Vatican Ban On Homosexual Priests (Official Document)

[GloriaPatri4]

newoxfordreview.org/article.jsp?did=1105-vatican

CONGREGATION FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Concerning the Criteria of Vocational Discernment Regarding Perosns With Homosexual Tendencies In View of Their Admission to Seminaries and Holy Orders
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November 22, 2005****English translation courtesy of The Tablet

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INTRODUCTION

In continuity with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and, in particular, with the decree Optatam totius on priestly formation, the Congregation for Catholic Education has published various documents to promote an adequate integral formation of future priests, offering guidelines and precise norms concerning its different aspects. The Synod of Bishops in 1990 also reflected on priestly formation in the current circumstances, with the intention of complementing the conciliar teaching on this issue and make it more explicit and incisive in the contemporary world. Following this Synod, Pope John Paul II published the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores dabo vobis.

In light of this rich teaching, the present Instruction does not intend to dwell on all the issues in the affective or sexual realm that require attentive discernment throughout the entire period of formation. It contains norms regarding a particular issue, made more urgent by the current situation, and that is the admission or not to Seminaries and Holy Orders of candidates that have deep-seated homosexual tendencies.

1. Affective maturity and spiritual fatherhood (paternity)

According to the constant Tradition of the Church, only baptised males validly receive sacred Ordination. Through the sacrament of Orders the Holy Spirit configures the candidate, with a new and specific designation, to Jesus Christ: the priest, in fact, sacramentally represents Christ, Head, Shepherd, and Spouse of the Church. Because of this configuration to Christ, the entire life of the sacred minister must be animated by the gift of his entire person to the Church and by authentic pastoral charity.

The candidate for ordained ministry, therefore, must attain affective maturity. Such maturity will allow him to relate properly with men and women, developing in him a true sense of spiritual fatherhood for the ecclesial community that will be entrusted to him.

2. Homosexuality and Ordained Ministry

Since the Second Vatican Council up until today, various documents from the Magisterium – especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church – have confirmed the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. The Catechism distinguishes between homosexual acts and homosexual tendencies.

Regarding acts, it teaches that, in Sacred Scripture, these are presented grave sins. Tradition has always considered them as intrinsically immoral and contrary to the natural law. As a consequence, they can never be approved under any circumstance.

As regards to deep-seated homosexual tendencies, which are present in a certain number of men and women, these also are objectively disordered and are often a trial for such people. They must be accepted with respect and sensitivity; every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfil God’s will in their lives and to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter.

In the light of such teaching, this Dicastery, together with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, deems it necessary to clearly affirm that the Church, even while deeply respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to Seminary or Holy Orders those who are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture.

Such people, in fact, find themselves in a situation that seriously obstructs them from properly relating to men and women. The negative consequences that can result from the Ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies should not be obscured.

When dealing, instead, with homosexual tendencies that might only be a manifestation of a transitory problem, as, for example, delayed adolescence, these must be clearly overcome at least three years before diaconal Ordination.

Continue reading at: newoxfordreview.org/article.jsp?did=1105-vatican

 

[chipjaxfl]

Amen! The Church is standing where most of the others are falling. This world is creating a deep fog for many, may the Church shine bright in the midst thereof.

 

[contemplative]

http://photobucket.com/albums/y188/ginnyroc/th_thankful.jpg

I am down on my knees and thankful.

 

[cathlicnlovinit]

…and the gates of hell shall not provail…

 

[CatholicCid]

I thought the release wasn’t until November 29th?

 

[Gerry_Hunter]

CatholicCid:

I thought the release wasn’t until November 29th?

It isn’t until then. It leaked.

Blessings,

Gerry

 

[Dj_Roy_Albert]

“As regards to deep-seated homosexual tendencies, which are present in a certain number of men and women, these also are objectively disordered and are often a trial for such people. They must be accepted with respect and sensitivity.”

It must be understood that these “deep-seated” tendencies are at the very core diabolical, the spirit of Sodom & Gamorrah. Few people can grasp this truth = homosexuality (whether by act of by tendency) is the work of the evil one. The power of prayer is what is needed for these persons (of which I once was), to cast these demons out so that they can find deliverance & salvation.

