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Published: May 20, 2008
No wiggle room
Vatican says no exceptions to ban on homosexuals in seminaries
 Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, has sent a letter to the bishops of the world -- with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI -- reaffirming as universal and without exceptions the norms established by the Congregation for Catholic Education in the 2005 document “Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocation with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders.”
In the brief Rescriptum ex audientia -- a written response to various queries -- Cardinal Bertone said the norms establishing the selection of candidates to the priesthood are valid “for all houses of formation for the priesthood, including those under the Dicasteries for Eastern Churches, for the Evangelization of Peoples, and for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.”
The letter, which Cardinal Bertone said was issued in response “to numerous requests for clarification,” implies that the prohibition against accepting homosexual candidates in seminaries applies not only to diocesan seminaries, but also to those of religious orders and congregations, as well as to those that are located in mission territories.
The 2005 Instruction indicated the Congregation for Catholic Education, “in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture.’"
"Such persons, in fact, find themselves in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women. One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies," the 2005 document also said.
(Story courtesy of Catholic News Agency)
Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 3:16 AM By Maryanne Leonard
With compassion in my heart for those who find themselves in this situation, I support this show of leadership in the Church which deems the ordination of men who suffer from deep-seated homosexuality to be barred from the priesthood. At a time when the Church needs more priests, it takes moral courage to reaffirm what common sense tells us instinctively.
Nevertheless, we must remember we are speaking of and about human beings here and must recall the words, "while profounding respecting the persons in question," which remind us to treat all human beings, including homosexuals, with respect.
The Church is calling this exactly right: treat these people with respect, but recognize that they are indeed not appropriate candidates for the priesthood precisely because their situation does gravely hinder them from relating correctly to men, and women . . . and oh yes, children.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 4:41 AM By Anne
Well, for those who deny, deny, deny that it is a homosexual problem which plagues The Church (and the world), you may have swayed a few dumb sheep but not the Shepherd. The Vatican sees it for what it is.
So the homosexual perversion defenders and womyn pretend priestesses who think they can buffalo society into thinking the scandals were straight men, who "denied" access to wives have turned into "child" molesters can all go home now. You lose.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 4:41 AM By Pilsun
There has been much discussion about homosexuals in the priesthood, and much talk about pedophile priests preying on young boys or teenage boys, but where is the investigation on the possible connection between these two groups? We (and the church) spend a lot of time talking around the issue, but isn't time we get an answer to this question? How else can meaningful reform occur?
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 4:47 AM By Fr. M.P.
This will help identify the wolves who will not accept Church teachings on unnatural and mortally sinful behavior. They will whine and complain.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 6:17 AM By tom amadeo
The article above describes a Vatican directive but fails to describe the method of enforcement and the penalties for non-compliance.At first glance,it seems to me that the bishops will be the enforcement monitors. But many,perhaps even the majority,of bishops may be homosexual which will compromise any enforcement. Until these issues are clarified,this Vatican directive might be viewed by some(including me) as perhaps another example of Vatican"omnia loquere,nihil facere",meaning "all talk,no action."But if this directive is for real, it will increase vocations,greatly.It will go far in erasing the stigmas and isolation which the celebate,and heterosexual priests of today must endure.Today,these priests suffer in their self imposed isolation---because if they bond with another male,they risk being thought of as "gay"; if they bond with a female,they may be thought of as"fooling around"; and you can only imagine what they risk being called,should they hug a kid. And while enforcing the Vatican directive alone will not make the priestly life a bowl of cherries,it will go far in making it far more "palatable."
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 7:05 AM By Vincent
It makes sense in light of this that the Church laicise all priests with deep-seated homosexual tendencies. This will, of course, lead to such a catastrophic crisis, that the Hierarchy will probably have to drop all of this nonsense henceforth and forthwith. It is estimated that up to a half of ordained priests might have deep-seated homosexual tendencies. And the Church cannot affort to lose half of its priests, can it. And if the idea is that getting rid of gays from the seminaries will see them filling up to capacity with wholesome straight lads, well, I wonder ... . Carl Jung observed that gays are often inherently spiritual, on average to a much greater degree than straights. Gay priests in my estimation often make the best priests. All this shoddy homophobia must ultimately give way to all-encompassing love and inclusion. It's already happened to the younger generations. My niece and nephew (10 and 6 respectively) are extremely fond of my gay cousin and his husband - who were married in a spectacular ceremony last month, after being together for more than a decade. Stunning stuff!!!
