New Vatican Rule Said to Bar Gays as New Priests

[im10ashus]

Bastards!

First, there goes half their priests. Second, what about those who ARE having sex with women and/or children.

What should I have expected?

By IAN FISHER and LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: September 22, 2005
ROME, Sept. 21 - Homosexuals, even those who are celibate, will be barred from becoming Roman Catholic priests, a church official said Wednesday, under stricter rules soon to be released on one of the most sensitive issues facing the church.

The official, said the question was not "if it will be published, but when," referring to the new ruling about homosexuality in Catholic seminaries, a topic that has stirred much recent rumor and worry in the church. The official, who has authoritative knowledge of the new rules, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the church's policy of not commenting on unpublished reports.

He said that while Pope Benedict XVI had not yet signed 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.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/22/international/europe/22vatican.html?hp&ex=1127361600&en=53b08101f5606757&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[despairing optimist]

1. I wonder what the gay test will be

Sexual arousal out of wedlock is sinful, so how to test sexuality? Women can't be ordained, straight priests can't marry, and gay priests can't be ordained either. Don't tell me Grover Norquist is starving this beast too.

[im10ashus]

2. Good question.

Although I shudder to think how they will out them. As a gay man who once considered the priesthood out of guilt for my sexuality, I can't imagine this is going to have any significant result. They couldn't possibly expect them to be forthcoming with their sexual preference. I am SO glad I left the church. Bastards, I tell you!!!

[CatBoreal]

4. Hugs...

[im10ashus]

5. Awwwww!

:hug:

Back at you, doll!!!

[sweetheart]

3. well, that's the end of the catholic church

Without gays the priesthood will all but die off.

[im10ashus]

6. Not really.

They still have their child molesters. And they are a much larger contingency than the gay priests. The Catholic Church never ceases to amaze me with their audacity. It's such a crime. I guess discrimination doesn't extend to them? Bastards! Can you tell I am pissed?

[CatholicEdHead]

13. That is actually what some want

Espically this side who are pushing this.

http://www.cwnews.com/offtherecord/offtherecord.cfm?task=singledisplay&recnum=2773

"For the sake of argument, let's accept the predictions of the Cassandras at their direst face value, viz., that eliminating gay priests would empty the rectories. Further, let's pretend that we, the faithful, had a say in the matter. Finally, let's oversimplify by reducing the options to two:

Plan A. The Status Quo: Priestly formation -- and parish life generally -- continues as it has been and is presently.

Plan B. The Nuclear Option: After the holocaust, only one priest remains per diocese. For the next fifteen years (i.e., until the effects of the reform kick in), you have to drive 35 miles every Sunday and Holy Day to an outdoor football stadium, where you have a bad view of a valid and licit Mass served by unbuggered altar boys, and hear a scarcely audible but orthodox homily, delivered by an ancient priest in a nearly unintelligible Vietnamese accent.

As for your sunny Uncle D, not only would he go for Plan B like a shot, he'd give almost anything to be able to make the choice in the first place. What about you, folks? "

[MichiganVote]

7. Next edic: Pope Bans Gay Catholics

[im10ashus]

8. Or: Pope bans all believers.

It's just insane.

[MichiganVote]

12. Ranks right up there with banning all virgins named mary or anything

[im10ashus]

16. Next edict: No more Madonna's.

It's just too confusing separating the virgin's from the whore's.

:silly:

[MichiganVote]

35. LOL!!

[CatholicEdHead]

15. Already that way at some parishes

and events. In the St. Paul/Minneapolis Diocese (and others), on Pentacost there is the Rainbow Sash presentation. Those coming up with some type of rainbow sash or other article of clothing will now not get communion, yet they could before. The crackdown came down from above.

[im10ashus]

18. That happened when I lived in Chicago.

The Archdiocese there was a participant in the blatant discrimination. I have no sympathy for the soon-to-be downfall of Roman Catholicism.

[CascadeTide]

9. but pedophiles are still welcome

this organization really has its priorities in order...

[im10ashus]

10. I know!

It's such a crime they are still allowed to operate. Bastards!!!

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

25. That's what I was...

...thinking. Seems like careful background checks and maybe some personality profiling to screen for pedophiles would make a lot more sense. They would, of course, claim they're doing this, but I wonder.

[CascadeTide]

11. I think it's pretty silly to use adult sex to disqualify someone

of course I think it's pretty silly to believe that some supreme being gave these creeps divine title to lead its church on earth.

[UTUSN]

14. How about Just Barring Pedophiles? n/t

[Zenlitened]

17. Poisonous subtext: Vatican blames pedo scandal on gays.

Continues the evil meme that pedos are gay/gays are pedos. Gays are evil, gays are responsible for all that's wrong in the world. Gays bad, gays bad, gays bad.

Oh, but wait, I'm not supposed to say "straight from the Nazi playbook" because some people don't like to hear the "N" word.

:grr:

[im10ashus]

19. And that's it in a nutshell.

They are trying to tie the whole sex scandal to the gay community and thus making homosexuals the scapegoat for the whole church.

Bastards!

What about the girls that have been molested? Should we conduct an analysis of all the "straight" priests? It's abso-freaking-lutely ludicrous.

[CatBoreal]

27. Nuns as well....

There have been reports of nuns being forced to take birth-control or have abortions to cover-up for abuse by priests.

All this came out a couple of months before the Boston scandal, so got washed away in the hubbub.

I'll see if i can find a link.

Some links:

http://tinyurl.com/9l3c9
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_20_37/ai_72275625
http://www.cathnews.com/news/207/97.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1234268.stm
http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/040601/040601d.htm

[im10ashus]

28. That's just sickening.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Suppressing sexual urges can lead to some pretty atrocious crimes. Just sickening.

[CatholicEdHead]

21. Yes it is

the hirerarchy has always been out of touch, espically in the past 20 years. This is about holding on to power at the top than truly work to solve the problems.

[im10ashus]

22. It's a regression to Vatican I.

And a slap in the face to all good priests who have given their lives to religion. AND, who's to say one wouldn't refuse to reveal their sexuality in the first place? It will be interesting to see how they propose to reveal sexuality from priests. It's nefarious to say the least.

[hatrack]

20. Kind of like when they declared a War On Drugs, right?

And now there's no more drugs! Yay!

[AnnieBW]

23. Thank Heaven For Little Girls!

That's what all of the pedophile priests are singing now! :D

[donco6]

24. Good.

Being a gay Catholic priest is like being a Log Cabin Republican. They actually think they're going to "change" that organization from the inside? Pfaw. Get out now while you still have a shred of self-respect.

[im10ashus]

26. I don't know, donco6.

I know a few (very few) gay Catholics. It's more tradition than anything else, IMHO, that keeps them in church. Most have the same problems with the hypocrisy as what I have. But they stay with the church and that's their own guilt they have to deal with.

There are some very dedicated members of the priesthood and some just happen to be gay.

I for one grew disenchanted with Catholicism, and organized religion in general, about the time I was certain of my sexuality. Which was VERY early on.


But I DO get your point. It's like being a member of a club that doesn't want you as a member.

[Disturbed]

29. Lesbian Nuns next?

Don't ask. Don't tell?

btw most peds are hetero males.

[im10ashus]

31. Gasp!!!

Lesbian Nuns? Why, never!!!! :sarcasm:

Yes. Most peds ARE hetero males. That's what makes this whole thing stink of blatant hypocrisy. They will appease the hetero crowd that doesn't want to think of having a "gay" priest in their parish and will also make it look like they are dealing with the scandal that has threatened to bankrupt the entire Catholic Church.

[donco6]

30. I suppose I could be a little rough.

First: I am gay, and I grew up Catholic. Just to make that clear.

Though my statement may be a bit blunt, I just have a hard time seeing it any other way. How can someone continue to lend credence to this organization when it is becoming more and more obvious that the whole system is rife with corruption and deception? Blaming the pedophile debacle on gays, and "solving" the problem by banning them from service. They know how wrong that is, but they know that most people will buy it.

Gays who consider the priesthood should be made to think even longer and harder about what it means. I just can't see how it's good for them, or good for true Christianity (if there is such a thing anymore).

[im10ashus]

34. Not rough at all.

I see your point. It's sort of like gay republican's. That has been, and always will be, a great mystery to me. :shrug:

[minerva50]

32. I don't understand their rationale

I'm glad I left the church a long time ago, but I honestly can't understand why they would condemn men for their inclinations if they are not acting on them and are living a celibate life. Then again it makes about as much sense as not allowing women to become priests because we have the wrong kind of plumbing.

[im10ashus]

33. It boggles the mind.

Men in funny dresses and glitzy hats condemning someone that wants to give so selflessly.

:shrug:

If I didn't know any better I'd say there's a squeaky wheel that needs oiled.

:sarcasm: