As bad as catechesis and seminary formation has been in many parts of the world in recent years, I wouldn’t be surprised if many homosexual men really didn’t know that they shouldn’t have entered the seminary. I’m not sure one who is living a chaste life as they should, and who didn’t knowingly do something they shouldn’t have done needs to be laicized. If they are not chaste, they should definitely be laicized- and if their unchaste behavior involves illegal activities, they should also be turned in to the police.I would like to see every homosexual priest laicized. I know one actually. Not only was he homosexual but he was an altar boy abuser but even if that were not the case I would still like to see them laicized.
Annie
Now they do know. In respect for the priesthood they should leave.As bad as catechesis and seminary formation has been in many parts of the world in recent years, I wouldn’t be surprised if many homosexual men really didn’t know that they shouldn’t have entered the seminary. I’m not sure one who is living a chaste life as they should, and who didn’t knowingly do something they shouldn’t have done needs to be laicized. If they are not chaste, they should definitely be laicized- and if their unchaste behavior involves illegal activities, they should also be turned in to the police.
They can seek help, overcome their disordered attraction, live holy lives, become saints, and spend eternity with Christ in Heaven.Can’t be ordained. Can’t serve in the military (according to some on here). Cannot have a relationship with who they are attracted to. Should not hold office.
Just what can homosexuals do according to the Catholic Church?![]()
A chaste, single man with same-sex desires can certainly serve in the military (don’t ask don’t tell), and I can’t imagine a reason they would not be allowed tohold office. There are a myriad of jobs that a chaste, single man with same-sex desires can do, so I’m not sure why you think the Catholic Church is constraining them from anything more than the priesthood and having a sinful relationship.Can’t be ordained. Can’t serve in the military (according to some on here). Cannot have a relationship with who they are attracted to. Should not hold office.
Just what can homosexuals do according to the Catholic Church?![]()
They can seek help, overcome their disordered attraction, live holy lives, become saints, and spend eternity with Christ in Heaven.
From everything that has been appearing in the news and in other reports, I would say that words such as these should be backed up by some action. Are these words actually enforced in the real world of Catholic seminaries today?VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In his new book, Pope Benedict XVI strongly reaffirmed church teaching that homosexual acts are “disordered” and said homosexuality itself is “incompatible” with the priesthood.
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Homosexual orientation, in practice, is essentially treated as “don’t ask, don’t tell” in most seminaries. As long as the man isn’t overly effiminate and remains chaste most seminaries aren’t spending time trying to “out” the seminarians. However, any seminarian who outs himself or who gets caught being unchaste would be told to leave.Are these words actually enforced in the real world of Catholic seminaries today?
What a tragic, bitter shame that is. It should be enforced.What the Holy Father said will always be the “official line” but it’ll never be enforced 100% and no one, including the Pope, will ever push for it to be so.
Just because they’ve made a commitment they shouldn’t have made doesn’t make it right to completely stop functioning as a priest. Leaving public ministry, but not being defrocked (so they may still say Mass licitly, but privately) seems better to me. They should discern with the help of a spiritual director (more than one would be good) what they are supposed to do next and at the very least, I’d imagine it would involve intense spiritual direction and regular counseling. If their bishop, spiritual directors, counselors decide after assessing the situation that it’s best that they leave active ministry, then they should leave. Whatever is done with them, the value of their soul, the fact that God also has a plan for their lives, and the fact that they are a priest forever must be recognized.Now they do know. In respect for the priesthood they should leave.
Annie
There are (thankfully)bishops, vocation directors, and seminaries, who, do ask and, will not sponsor anyone who is homosexual or has a disordered sex life. Many of the physcholoical tests now taken befoe entering seminary are to help identify those who are homosexuals or have other disordered sexual tendencies.Homosexual orientation, in practice, is essentially treated as “don’t ask, don’t tell” in most seminaries. As long as the man isn’t overly effiminate and remains chaste most seminaries aren’t spending time trying to “out” the seminarians. However, any seminarian who outs himself or who gets caught being unchaste would be told to leave.
What the Holy Father said will always be the “official line” but it’ll never be enforced 100% and no one, including the Pope, will ever push for it to be so.
A very horrid fate that I wouldn’t wish on my worse enemy.They can seek help, overcome their disordered attraction, live holy lives, become saints, and spend eternity with Christ in Heaven.
The moment their fellow soldiers realize they are not dating or pursuing members of the opposite sex they get exposed and out they go. Many on this board have stated it is against Church teaching for gays to hold officer and in the past Catholic groups have opposed homosexuals that ran.A chaste, single man with same-sex desires can certainly serve in the military (don’t ask don’t tell), and I can’t imagine a reason they would not be allowed tohold office. There are a myriad of jobs that a chaste, single man with same-sex desires can do, so I’m not sure why you think the Catholic Church is constraining them from anything more than the priesthood and having a sinful relationship.![]()
I say it because the Church doesn’t work like an American legal system. It works more like a European, and specifically Italian, legal system. This article by John Allen captures it pretty well:Why do you say no one including the Pope will push for it to be enforced? Do you think he does not believe what he is saying? What proof do you have to make such a statement?
Although this is a difficult point for many Anglo-Saxons to grasp, when the Vatican makes statements like ‘‘no gays in the priesthood,’’ it doesn’t actually mean ‘‘no gays in the priesthood.’’ It means, ‘‘As a general rule, this is not a good idea, but we all know there will be exceptions.’’
Understanding this distinction requires an appreciation of Italian concepts of law, which hold sway throughout the thought world of the Vatican. The law, according to such thinking, expresses an ideal. It describes a perfect state of affairs from which many people will inevitably fall short. This view is far removed from the typical Anglo-Saxon approach, which expects the law to dictate what people actually do.
Some in the Anglo-Saxon world see this as a form of hypocrisy: the church apparently issues laws while winking at disobedience. But Vatican officials view it instead as a realistic concession to fallen human nature.
If the seminarian doesn’t “out” himself, then he is not being honest. That’s pretty sad.Homosexual orientation, in practice, is essentially treated as “don’t ask, don’t tell” in most seminaries. As long as the man isn’t overly effiminate and remains chaste most seminaries aren’t spending time trying to “out” the seminarians. However, any seminarian who outs himself or who gets caught being unchaste would be told to leave.
What the Holy Father said will always be the “official line” but it’ll never be enforced 100% and no one, including the Pope, will ever push for it to be so.
You are blurring the line somewhat. A chaste, single man running for office wouldn’t be an issue unless he is pushing for homosexual marriage and the like…in which case the issue isn’t his sexual preference, but rather policy.The moment their fellow soldiers realize they are not dating or pursuing members of the opposite sex they get exposed and out they go. Many on this board have stated it is against Church teaching for gays to hold officer and in the past Catholic groups have opposed homosexuals that ran.