Vatican: No Seminarians With "Deep-Rooted Homosexual Tendencies"

The Vatican has released the much-anticipated document clarifying Church discipline regarding "the admission or non-admission to the seminary and Holy Orders of candidates who have profoundly deep-rooted homosexual tendencies."

Catholic World News carries an unofficial English translation of the document.

It isn't a lengthy document. It exudes clarity, certainty and fidelity to Tradition and Truth.

It therefore will drive the usual suspects crazy. No doubt, the gay rights network, the New York Times editorial page, Margaret Carlson and the liberal elite will go absolutely ape because the Vatican has once again chosen to ignore their advice and affirm Catholicism.

Here's the key paragraphs:

In light of this teaching, this department, in agreement with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, holds it necessary clearly to affirm that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, may not admit to the seminary and Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, show profoundly deep-rooted homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture.

The above persons find themselves, in fact, in a situation that gravely obstructs a right way of relating with men and women. The negative consequences that may derive from the Ordination of persons with profoundly deep-rooted homosexual tendencies are by no means to by ignored.

If, instead, one were to examine homosexual tendencies that might only the expression of a transitory problem, as in, for example, one whose adolescence is not yet complete, he must however pass clearly at least three years before ordination to the diaconate.

Another key passage:

There are two indissociable aspects in every priestly vocation: the free gift of God and the responsible liberty of the man. Vocation is a gift of divine grace, received through the Church, in the Church and for the service of the Church. Responding to the call of God, the man offers himself freely to Him in love. The desire alone to become a priest is not sufficient and there is no right to receive Ordination. It is the duty of the Church— in Her responsibility to define the necessary requisites for the reception of the Sacraments instituted by Christ— to discern the qualification of he who wishes to enter the seminary, to accompany him during his years of formation and to call him to Holy Orders, if he be judged to be in possession of the requisite qualities.

No doubt, the usual suspects will denounce this document, written with loving firmness, as menas-spirited and "unChristian," while missing entirely that is is simply re-affirming the nature of the priesthood and the Church's duty to safeguard these inextricably entwined Sacraments, Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders. 

Comments

[Sharon]

Nice post.
I have already encountered a few people on my blog with the views that the Church is full of bigotry and discrimination. Through my response I attempted to show them that it's the other way around- I think the priests are abandoning their calling and giving into worldly ways. They are doing more harm than good for the people whose consciences and moral teaching they are responsible for.

It's such a shame that most will automatically attack the Church once again. Not surprising, but disappointing.

I love how you wrote that " while missing entirely that is is simply re-affirming the nature of the priesthood and the Church's duty to safeguard these inextricably entwined Sacraments, Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders."

[The Catholic Knight]

Well thank God! It's about time! Now it's up to us to make sure our bishops enforce this document fully.

[Rev. Mike Gormican]

The world never wants Christians to "uphold" Christian principals instead they want those principals to meet their current "felt" needs. Truth does not change to suit society.

[Czechmate]

No, better yet, hide the truth, in the same way it was hidden by residential school after residential school for many generations. Several hundred years ago, I would have been thrown into a pit in a Bohemian castle if I dared speak out against the Church...or burned at the stake. Nowadays the Church wimpers about safegarding the sacriments, while ignoring Afican issues and the diversity of human sexual expression. Shameful institution but little different than the other "ones". I wonder if the early Christians were closer to the "love light".
But who, with any brains cares anyway. I pity you all. But.....
You could do worse thinking for yourselves, I suppose.
Peace.