called “gay culture”.
Does that mean you are prevented from becoming a priest? The answer is… I don’t know. You will find some people give a definite yes, others a no, based on their interpretation of the document.
What it boils down to is how do the church define “deep-seated homosexual tendences”? (Since, by your post, you are neither a practicing homosexual or supporting the ‘gay culture’.) The document does not define what the phrase means, nor has any subsequent document.
Jimmy Akin wrote up a nice piece on his blog shortly after this document was released, breaking down the ‘gray area’ this phrase introduced. Though it’s obviously not a binding Church document, it’s a good read,
and can be found here. Here’s a
followup post with some clarifications.
Ultimately, this is something you’ll have to figure out together with your confessor/spiritual director, and vocation director if your pursue this that far. Only they will be able to determine if the same-sex attraction you live with and the ways it manifests itself are considered deep-seated tendencies. My advice to you…
First, make an appointment to speak with your priest on this, don’t drop it on him in the confessional when there’s a line waiting behind you. You’d be doing him a disservice and yourself an injustice. See if he’s willing to meet with you after confession times, for example. Next, be totally honest with him. Don’t hold back information hoping he won’t ask a certain question. Don’t over or under emphasize anything. Definitely don’t lie. Just be completely honest about it. Finally, be ready to accept whatever judgement he gives on this. He may say this will bar you from the priesthood. He may say you’re ok. He may ask you to wait a few more years to mature. Just be ready to accept it with grace and maturity.
May God bless you and help you through this to the outcome He desires for you. I’ll be praying for you.
Does this prevent me from becoming a priest?
I go to confession every week because if I don’t I can’t receive communion and during the week I don’t have strength. Oh well…