Homosexuality is a spiritual problem that needs to be dealt with in “respect & sensitivity” & not “accepted” as a mere cross to bare. Love, true Agape Love will deliver & set free all who are in the grip of the devil, I am a witness to this.

I thank God that our Holy Mother Church has stepped forward to halt those that have attempted to bring down our Church by infesting Her with the sin of homosexuality. Here in the USA I’m sure we will see more & more fall away from the Truth & seek their own desires & perverse passions - so be it.

-God Bless.

 

[goofyjim]

“As regards to deep-seated homosexual tendencies, which are present in a certain number of men and women, these also are objectively disordered and are often a trial for such people. They must be accepted with respect and sensitivity.”

It must be understood that these “deep-seated” tendencies are at the very core diabolical, the spirit of Sodom & Gamorrah. Few people can grasp this truth = homosexuality (whether by act of by tendency) is the work of the evil one. The power of prayer is what is needed for these persons (of which I once was), to cast these demons out so that they can find deliverance & salvation.

Homosexuality is a spiritual problem that needs to be dealt with in “respect & sensitivity” & not “accepted” as a mere cross to bare. Love, true Agape Love will deliver & set free all who are in the grip of the devil, I am a witness to this.

I thank God that our Holy Mother Church has stepped forward to halt those that have attempted to bring down our Church by infesting Her with the sin of homosexuality. Here in the USA I’m sure we will see more & more fall away from the Truth & seek their own desires & perverse passions - so be it.

-God Bless.

If the only demon is to continue to have the attraction only, it may be better that way than to cast out that demon only to have seven others come in place of it. Some simply can not rid themselves of the attractions even through prayer but prayer will keep them from giving into those temptations. I am willing to accept someone like this as an equal member of the Church.

 

[chipjaxfl]

I would agree with that, but only if the person recognizes it as a sin and asks God for deliverence. Not someone who thinks it’s okay to be homosexual and staying celibate.

 

[ChurchMilitant]

I would agree with that, but only if the person recognizes it as a sin and asks God for deliverence. Not someone who thinks it’s okay to be homosexual and staying celibate.

Homosexual tendency cannot be a sin, or at least, none of the responsibility can be reflected back on the person who suffers from it, because no free choice is involved. Whether by genetics or circumstance someone who suffers from homosexual tendency does not choose to do so.

However, this observation cannot obscure the fact that homosexual tendency is a disorientation from God’s original plan, following in the tradition of Sodom & Gamorrah, as Dj Roy Albert aptly put it. I was at first put off by the Church’s decision to not only bar from the priesthood those who are active homosexuals or those who accept “gay culture” as it stands (both clearly unfit for ordination), but also to bar those who have deep-seated homosexual tendencys.

However, sympathy and compassion for those with homosexual tendencies cannot obscure the fact that homosexuality is not just any form of concupiscence, but that it effects a person’t ability to love with the kind of love that both marriage and the priesthood require. If a man cannot love a person of the opposite sex with the kind of love essential to marriage, then how can he “marry” the Church, which is effectively female as the bride of Christ, with that kind of love? I am forced to conclude that the Church’s wisdom in seeing how deep-seated homosexual tendencies can prevent someone from entering the “heavenly marriage” in the same way it prevents someone from entering the “earthly marriage” is entirely correct.

 

[Dj_Roy_Albert]

goofyjim:

If the only demon is to continue to have the attraction only, it may be better that way than to cast out that demon only to have seven others come in place of it. Some simply can not rid themselves of the attractions even through prayer but prayer will keep them from giving into those temptations. I am willing to accept someone like this as an equal member of the Church.

