Gay Men Ponder Impact of Proposal by Vatican

[kweerwolf]

Word that the Vatican is likely to issue instructions soon that could bar most gay men from joining the priesthood has set off a wave of anger and sadness among some gay priests and seminarians who say they may soon have to decide whether to stay or leave, to remain silent or to speak out.

"I do think about leaving," said a 30-year old Franciscan seminary student. "It's hard to live a duplicitous life, and for me it's hard not to speak out against injustice. And that's what this is."

<snip>

"I find that I am becoming more and more angry," said a 40-year-old priest on the West Coast who said he had not decided whether to reveal his homosexuality publicly. "This is the church I've given my life to and I believe in. I look at every person I come in contact with as someone who's created in the image and likeness of God, and I expect that from the church that I'm a part of. But I always feel like I'm 'less than.' "

<snip>

Some conservative priests welcomed the changes. The Rev. John Trigilio Jr., president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a conservative 400-member group based in Harrisburg, Pa., said that barring gay men from seminaries was "for their own good," just as the church once barred epileptics from the priesthood.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/23/national/23priests.html

Barred epileptics from the priesthood? WTF? Are we talking dark ages here when epileptics were thought to be possessed?

[yellowcanine]

1. The Vatican, "We are having more and more trouble getting priests."

"Hey I have an idea - why don't we make the eligible pool smaller?"
"Good thinking, Guido."

[Liberaler]

2. What do you expect from religion?

Religion is utterly anti-human. It de-humanizes people who are not "normal". This is not something special for catholics, it's the same no matter what religion you belong to.

Personally, I don't believe in fairytales or Santa Claus.

God, adults imaginary friend.

[sdfernando]

3. The church needs to get educated!

Pedophilia is not about being straight or gay. I believe a good many (maybe even a majority) of pedophiliac are straight. They need to institute a rigorous screening procedure for those wanting to enter the priesthood rather than persecuting a whole group of men, most of whom are good people. They should also think about allowing priests to marry. Most religions allow that. Look at the Eastern Orthodox & Greek Orthodox sects and learn from them. While they’re at it, they should allow women to become priests too. Do I think this will happen????….No. They’re more intent on persecution and protecting their assets than anything else.

[CountAllVotes]

4. right

That defrocked O'Shea from San Francisco - 220 counts of child molestation (now in San Quentin) was known to DATE WOMEN in his younger dates.

He is a pervert and a molestor and he is NOT gay!

Ratzi needs to get off his "fag hunt". It accomplishes nothing; only keeps men that would be perhaps very excellent priests from staying away. Soon there will be no more Catholic Church. They are like the levees in New Orleans ... going down.



:kick:

[arwalden]

5. Ah-Ha! Now It's Hate The "SIN" and HATE THE "SINNER" TOO??

The Vatican is so FUCKED UP!! What a hateful bunch of pointy-heads they are!