Should homosexual men be allowed to be priests?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GWitherow
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I see nothing wrong with allowing homosexual men to be in religious orders. I know…many of you think “that’s just creating a near occasion of sin”. How much worse is the world then? It is very easy to go out of your house and go to a gay bar, bathhouse, or cruise spot, or meet guys off of gay chatrooms when you’re out in the world. It is not so easy when you’re in a monastery. Unless you never had the intent of living a chaste life, or a life dedicated to prayer (in which case you should not be a priest or religious- homosexual or not) I would think people could resist the temptations.

If you have a particular struggle, a good way to help resist falling into sin is to develop your prayer life- monks certainly do that don’t they? Religious pray the liturgy of the hours in community DAILY, they go to Mass DAILY, they have opportunity for confession whenever they need it. They don’t have as easy access to TV, the internet, magazine racks, or dissenting propaganda- they avoid several near occasions of sin by avoiding those things. They may have opportunities to form the chaste friendships with people of the same sex that many people who struggle with homosexuality really need (easier for friars than for monks), or if they struggle with selfishness, then the monastic way of life- monks have been defined as one who practices dying as a way of life- may be the only way through which they can be saved.
 
I think it is just as hard for a male with homosexual desires to be celibate, as a heterosexual male to be celibate. The answer lies in whether either type of male means to REALLY keep the vows they take when becoming a priest. So I can’t pass judgment on a gay man desiring to become a priest at all.
 
space ghost:
tad amount to putting the gasoline next to the fire! :cool:
unnecessary risk, for all involved… mistake, don’t do it…
just an open pit of fire…
Click to expand...
This is also an argument against a celibate priesthood, as opposed to a married priesthood. Although I could deal with the Church accepting married men to the priesthood, I don’t buy the argument.
Outside of a radical transformation by grace, we are all nothing but tinderboxes. (I do not mean that strictly in a sexual way.)
 
My opinion on this has a lot to do with my stance on defining any human being by sexual terms: to me, if a man is a priest, he’s celibate, not (nameyourfavoriteanything)sexual.
Click to expand...
In Dutch, we have a very common surname ‘De Paepe’ (and many other, later variations of this surname), which is a medieval name people used to give to bastard (male) children conceived by a ‘paep’, medieval Dutch for a (of course Catholic) clergyman, mostly a monk, priest or even a pope. This has been proved etymologically very thorough. Apparently, something went wrong during our Middle Ages - perhaps in Avignon?
 
Many of these posters ignore or don’t want to believe the fact that homosexuality is a disorder. Someone made a post stating that those with violent tendencies or alcoholism are probably more dangerous than homosexuals. Well what evidence is there of that? On the other hand, there’s tons of evidence that homosexuality accompanies a host of other mental imbalances such as depression, violent behavior, suicide, etc. Seminaries rightly screen candidates for other disorders, why not this one?
 
Pious Redeemer:
In Dutch, we have a very common surname ‘De Paepe’ (and many other, later variations of this surname), which is a medieval name people used to give to bastard (male) children conceived by a ‘paep’, medieval Dutch for a (of course Catholic) clergyman, mostly a monk, priest or even a pope. This has been proved etymologically very thorough. Apparently, something went wrong during our Middle Ages - perhaps in Avignon?
Click to expand...
:rotfl:Now I have that French song “Sur le Pont” stuck in my head, thanks.

Well, sure there have been plenty of priests and bishops that have violated their vows. Through her history the Church has periodically undergone reforms to reinforce the discipline of celibacy to help sanctify the clergy. Unfortunately, now we have the added burden of the homosexual activists infecting the culture to the point where people don’t even understand that homosexual activity violates the natural law and is a grave sin. This will make the coming reform that much harder, but it must be done.
 
It depends on how a man identifies himself. If he Identifies as a homosexual, then no, he should not be allowed to be ordained. However, many priests have homosexual tendencies but through thier full acceptance of Chastity and a self-identification as a man who wishes to serve God in his Holy Church, then I do not see a problem.
The world is obsessed with sex, but through Chastity best gained through devotion to the Blessed virgin, we can all be free of any sexual inclinations and concentrate on our paths to Holiness
 
They are not prepared for marriage as an alternative. Therefore they are not approaching the priesthood properly. For anyone that knows my sufferings this answer might come as a surprise but it shouldn’t if you really take the time to know me.
 
My answer of no might come as a surprise to everyone who has met me but only because they don’t know me as they should.
 
40.png
WhatIf:
Does castration take away sexual desire? I know, what an extreme proposal, but it would show a complete dedication to the vocation, wouldn’t it? Would it be so cruel, if done surgically and as painlessly as possible? Would an erection even be possible? Perhaps it is sinful to change the body in this way. I don’t know.
Click to expand...
It probably is sinful, and in any event there would no merit whatsoever in the chastity gained thereby.

Scullinius
 
40.png
Scullinius:
It probably is sinful, and in any event there would no merit whatsoever in the chastity gained thereby.

Scullinius
Click to expand...
FWIW I understand this concept has been considered with respect to violent sex offenders (I believe it’s a ‘chemical castration’ not surgical) However it will not remove the desires because they have been implanted in the brain, not just the gonads.

Lisa N
 
Lisa N:
However it will not remove the desires because they have been implanted in the brain, not just the gonads.
Lisa N
Click to expand...
Ah, yes. So that action would not produce genuine chastity anyway.
 
I believe that if a man is chaste and keeping his vow of chastity he is fullfilling that obligation and should be considered as a candidate for the priesthood no matter what his sexual orientation.
 
What happens when a homosexual man confides in a priest his struggles while still chaste and celibate and that priest, who is in complete good standing suggests this man try the priesthood? This has happened and I’m sure through support men have managed to live a healthy priestly life. Do we now suddenly make it impossible for others to do the same? It may be necessary for now to forbid them but for everyone’s good until the fury dies down and time will heal the wounds. Let’s not start a witch hunt for those who sneak through the cracks, though, because there will continue to be those who, despite the raging debate now, may still become priests and never cause a problem. This is why I do not judge any one to have made intentional mistakes. We don’t know that. And unless someone tells you his sexual orientation you’ll never know. Will you still feel threatened by your own presuppostitions?
 
40.png
StJeanneDArc:
Many of these posters ignore or don’t want to believe the fact that homosexuality is a disorder. Someone made a post stating that those with violent tendencies or alcoholism are probably more dangerous than homosexuals. Well what evidence is there of that? On the other hand, there’s tons of evidence that homosexuality accompanies a host of other mental imbalances such as depression, violent behavior, suicide, etc. Seminaries rightly screen candidates for other disorders, why not this one?
Click to expand...
Also notice that it isn’t just Seminaries which screen out homosexuals (for religious reasons also); but so does the Federal Government; all the U.S. Armed Forces; the CIA, the FBI, the Boy Scouts, or any position of responsibility where clarity of thought and emotional stability are required.
 
Kevin Walker:
Also notice that it isn’t just Seminaries which screen out homosexuals (for religious reasons also); but so does the Federal Government; all the U.S. Armed Forces; the CIA, the FBI, the Boy Scouts, or any position of responsibility where clarity of thought and emotional stability are required.
Click to expand...
In the word of a recently passed president

" There you go again"

I have clarity of thought and emotional stability. I was in the Boy Scouts in my youth. If it was not cause for alarm then why is it now? These are unsubstantiated accusations. Please stop.😦
 
Kevin Walker:
Also notice that it isn’t just Seminaries which screen out homosexuals (for religious reasons also); but so does the Federal Government; all the U.S. Armed Forces; the CIA, the FBI, the Boy Scouts, or any position of responsibility where clarity of thought and emotional stability are required.
Click to expand...
Mother Teresa would have referred to me as a friend of Jesus. That is my clarity of thought and emotional stability.

Are you sure you’re not familiar with Bayside?:confused:
 
BTW, I assume this is a question on the ordained priesthood. As Catholics, we all share in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly ministry of Jesus. So there will always be, theoretically, homosexual priests. Food for thought.:cool:
 
40.png
goofyjim:
In the word of a recently passed president

" There you go again"

I have clarity of thought and emotional stability. I was in the Boy Scouts in my youth. If it was not cause for alarm then why is it now? These are unsubstantiated accusations. Please stop.😦
Click to expand...
“Remember I am not fit for an exgay groups since I was never gay to begin with.” goofyjim Ex-gay organization or groups thread; post #84

So goofyjim, if you were never ‘gay’ to begin with, why would WHAT not be cause for alarm when you were in the Boy Scouts?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top