You obviously have a limited experience in deliverance & the study of demonology, but that is not surprising as most catholics/christians are in the same boat.
We as disciples of Christ are givien authority over the spirits of darkness & when one or more are cast out (not in a formal excorsism which can only be performed by the clergy), we must send them somewhere, just as Christ sent Legion into the herd of swine (which is where we get deviled ham ).
I am tempted in several different ways, one being with homosexual desires, but I don’t not claim to be homosexual because I believe that that would be giving into the lies that the evil one has the resy of the world believeing.
Homosexuality is not a way of life, it’s a way of death. Sin is sin no matter how we try to cover it up or look at it. For a person to cliam to be homosexual is for this person to cliam to be dominated by this sin. Even to say “I suffer from homosexual tendencies” is to give too much credit to the evil one for its attacks.
We all need to realize that the claim “homosexual” is a false identity, God does not make anyone a sinner, we have the free choice of ourselves. I can not accept anyone that claims to be homosexual & then claim to be a christian. No one can claim to be the bad news & still claim to be the Good News at the same time.

 

[Dj_Roy_Albert]

ChurchMilitant:

Homosexual tendency cannot be a sin.

I believe that temptation to perform homosexual acts in the instant that the temptation enters the mind is not a sin, it is temptation. The second that temptaion is focused or dwelt upon it becomes a sin.

The definition of tendency is: A predisposition to think, act, behave, or proceed in a particular way.

Sin begins in the mind & a predisposition to commit particular acts is a sin in itself, it is in fact an addiction to a certain sin or sins. It is giving into the temptation in the body & mind before physical actions take place. Christ gave a good exaplme when He spoke about adultery, sinnig in the mind is just as bad as the act itself.

 

[ChurchMilitant]

I believe that temptation to perform homosexual acts in the instant that the temptation enters the mind is not a sin, it is temptation. The second that temptaion is focused or dwelt upon it becomes a sin.

I agree, but dwelling on lustful thoughts about a person of the opposite sex falls under the heading of homopsexual behavior, not tendency.

The definition of tendency is: A predisposition to think, act, behave, or proceed in a particular way.

Absolutely, but this predisposition cannot be a sin by itself, save for original sin itself, because no free will is involved. No one can sin beyond the sin that they are concieved with without free choice.

Sin begins in the mind & a predisposition to commit particular acts is a sin in itself, it is in fact an addiction to a certain sin or sins. It is giving into the temptation in the body & mind before physical actions take place. Christ gave a good exaplme when He spoke about adultery, sinnig in the mind is just as bad as the act itself.

I have never heard Catholic teaching presume that a predisposition to commit a sin is sinful by itself; predisposition to sin is just concupiscence, the effects of original sin, part of being a fallen human. When Christ spoke of sinning in the mind, he was refering to someone who lusts after a women. Lusting is actually thinking sexually of, staring at, or dwelling on her body, not merely being predisposed to doing those things, but refraining from doing them. The former is a sin, a form of adultery, but the latter is not.

Of course if a homosexual man allows himself to lust after another man, even if he isn’t indulging in homosexual sex, is still sinning, but if he never allows himself to lust, but is merely predisposed to lusting because he has, of no choice of his own, a disoriented sexuality,. then that predisposition is not sinful.

 

[fkpl]

ChurchMilitant:

…
I have never heard Catholic teaching presume that a predisposition to commit a sin is sinful by itself; predisposition to sin is just concupiscence, the effects of original sin, part of being a fallen human. When Christ spoke of sinning in the mind, he was refering to someone who lusts after a women. Lusting is actually thinking sexually of, staring at, or dwelling on her body, not merely being predisposed to doing those things, but refraining from doing them. The former is a sin, a form of adultery, but the latter is not.

Of course if a homosexual man allows himself to lust after another man, even if he isn’t indulging in homosexual sex, is still sinning, but if he never allows himself to lust, but is merely predisposed to lusting because he has, of no choice of his own, a disoriented sexuality,. then that predisposition is not sinful.

The Instruction does not say, or even imply, that a “deep-rooted homosexual tendency” is sinful. Many gay-positive bishops and clergy will argue this as part of the strategy of evasion and disobedience, but this effort will be disingenuous.

It is clear from the Catechism that a homosexual orientation is NOT in and of itself sinful. Homosexual activity is sinful. Lust is also sinful and does not distinguish in this respect between homosexual and heterosexual persons.

It is misleading to discuss the instruction from the perspective of sinfulness. To say a person, for one reason or another, is not capable of forming the affective maturity and personality to be eligible for the sacrament of Holy Orders is not to say such person is sinful or immoral or bad. It is simply to say that the Church, in its infinite and infallible wisdom, sees such persons’ lives as intended to be fulfilled and made holy in another temporal way.