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 7:37 AM By Giovanna De Santi
"cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture.’" How much more clear can this be? Thank God for the magesterium. Thank God for the blessings of being Catholic. Thank God, the Almighty has has spoken directly to us about the parameters of acceptance into these sacred positions within the church. Think about it, how would you feel about having an actively gay priest at your church standing at the pulpit preaching Gospel values, when He isn't living them himself and has no intention of doing so. Yes, priests have shortcomings and fail...but the God-honoring priest and religious must be able to live out his/her faith to assume those ranks in the church.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:12 AM By Robert Lockwood
Now - let us see if the Bishops of the United States - ALL of them, do what they are instructed.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:17 AM By Query
The language of the document is still so vague, are chaste devout gay men exempt?
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:24 AM By Thomas
Bla bla bla…I’ve heard it all before. Words without action. There is a cancer in the Church that needs radical surgery. If the Doctor tells the cancer patient your cancer shouldn’t be there then sends the patient home, the patient is going to die.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:33 AM By JimAroo
The Bishops in the USA will conform their seminary admissions policy and their ordination requirements to follow this edict to the exact same extent they followed the 1961 Vatican warning on the same subject. That is to say they will do the F and F procedure - File and Forget.
They wouldn't obey in the good old days of 1961. So what are the chances that a group of bishops who fight the Vatican on every point of every issue will obey on this issue which is so close to their heart? They will F & F like they do everything else from the Vatican.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:43 AM By Not born yesterday
Maryanne Leonard you ‘find compassion for those who find themselves in this situation’. It’s obvious you have fallen for the false notion that sodomites have no choice.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:46 AM By 4unborn
I do not recall the name of the bishop but he said that as long as a seminarian candidate tells him that he has not been engaged in a homosexual relationship in the last three years, that candidate will be admitted.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:57 AM By Boniface
The attacks on homosexuals who are priests or religious is mere smoke and mirrors, attacking a vulnerable and rejected group in order to distract from the simple truth that the vast majority of children are abused within the family, often and usually by their fathers. The Church has a duty to teach all truth but the emphasis is surely on ALL not on the selective, dare one say, populist truth. Most homosexuals like most heterosexuals are disgusted and appalled by child abuse: please do not confuse the issues and thereby dilute the Truth.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:15 AM By Peter
. . . "[...], present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture." And the litmus test for making this determination is . . . .? In the tradition of the Malleus Maleficarum, anyone want to tackle writing a Malleus Homorum - to educate magistrates on the procedures that could find them out and convict them, er, prevent them from joining the priesthood?
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:42 AM By betty
Right on, Mary Ann. But what if they don't find out until after ordination that they have homosexual tendencies. Do they get thrown out right off the bat? I think we can all quibble about what- if- this and what-if-that etc. etc. but the principle is correct even if we have doubts about how it will be enforced.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:42 AM By Thomas
A very good question, Query!!
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:43 AM By womyn
Query, yes, I believe that chaste devout homosexual men would be more than welcome to become priests. All seminarians, straight or gay are expected to be chaste. They can represent Christ here on earth. Christ did not go around saying whether he was homosexual or heterosexual. He was a chaste "man". A chaste "man" ...........not a "womyn" or an unchaste man can be the representative of Christ.
Nothing was mentioned about men with strong homosexual tendencies being denied acceptance into other religious orders such as the teaching brothers that teach high school boys. Does the word "seminary" also include the institution that a religious brother would attend?
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:46 AM By Jane
You can bet that Cardinal Mahoney, Cardinal Levada, Abp. Niederauer, and others of the "lavendar mafia" of the Camarillo Seminary will just laugh and continue on with their "gay is okay" philosophy. It is very, very sad and I pray for them--and for the homosexuals themselves--daily. I have a nephew who thought he had a vocation to the priesthood. Instead he "came out" and is living with another young man. Do I love my nephew? Yes, of course, and I pray for his soul daily. Do I think he should ever be admitted to a seminary? No way.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:03 AM By Grisha
If I were being called to the priesthood (Don't worry, I'm not) , one of the chalenges I would face would be my "deep-seated hetrosexual tendencies." Are we now saying that only men with a low sex drive (hetro or homo) need apply?
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:18 AM By Grisha
Jane ~ After returning from Vietnam, one of my cousens was in the same situation as your nephew and made the same choice. I still think that of all of us in the family, he would have made the best priest.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:07 PM By Pax Christi
It's nice to see JPII's and BXVI's pontificates continuing to bear good fruits.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:07 PM By Mark J
Query: I think your question is the same question that seminary rectors are asking. I think it may be up to the individual bishop/vocation director (unless it's the Jesuits of course, then it's come one, come out all)!
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:08 PM By Laura Britto
Confusing homosexuality with pedophilia is amazingly rampant in the Roman Catholic community. I had hoped that the Vatican's eyes would finally be opened, but alas! They have not. So, instead, the Church will continue to hemmorhage the loss of good homosexual seminarians, and will instead continue to accept the pedophiles that have plagued my Church for centuries. This is not what Our Lord had invisioned for His Church. Since chastity is expected from the clergy anyway, why should it matter which sexual preference is yours? The Church still has a lot of healing to do, from the inside.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:13 PM By Fr. J
The elephant in the living room has been identified. Most of the abuse cases involved homosexuals. Anyone who has a problem with this is part of the problem.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:43 PM By Harry
I can picture Cardinal Mahoney setting up an inspection team to visit the seminaries in the archdiocese seeking out those with deep-seated homosexual tendencies and removing them forthwith from those sacred institutions. Can't you?!
My prediction is that the directive will be implemented with the same diligence as the directive regarding Communion to Catholic pro abortion politicians.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 1:40 PM By Observer
"Gay" is calling something that it is not, is a lie, and its aim is to confirm sin. Let's say one day I decided that my identity was defined by my predisposition to steal things. Further, what if I decided to call myself a made up term -- a "Giver" as in "I am a Giving American" or "I believe that Givers should have all the rights of others" or "I am for equal rights for Givers." Of course then who could deny that all have the right to work wherever they want? And who could say that I was a bad person? It's not what I do it is what I "am" and you do not have to agree with but you have no right to question me. And who could say that I am a sinner? In fact Christ loves all doesn't he, “Givers” and non-Givers alike right? *** Now as an exercise try this same thing with any other violation of God's commandments (murder, covetousness, failure to keep holy the Sabbath) *** Though irrational, you can see how people who wanted to do their own thing could fall for it as it confirms their chosen preferences. Final point: if I were a confirmed "Giver" I should not be employed in a bank.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 1:46 PM By Ronnie
Over 80% of all the abuse which occured involved homosexual acts against post-pubescent boys and young men. Pedophilia amounted to about 7%, so who is confusing the issue? Someone who has a "disordered inclination, orientation or lifestyle", however we want to label it, cannot be admitted to the Priesthood precisely because of their disorder and it's about time this was acknowledged. If not, the abuse will continue. As for heterosexuals having a higher rate of abuse, of course it would seem like that because they compromise close to 97% of the population. The rate for gays is extremely high for their 1-3% population,
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 1:55 PM By Jimmy Mac
Sorry, Pax Christi, but JPII and BXVI don't permit "good fruits" in the priesthood. Don't they wish!
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 2:28 PM By Papamac
If you follow this Pope's actions, they would tell you that he has a plan, it is in motion, Mahoney and the other gay enhancers will be dealth with. Getting rid of the sodomites will not result in a long term problem for the Catholic Church, before Vatican Two and the Liberalization of OUR Church we had plenty of Vocations and full Churches, once the sodomites were entrenched hundreds of good and decent Men were rejected by the powers to be because of their refusal to adhere to the homosexual agenda's of far to many Seminaries. This is God's plan, with the Holy Spirit inspiring our Pope, we have a wonderful Pope surrounding himself with good Cardinals(possible exception in Levada, BUT, Jesus had Judas)who is thankfully carrying the Fathers wishes. MGB
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 3:18 PM By John L. Sillasen
Grisha, no. A big part of the problem that impedes buidling up a good seminary population is the emphasis on sex drive. God will not test a faithful man more than he can resist the temptation; therefore, it is not a matter of strong or weak or average sex drive. It is a matter of faith and calling.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 4:53 PM By Thomas
THE DIRECTIVE IS MUTE; THERE IS NO WAY TO ENFORCE IT !!!! HOW WILL THE VATICAN KNOW WHO IS AND WHO IS NOT, MAYBE THE HOMOSEXUAL CANDIDATE HAS "666" MARKED ON HIS HEAD, MAYBE THE THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL POINT OUT THE HOMOSEXUAL!! WHAT A DUMB STUPIT IDEA!!!
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 5:03 PM By Paul
Laura Britto…”good homosexual seminarians?... why should it matter which sexual preference is yours? Confusing homosexuality with pedophilia is amazingly rampant in the Roman Catholic community”. It’s obvious you’re the one confused.
“Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy. Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them.”
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 5:24 PM By Pat
Whether one is heterosexual or homosexual, the sex drive is going to be a 'cross' and a difficult desire to curb. A holy life immersed in Jesus, scripture, much prayer, and the lives of the saints has to be their armour. Our own prayer life must always include these, our brothers and sisters, on a daily basis. God bless all of them.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 5:34 PM By WB
It's also important to have seminarians who can be honest with themselves and with their spiritual directors. This means that a young man with homosexual desires should reflect on the truth of the statement given - homosexual desire "gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women", thus excluding them from being appropriate candidates for the priesthood. It's not the sex desire itself that is the problem, but the misdirected desire (wanting to have sex with another man). This means that the young man does not understand men or women -- there's a radical disorientation at the level of emotional and sexual bonding. This is a poor foundation for a man entering the sacred priesthood. It needs therapy and care and shouldn't be permitted into the seminary which is a proving ground for men.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 6:53 PM By simone dubois
Vicent you wrote, "It makes sense in light of this that the Church laicise all priests with deep-seated homosexual tendencies. " Vincent, for once, I couldn't agree with you more! God Bless.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 7:00 PM By simone dubois
Grisha, it doesn't make sense...low sex drives do not necessarily mean one is sexually ordered in fact many serial killers have low sex drives. Further, I would argue an intense sex drive in a well ordered man provides an opportunity to self-mastery, self-denial, self-sacrafice. It would actually assist a good priest in becomiing that self-sacrifice which burns with a deep love for God. Conversely, many great saints, I am told, had to overcome this temptation you say you are saddled with. Cheers to you and God bless you for fighting the good fight.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 7:57 PM By Mary Ann, SingingMum
Boniface, you said, 'The attacks on homosexuals who are priests or religious is mere smoke and mirrors, attacking a vulnerable and rejected group in order to distract from the simple truth that the vast majority of children are abused within the family, often and usually by their fathers.'
The restriction has to do with seminaries, not all families. You are right to say the vast majority are abused within the family, and I hope the Church and society at large turns the spotlight on family situations, where the largest number of minors are hurt. But you neglect the fact that the Church is responding to a severe crisis in which the vast majority of priestly abuse victims were post-pubescent males. The Church would be foolish to deny this. It is common sense to forbid admittance to members of a group with such a known history- its about protecting minors from abuse. I do trust that devout men with same sex attraction who have proven themselves capable of long-term chaste living will be given some sort of consideration, but leave that decision to Rome. When it comes to preventing sexual abuse, its better to err on the side of caution. Sincere, chaste men with same sex attraction can serve the Church in other ways.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 8:14 PM By gravey
"If I were being called to the priesthood, one of the challenges I would face would be my "deep-seated hetrosexual tendencies."
Grisha,Grisha,Grisha, By its very nature, homosexuality is a disordered condition; while heterosexuality is an ordered condition. Of course you know this and are just being coy in yet another post to convice yourself that homosexuality is a gift.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:23 PM By John L. Sillasen
There is no important difference between homosexual behavior with teens or adults and children ... the whole mess is grave sin against God, mankind and nature, ie a severely disordered act. There is an important difference in suffering among the children victims than among the adult victims ... and in this case teens would be included more with the level of victimness of the children, due to the healing process being more difficult the younger the victim.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:28 PM By John L. Sillasen
St Paul does not give any "wiggle room" either. He says that if a man is burning with lust, then to marry; if not, then to stay celibate for service to the Church. He does not provide for any other conditions. He also says that among those professing the Catholic faith are those who were practicing homosexual behavior. Therefore, there simply is no place in the Church for anyone who does homosexual behavior. This may be why one of the sins that cries out to God for vengeance is homosexual behavior.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:07 PM By Rose
Doubting Thomas the Holy Spirit you mock can point out anything. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. That's the Holy Trinity. The Catholic church just celebrated the feast day of the Holy Trinity this past Sunday May 18, 2008.
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Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:49 PM By Central Valley
I wonder if Bishop Steinbock in Fresno has changed his thinking on this issue since Rome has spoken again and he refuses to listen. Remember Fr. Listiri?
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Posted Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:00 AM By Maria C
Fr. J thank you once again for speaking truth. The truth needs to be spoken. The truth, the way is in Jesus. His light shines still and will give the faithful strength to endure what is ahead. May our Lord save us from the lies of all evil that continues to be popular now adays. We need to keep hearing the truth, it gives us strength and courage to keep up the good fight in Jesus and in His church. Fr. J all it takes is for us to get on our knee's and ask our Lord to give us His truths, to open our eye's and hearts to His truths. There is nothing more beautiful than to be set free from all sin and be united with our Lord in truth. May our Lord bless us with more Holy and reverent priests who are truly called, who are healthy in mind and spirit, free from disfunction, although human but still called to do the will of our Lord. God bless our Pope and Christ's church and His people. Amen!
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Posted Wednesday, May 21, 2008 5:56 AM By RR
No man with homosexual tendencies should go in to the priesthood. The same goes for the convent. We are told to avoid the near occassions of sin. Obviously, gong into the convent or priesthood with these tendencies is putting yourself and other men and women with these same tendencies in a near occassion to sin. If you have these homosexual tendencies, instead of putting yourself and others in an occassion to sin, just live a chaste and holy life and devote yourself in a personal way to God. Show Him how much you love Him and His Mother by leading a prayerful and chaste life. God will show you that He is pleased with your sacrifice.
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Posted Wednesday, May 21, 2008 7:23 AM By Jo Ann
I see that Archbishop Rosales from the Philippines has stated that homosexuals can make good priests as long as they don't give in to their 'inclinations". I wonder if he would feel it OK to give someone struggling with alcoholism, a job as a "bartender". If you put someone with an "inclination" in an environment of temptation, isn't that naivete?
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Posted Wednesday, May 21, 2008 2:28 PM By california
They might as well close the Major Seminary for Los Angeles. No more "See and Come"... er, "Come and See" retreats will be held for those thinking of joining the seminary.
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Posted Wednesday, May 21, 2008 10:35 PM By James
Speaking of this subject: does anyone on this site know where old Archbishop Weakland disappeared to after he was exposed? It seems he has fallen off the map.
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Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 9:30 PM By jan wnek
I respectfully submit that those of you who are married, whether you have children or not, can very easily, if it is your calling and you are below middle age, become priests in the Eastern rites. It doesn't matter if you now subscribe to the Roman rite...you are freely allowed to become married priests in the Eastern churches recognized by Rome as long as you marry prior to becoming seminarians....of course, if you are single when you enter an Eastern rite seminary, celibacy is what you are faced with......this is one of the Roman church's "best kept secrets".....check it out, folks. There are options to celibacy.
Pace e bene,
Jan
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Posted Thursday, May 29, 2008 10:15 PM By Laura Britto
Paul, I forgive you for your rantings against me. I forgive you for your intolerance towards me. I forgive you, Paul. As the Lord forgives you. But I will not back down from what is right. To condemn others for their sexual preference is still wrong. I won't condemn another for what I believe is not a choice. So, if you wish me ill, Paul, I still forgive you.
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Posted Wednesday, June 25, 2008 12:49 PM By ATHELSTAN
Well it is one thing to say I won't back down on homosexuals in seminaries, but the Pope's real difficulties aren't in seminaries. Pope Benedict has to be concerned about what he does about the potential jail birds in purple and black cassocks in the dioceses and parishes who are psychosexually immature and/or sexually disordered??? There are tens of thousands of them worldwide.
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Posted Wednesday, July 09, 2008 4:01 PM By ATHELSTAN
If homosexuality is a "disorder", and insanity is also a "disorder", do we deny the sacraments and admission to the priesthood to the "disordered"?? If so, the seminaries of the world, not just the U.S., have been making major blunders for long, long time .
Those obsessed with homosexuality as a "disorder" are usually the same folks in the Flat Earth Society, the "sun revolves about the earth" club, and until 1860, slavery was moral and part of the " natural law "of things.
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Posted Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:45 AM By Allan
The Church's strong stance against allowing homosexuals
into seminaries is a solid step in getting the Catholic
Church back on track.
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