Sexuality and Priesthood

[jfallaw]

You don’t have to buy it, its not for sale. Even 10K+ characters worth of clipped and pasted papal document to get to that point, I stand by my thinking on this one. And have some confidence that is the thinking of the magisterium as well.

What you add emphasis to talks about the forgiveness of an act under certain circumstances or exceptions and is nuanced in saying as much and giving brief account for what may make it possible to continue on in formation in light of a falling.

This is two different matters: Screening for an impediment before admission to seminary and/or advancement to vows/orders, and situations where those already in formation may continue on.

The latter group will of course be comprised of those who were screened from the former.

lol sorry, didn’t want anyone to have to open a new window. IDK man, in entirety, it still doesn’t seem to exclude anyone who may commit a homosexual act in the future. Because someone has homosexual tendencies are they homosexual? Homosexuals would say so. But I say if you have never committed a homosexual act, you are not a homosexual. Just as you cannot be an alcoholic having never drank alcohol (the scientists who claim it’s an inherited disease be damned). The fact is, EVERYONE is capable of committing sin. I have heterosexual tendencies, so? Should that stop me from entering the religious life? It is always possible that I might end up committing a heterosexual act. Everyone- religious, priests, bishops, all of us- are capable of breaking every single commandment. I still find it hard to believe the Holy Father would deny religious vocations to anyone based on the potentiality of just one specific sin being committed. The devil can use any temptation to make us sin. I think the Holy Fathers use of the words ‘afflicted with’ homosexual tendencies implies ‘practicing’ or acting upon those tendencies. Besides, the OP stated clearly that it was not an overwhelming desire. Ultimately the decision to admit him to religious life should rest with his spiritual adviser, vocation director, or indeed anyone wiser about the Church’s teachings than you and I. (not implying anything! from your other posts it is clear you know much more than I)

 

[WynCatholic]

Hola!

I’m 14 (maybe 15, I can’t remember) and I’ve been discerning the priesthood for some time now. I feel as thought my call is mission work in the Orient–specifically Japan, actually. (Francis Xavier is my inspiration…) I’m attracted to the Franciscan Order a lot, too.

Well, that’s all well and good, right? Except that I’m bisexual… This complicates things, but I am striving for chastity early in life so as to please God and make my life a perpetual offering to him. But I’m wondering: Could my sexuality interfere with my desire to enter the priesthood one day?

I’d take it to the Holy Father himself to assert that I truly believe this to be a calling–and if not, I feel like I have nowhere else to go. This is my passion and where I feel like my life’s been leading.

How long have you been catholic? I considered the priesthood myself,and determined that God didn’t want me there. I got married last year. I help to teach RCIA and Baptism. (All that seminary training in avoiding the evil shoals of catholicism is being put to good use to communicate the truth of the Catholic Faith.)
from what I’ve read so far, I think you need more time to learn the catholic faith, philosophy, theology and spirituality.
I’ll also commend to you “persona humana” from the congregation for the doctrine of the faith 1975. Also the document of the congregation for catholic education dec2005.
the vatican website is a treasure trove for poor wanna be theologians.
at 15 your sexuality is still under major hormone flux.
you education within our perverted culture can also twist you into thinking that ‘horny’ determines orientation and identity.
please concentrate on chastity and not on ‘identity’ . your identity is ‘Christ’, your sexual desires,are tossed here and there by the culture of greed and death,which is trying to press you into their mould. Don’t let them even dictate the categories with which you think of your self.
cf Romans 12:1,2 read that passage and recall the mass.
I offered up Saturday morning’s mass for the intention of chastity. I shall include you in my intentions for this Sunday’s mass. .[speaking of which I should be heading off to sleep.]
And I will pray for you also
Wayne

 

[debraran]

I was reading a good book called “Last Priests In America: Conversations with Remarkable Men” I found it at my library. Very interesting conversations with priests, bishops, seminarians, etc. that are different ages and had different opinions. One said the seminaries now are getting much better, if there are “gay” men, they are quiet and there aren’t the groups that would form before. (so much went on in some seminaries, you wonder what they thought would happen later) I think they are on the upswing too and that if any men who are gay are in formation, they know what is required of them and what will be tolerated.
On another post I spoke of a wonderful and inspirational priest who died on 9/11. Fr. Rutler of EWTN was friends with him and I remember googling him back then. His bio is a great read for someone with a vocation and this blog spot has lots of info. You can never be too inspired today…
saintmychaljudge.blogspot.com/

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

Hola!

I’m 14 (maybe 15, I can’t remember)…

Excuse me for interrupting this thread…
But why don’t you know your age?

Sorry for intruding, but maybe knowing the answer to that question can help me learn more about you; such as, why is a young bi-sexual contemplating the priesthood? You’ve intrigued me because I’ve seen on other threads of yours that you are a former protestant, and now want to me be a missionary in Japan. And you seem to have some knowledge and support for Islam and muslims. All in all, you are an intriguing fellow for somebody who is just 14 or 15.

 

[Nino]

Why would a person who has a problem in one large area of his life desire to enter a vocation that deals with people who are looking for spiritual help as well as other problems of their own. In my high school ,I ,as a teacher would leave school after the last bus to go and work at my second job…The school being a Catholic one and me being a daddy of seven I could not live on their meager salary…After school hours a man posing as a ‘priest’ was chaplain and he was in the midst of a horrible campaign…he was destroying the innocence of many youth and faith in the priesthood…a grand jury had an investigation and some dozen ,now grown young men…attested to the fact this man,posing as a priest.molested them…after regular school hours. This ‘priest’ whined that his sexual life was mixed up and so he had a little trouble etc…He is now in Florida enjoying the sun and playing golf while the lives he ruined,because of his ‘mixed up’ sex life…move in and out of hell !..Get cured first then maybe work in a field that involves grown ups …that way you wont be tempted and maybe you can find your calling there…all the best…

 

[Shlomey]

“If you [O, monk] are young in either body or mind, shun the companionship of other young men and avoid them as you would a flame. For through them the enemy has kindled the desires of many and then handed them over to eternal fire, hurling them into the vile pit of the five cities under the pretense of spiritual love. . . . At meals take a seat far from other young men. In lying down to sleep let not their clothes be near yours, but rather have an old man between you. When a young man converses with you, or sings psalms facing you, answer him with eyes cast down, lest perhaps by gazing at his face you receive a seed of desire sown by the enemy and reap sheaves of corruption and ruin. Whether in the house or in a place where there is no one to see your actions, be not found in his company under the pretense either of studying the divine oracles or of any other business whatsoever, however necessary” (The Renunciation of the World [A.D. 373]).

St. Basil the Great

I think he is one who understands a lot regarding the religious life.
Here he does not say, “if you may be attracted to a bloke, leave!”
Instead he affirms human weaknesses, the possibility of temptation and gives advice to those who truly seek to follow the call in obedience to God.
It is highly ODD - to say the least - to tell someone called by God to “get the hell out” simply because he/she has a sexual orientation.

Any ordained person is to be celibate anyways, so wot’s the fuss about?

And telling more stories about fallen priests is not gonna help any either.
What about those priests who have children? Or have committed adultery? Or the priests having it going with nuns (e.g. in the case of some Franciscans in Medjugorje now living in Italy).

Should the Church then bar all humans with a sexual orientatio from the religious life?

Blessed are the asexual…

As for you, young chap: God bless, pray pray pray!
St. Jerome himself was afflicted with sexual temptation: he became a Saint. St. Francis of Assisi lived a very sinful life: he is one of the greatest Saints I can think of.

Focus on God.

 

[catholicboy123]

People aren’t born bisexual. It’s a physical disease with the person who believes they are bisexual, homosexual, transgender etc…

If you don’t change before you want to start the seminary education, then the Priesthood is unfortunately not the right place for you. I would recommend that you seek help with a good confessor. Start living as a normal person (not bisexual) and find a good Catholic therapist if you need to.

I agree you are not born that way. It is a sexual way in the mind created by yourself. If you can completely get it under control to where you DO NOT think like this then you are worthy for the priesthood. Pray, pray, pray!! God will answer!

 

[Cominghome89]

Hola!

I’m 14 (maybe 15, I can’t remember) and I’ve been discerning the priesthood for some time now. I feel as thought my call is mission work in the Orient–specifically Japan, actually. (Francis Xavier is my inspiration…) I’m attracted to the Franciscan Order a lot, too.

Well, that’s all well and good, right? Except that I’m bisexual… This complicates things, but I am striving for chastity early in life so as to please God and make my life a perpetual offering to him. But I’m wondering: Could my sexuality interfere with my desire to enter the priesthood one day?

I’d take it to the Holy Father himself to assert that I truly believe this to be a calling–and if not, I feel like I have nowhere else to go. This is my passion and where I feel like my life’s been leading.

Thanks in advance!

(Oh, and Happy New Year!)

My brother (I think this has already been said somewhere in a previous post, but) let me give you some extremely important advice. I’m 21 and a convert to Catholicism, and am in college seminary, so I have some experience in the matter.

While you can learn a lot from these forums (Actually, this topic has brought up some interesting discussions) I suggest you do not make your vocation a public forum like this. What you are getting is the various opinions of different people about your life and vocation. And they (myself included) do not know you.

This is how you need to continue: Find yourself a spiritual director and confessor, a priest who you truly trust. Tell him EVERYTHING about your life, your past, your feelings, your whole situation. Talk to him often and listen carefully to what he says. Pray often about this, thinking not so much about what your urges tell you, but what God says to you in prayer and through the Church. This is how you will grow as a disciple, as a holy Catholic man, no matter where God ends up calling you.

You seem to be extremely well-intentioned and smart, I trust that God will use you for something wonderful. Don’t worry about your vocation, or about the opinions of others on this forum regarding vocation, sexuality, etc. God will put you where you belong if you trust in Him.

Feel free to send me a private message if you’d like to talk. Also, if you would still like help and information concerning your vocation on Catholic Answers, I suggest you speak with Brother JR or Brother David, as they are both very wise and experienced religious who have wonderful vocational advice.

May God’s peace and love keep you always.

In Christ and Mary,
Frank

 

[limabeanerson]

With all due respect… that’s bunk. And any medical professional, or respected psychologist, will tell you the same. I don’t know if it’s “inborn” and research in this area is inconclusive, but I HAVE had tendencies like this since as far back as I can remember–toddler years and even earlier. Certain events and my parental relationships helped to solidify it, but the fact’s the same in any case.

Read the Catechism on this area. It does not so much as imply that the Church believes sexuality to be some kind of illusion to be conquered, but rather states its reality and calls people such as myself to chastity, the life I am making an honest attempt to live.

Please to do not presume to know what I’m going through without having thoroughly studied the issue or without having been there yourself.

sigh Sorry, I just hate this kind of ignorance…

I’ve got to ask…You’ve had bi-sexual tendencies since you were a toddler? What kind of thoughts or ideas did you have as a toddler (and even earlier) that you consider bi-sexual? I’ve got three kids, all older than toddler age and none of them have expressed any sexual preference at this point.

If you are talking about enjoying playing with dolls in addition to GI Joe’s then I’m afrade you may be quite misunderstood as to what being bi-sexual really means.

If you were having sexual thoughts and desires at toddler/pre-toddler ages I’d have to wonder if you were somehow abused at some point which would have “opened your eyes” to “sexuality” at this very young age.