Ok, I can't say that this surprises me--but the Vatican has taken a pretty wacky position over gays in the priesthood. I did a search for this but haven't seen this new article--if it is a re-run just let me know.
Vatican: 'Deeply Rooted' Gays Can't Be Priests
ROME -- A long-awaited Vatican document says practicing gays, those with "deeply rooted" homosexual tendencies or those who support gay culture cannot be admitted to the priesthood, an Italian newspaper reported Friday.
Any candidate with "passing" homosexual tendencies that were never acted on must have overcome them for at least three years for them to be ordained, a conservative daily, Il Giornale, reported.
It said the eight-page document from the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education would be made public Nov. 29.
I was raised Catholic, but I have been uncomfortable with so much of the dogma for so long that I can't even fake it and be a "Chreaster" anymore--you know, the ones who show up on Christmas and Easter....
And I have respect for the people who want to try to change this institution from within. Here in the Boston area there are a lot of people who want to offer more community input to the church's direction following the abuse of the children perpetrated by priests.
But here we see once again that they are going after the wrong problem with the wrong solution.
Why don't they see that men like this guy can be valuable members of their community??
A gay priest receives the sacrament of acceptance
New York cleric, now out, is still in
By Charles A. Radin, Globe Staff | November 6, 2005
UTICA, N.Y. -- The folks on Hospitality Row do not mind talking about the fact that the Rev. Fred Daley of St. Francis de Sales Church is openly gay. They know that is why Daley is in the spotlight at a time when some leaders of the Roman Catholic Church are blaming homosexuals for its sexual abuse scandals, and possibly preparing to bar gays from the priesthood.
But they would prefer to talk about Daley's 13 years of service to their impoverished Corn Hill neighborhood, and how he established one sorely needed social service after another: opening refugee housing in the former convent, a shelter for girls from the streets in the former rectory, a soup kitchen in a former crack house across the street from his imposing red brick church, and affordable day care in the former Catholic school.
What an anti-family weenie this guy is, eh? <snark>
Well, Who Would Jesus Exclude?
But I guess the good news is that some of you shallow-rooted gay men now have a shot at the priesthood if you want it....
Shallow-rooted lesbians need not apply anyway.