I think the Instruction’s use of the adjectival “deep rooted” is allowing enemies of the instruction far too much wiggle room. Read in the context of the discussion of an allowable “transitory” affective immaturity the adectival phrase has little, if any, meaning.

I believe it is beyond cavil that this instruction means that a man, on the date he is to be ordained a deacon or at any time within the previous three years would honestly define himself as possessed of a homosexual orientation is not qualified for ordination or avowed service to the Church.

 

[ChurchMilitant]

The Instruction does not say, or even imply, that a “deep-rooted homosexual tendency” is sinful. Many gay-positive bishops and clergy will argue this as part of the strategy of evasion and disobedience, but this effort will be disingenuous.

It is clear from the Catechism that a homosexual orientation is NOT in and of itself sinful. Homosexual activity is sinful. Lust is also sinful and does not distinguish in this respect between homosexual and heterosexual persons.

It is misleading to discuss the instruction from the perspective of sinfulness. To say a person, for one reason or another, is not capable of forming the affective maturity and personality to be eligible for the sacrament of Holy Orders is not to say such person is sinful or immoral or bad. It is simply to say that the Church, in its infinite and infallible wisdom, sees such persons’ lives as intended to be fulfilled and made holy in another temporal way.

I think the Instruction’s use of the adjectival “deep rooted” is allowing enemies of the instruction far too much wiggle room. Read in the context of the discussion of an allowable “transitory” affective immaturity the adectival phrase has little, if any, meaning.

I believe it is beyond cavil that this instruction means that a man, on the date he is to be ordained a deacon or at any time within the previous three years would honestly define himself as possessed of a homosexual orientation is not qualified for ordination or avowed service to the Church.

Very, very well said. When I said “I have never heard Catholic teaching presume that a predisposition to commit a sin is sinful by itself,” I was refering to DJ Roy Albert’s implying that homosexual orientation was itself sinful, I just meant to remind him that sin hinges on free will. I agree entirely that the document does not at all claim that homosexual orientation is sinful, merely that it is a serious enough disorder as to prevent one from carrying out the duties that the priesthood requires to the fullest extent.

 

[Georgess]

Could it be like a family member who has diabetes or even prediabetic condition; we do not want him known as a ‘diabetic’ as his identity ; we would want his problems addressed firmly ; keeping him away from places of temptation and if there is such a thing as a contagious diabetic , we would have to keep him away from situations that can spread the disease !

Priesthood is esp. about revealing the Face of the Father and everyone like St. John, who ,as the youngest of the disciples ,could relate to that Father Love , is esp. beloved .

Homosexuality has a built in attitude about it that damage the father dignity and identity .

As much as The Church has dealt with this issue with compassion, not wanting the homosexually afflicted to be treated as lepers , hope the message is well understood by those within The Church and out - it is a curable disorder with enough identity of Father dignity !

 

[Dj_Roy_Albert]

ChurchMilitant:

I agree, but dwelling on lustful thoughts about a person of the opposite sex falls under the heading of homopsexual behavior, not tendency.

Did you mean lustful thoughts about a person of the *same sex *falls under the heading of homosexual behavior? A thought is an action. Lust, as do all other sins begin in the mind & a person that has already made the decision to be “homosexual” has the predisposition to behave in a homosexual fashion, how can you think that this can not be a sin?

Absolutely, but this predisposition cannot be a sin by itself, save for original sin itself, because no free will is involved. No one can sin beyond the sin that they are concieved with without free choice.

The 3 ingredients of sin are: weakness, ignorance, & indifference. Sin is a sin whether or not the person is ignorant of it. Predisposition can be a sin because in the case of a “homosexual” the person has already made the conscience decision to be same sex oriented, how can that not be sinful?

I have never heard Catholic teaching presume that a predisposition to commit a sin is sinful by itself; predisposition to sin is just concupiscence, the effects of original sin, part of being a fallen human.

I believe that the Church will soon begin to see “homosexuality” in a differnt light in the years to come. The Church has taken a very weak stance when dealing with “homosexuality” up to this point in time, I’m not surprised that it’s taken this long to put a ban on “gays” in the priesthood. The San Diego Diocese is overrun with “gay” priests, it’s disgusting.

When Christ spoke of sinning in the mind, he was refering to someone who lusts after a women. Lusting is actually thinking sexually of, staring at, or dwelling on her body, not merely being predisposed to doing those things, but refraining from doing them. The former is a sin, a form of adultery, but the latter is not.

An addiction is a sin, being predisposed to the addiction is sinful. A pedophile is predisposed to sex with children, how can that not be a sin?

Of course if a homosexual man allows himself to lust after another man, even if he isn’t indulging in homosexual sex, is still sinning, but if he never allows himself to lust, but is merely predisposed to lusting because he has, of no choice of his own, a disoriented sexuality,. then that predisposition is not sinful.

Do you think persons are born gay? because it sounds like you do.
This is where the world needs to see things in a different light. No one is born “gay”, it is a choice to dwell in sin & allow ones self to be predisposed to “homosexual” sin.

 

[Dj_Roy_Albert]

fkpl:

The Instruction does not say, or even imply, that a “deep-rooted homosexual tendency” is sinful. Many gay-positive bishops and clergy will argue this as part of the strategy of evasion and disobedience, but this effort will be disingenuous.

It is clear from the Catechism that a homosexual orientation is NOT in and of itself sinful. Homosexual activity is sinful. Lust is also sinful and does not distinguish in this respect between homosexual and heterosexual persons.

It is misleading to discuss the instruction from the perspective of sinfulness. To say a person, for one reason or another, is not capable of forming the affective maturity and personality to be eligible for the sacrament of Holy Orders is not to say such person is sinful or immoral or bad. It is simply to say that the Church, in its infinite and infallible wisdom, sees such persons’ lives as intended to be fulfilled and made holy in another temporal way.

I think the Instruction’s use of the adjectival “deep rooted” is allowing enemies of the instruction far too much wiggle room. Read in the context of the discussion of an allowable “transitory” affective immaturity the adectival phrase has little, if any, meaning.

I believe it is beyond cavil that this instruction means that a man, on the date he is to be ordained a deacon or at any time within the previous three years would honestly define himself as possessed of a homosexual orientation is not qualified for ordination or avowed service to the Church.

This is where I believe that the Church’s understanding of “homosexuality” needs improvement & be seen in a different light.

For a person to say “I am a homosexual”, is that person’s conscience decision to live in sin. For a person to say “I have homosexual tendencies”, is that person’s admitting to easily give into homosexual desires which are sinful desires. A predispostion to homosexual behavior is sinful because homosexuality IS A SIN, whether by thought or by action. It is a distortion of the truth for people to believe that “the act” of homosexuality is the sin & not the desire to commit the sin. When the “homosexual person” easily gives into the tendency, then he or she gives into a sinful behavior and/or thought patterns.

Commiting the sin is wrong, wanting to commit the sin is wrong & being predisposed to the sin is wrong because it is an admitance to having a “deep rooted” desire to commit the sin.

A good example of "deep rooted " desire or tendency to sin is murder. A person can in fact be convicted for conspiracy to commit murder, the thought & plan to kill someone. If the “murderer” has the tendencies to kill people, then how can this not be a sin since murder is a sin?

By the way, saying that the Church is infallible is a bit scary, it was only 500+ years ago that the Church swore that the world was flat. The teachings of the Church have been brought into a new light from age to age.I believe that the Church will soon have to rethink it’s views on “homosexuality”.

 

[Georgess]

The Church teaching on infalliblility can be easily grasped by those who are open to truth ; she is given the keys , on matters of faith and morals ;she has been asked to tend and feed - on mattters of deepest values, on matters of The kingdom ; her children’s scientific discoveries ,as much as she encourage and support with The power of The Holy Spirit , she yet fully realises ,that science is an evolving field - there has beeen no doctrine from the Church that the earth is flat .

And we have her brilliant sons like Loiuse Pastuer ,G.K Chesterton and of course countles others who had the wisdom and humility to accept with joy the truth in her teachings - as scrptiure says - the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth !