Hunting Gay Priests
It's being reported in the media that the Vatican is on the hunt for gay priests and plans to exclude them from the priesthood. Newsweek reported in its "Periscope" section that:
The Roman Catholic Church has embarked on a vast investigation that could push men with homosexual inclinations out of the already dwindling ranks of seminarians.
Newsweek also quotes one scholar who says, "23 to 58 percent of Catholic clerics have homosexual orientations." Strange numbers. It has also been reported that more than 80 percent of the people sexually abused by Catholic priests were young males.
All this leaves me a little confused. Since priests take a vow of celibacy, what difference does it make whether they prefer boys or girls--or for that matter, cows or sheep? Seems to me their sin, and the offense that would merit de-frocking, would be breaking that sacred vow of celibacy, regardless of the sex, species, or age of their sexual partners.
Maybe I'm missing something.
The Roman Catholic Church has embarked on a vast investigation that could push men with homosexual inclinations out of the already dwindling ranks of seminarians.
Newsweek also quotes one scholar who says, "23 to 58 percent of Catholic clerics have homosexual orientations." Strange numbers. It has also been reported that more than 80 percent of the people sexually abused by Catholic priests were young males.
All this leaves me a little confused. Since priests take a vow of celibacy, what difference does it make whether they prefer boys or girls--or for that matter, cows or sheep? Seems to me their sin, and the offense that would merit de-frocking, would be breaking that sacred vow of celibacy, regardless of the sex, species, or age of their sexual partners.
Maybe I'm missing something.
6 Comments:
Over the years it's perplexed me because celibacy is a church construct more than anything else. To break a rule of a particular institution is more severe, sexuality shouldn't be the issue, but the church makes it an issue, not just with priests but with everyday people.
The other thing?
I really can't completely see why a person would prefer to live a life with one particular sex, essentially live a homosexual lifestyle in terms of one gender, unless...?
It's probably too narrow to say that, to think that, but I don't really fully understand it during these modern times. In the distant past, many males were sent to abbeys, most were from poor households and being a monk, let's say, offered them an education.
But today?
Does it really have a place when education in the Western World, because recent cases of sexual predation and abuse concerning priests have occured more so in the Western World or have been widely reported in many countries.
Rabbi's aren't celibate, they can marry. Imam's can marry as well but in the Christian 'realm' it's all a mess with various denominations having various rules. I'm amazed that people still follow Christianity, it has to be the most inconsistent religion where celibacy is concerned. Catholic priests have to be celibate, Eastern Orthodox priests can marry (whereas archbishops and Patriarchs can't marry), and then there are Mormons and the list goes on.
Like any corporation, it's time that Christianity was restructured (lol).
"...the Vatican is on the hunt for gay priests and plans to exclude them from the priesthood." --TC
Not exactly. They intend to require seminaries to enforce the ban which already exists (ordered by John XXIII, of all people) on gays being admitted to the seminaries. There are no plans to take away the faculties of homosexuals who have already been ordained.
"...I don't really fully understand it [celibacy?] during these modern times. In the distant past, many males were sent to abbeys, most were from poor households and being a monk, let's say, offered them an education. --l'
People who become priest, monks, and nuns should not do so for reasons of economic opportunity. You can give a seminary admissions director a good laugh by telling him you want to join for the pay. Modern priests and religious are supposed to join because they believe they have heard an authentic calling from God Himself; that is, a "vocation". Every priest and religious I know has told me they have received exactly that.
Tom, it should not make any difference as long as the individual is dedicated to their vows.
This appears to be a pragmatic decision. There were a lot of AIDS cases among Catholic priests, for example. According to what I have read, some Catholic seminaries were predominantly homosexual and did not teach that male/male sex was inappropriate for priests.
Considering the sheer numbers of the abuse cases, the Church has to do something. I don't think the seminary candidates are going to be under scrutiny - I think the seminary administration is going to receive the bulk of the scrutiny.
What I don't understand is don't they realize that being a pedophile has nothing at all to with being a homosexual.
While it is true that most pedophiles are male and prefer boys, they certainly don't want adult males, just children. Adult male homosexuals are no more likely to sexually abuse a child than a straight adult male.
So, perhaps, rather than trying to rid the seminaries of homosexuals they should try to rid them of pedophiles.
Never thought that a PRIEST could do something like this. confused, my faith a little bit brakes ((
Take me with you guys!! I promise - I will be in the front raw at this hunt!
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