Vatican to Ban Gay Priests

[Gemini Cricket]

Vatican to Bar Homosexual Priests - New York Times

Sep. 22, 2005 - Homosexuals, even those who are celibate, will be barred from becoming Roman Catholic priests under stricter rules soon to be released, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

The newspaper quoted a Church official "with authoritative knowledge of the new rules," as saying the question was not "if it will be published, but when," referring to the new ruling about homosexuality in Catholic seminaries.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the church's policy of not commenting on unpublished reports, the Times said.

He said that while Pope Benedict had yet to sign the document, it would probably be released in the next six weeks.

In addition to the new document, which will apply to the church worldwide, Vatican investigators have been instructed to visit each of the 229 seminaries in the United States.

The newspaper said that although work on the document began years ago under Pope John Paul, who died in April, its release will be a defining act in the young papacy of Benedict.

It noted that the Pope is a conservative who said last spring that there was a need to "purify" the church after deeply damaging sex scandals of the last several years.

The church official told the Times the ban would pertain only to candidates for the priesthood, not to those already ordained. He also said the document did not represent any theological shift for the church, whose catechism considers homosexuality "objectively disordered."

The church official who discussed the expected new rules said the document called for barring even celibate men who considered themselves homosexual because of what he contended were the specific temptations of seminaries.

"The difference is in the special atmosphere of the seminary," the Times quoted him as saying. "In the seminary, you are surrounded by males, not females."

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[Gemini Cricket]

A couple of thoughts on this:

1. It doesn't pertain to already ordained priests. Because if it did... ahem... there would be a huge chunk of priests resigning.

2. The church wants to 'purify' their priestly ranks. Was that something the current Pope learned as a kid? You know, purifying a large group by getting rid of an unpopular minority?

3. The CC should let priests marry already, for Christ's sake.

4. In a way, I'm happy with the decision. Often the most staunchly anti-gay priests are the gay ones. Without them, the church can lay off trying to deny my rights as an American.

5. Is the ban on lesbian nuns next?

6. In their narrow mind, how does this ban halt the priests who molested little girls?

Off topic: The last pope was more photogenic.

[Nephythys]

zoinks!

[€uroMeinke]

Well considering these guys are supposed to be celibate and at least asexula in their behavior, I guess this document implies that to the church, homosexuality is not just a behavior to be controlled.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

Well considering these guys are supposed to be celibate and at least asexula in their behavior, I guess this document implies that to the church, homosexuality is not just a behavior to be controlled.

Nor is it a choice. Celibate Priests are still homosexual. I wonder if it is because God made them that way?

[innerSpaceman]

Good. Gays should not even be allowed to participate in such a homophobic organization.


And, yes, the new pope should never be seen or photographed. He conveys pure evil. He's obviously a madman with intent on taking over the world. Oh, and he's undead.

[MickeyD]

I've known about this for while and of course find it to be ridiculous. The LA archdiocese ordained 6 priests this year (I think, I wasn't at the ordination)....so next year, under these new guidelines I'm guessing we'll be down to about 1....yeah, that's what the church needs, *fewer* priests. Ordain women/married men for christ's sake....

I am interested to see how the vatican visits affect the supposedly not very celibate atmosphere at the seminaries, if they affect it at all.


Grrr.....

On a side note....Bennie is much more photogenic when I'm behind the camera (if a little blurry.) http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mickey...ef.jpg&.src=ph Also, these stupid ass guidelines have been in the works since before he was pope....although now that I think about it, he is probably still responsible for them....

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I think IS is right. Undead Pope! Undead!

I think the Catholic church should allow gays. And women. And donkeys. And baby seals. Etc. Because the priesthood is a dying profession.

I'll even write their new slogan: The More the Holier...and Merrier!

Actually, their problem would be solved if they simply allowed priests to marry, have partners, etc. In this Modern world, celibacy just isn't an option for most people. In the way back when, when people were generally ugly and smelly and pock marked and covered in arsenic powders, celibacy would have been a treat and a mercy.

Priests used to be allowed to marry. My understanding is that the Church decided to change this when it realized it would save money by disallowing marriage. A priest who doesn't have to support a wife and family - or leave behind some kind of widow's pension - is a bargain for the church. And nuns? Used to be, if you were a Christian woman who wanted to learn how to read, you better become a prostitute or a nun. So scholarly women became nuns. And the rest were usually woman who had no had dowries, and their families couldn't afford to keep them. Your sisters married before you. You have a hunched back, no dowry, and no man wants to take you off your father’s hands? To the nunnery with you, away! The nuns of real religious fervor and faith were probably few and far between. Most nuns, much like Maria, were simply waiting for their Captain von Trapps to come along.

Sex for priests! Sex for nuns! And what you’ll have are better, happier, more abundant servants of Christ. I guarantee it.

[mistyisjafo]

And when are they going to ban Pedophiles might I ask?

[€uroMeinke]

Nunsexmonkrock!