Millstone

Et quisquis scandalizaverit unum ex his pusillis credentibus in me bonum est ei magis si circumdaretur mola asinaria collo eius et in mare mitteretur

And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me: it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the sea.

Mark 9:41

Rocco Palma at his web blog “Whispers in the Loggia”

(see: http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/)

reports some rather disturbing news regarding Monsignor Anthony Anatrella,

a consultor to the Pontifical Council for the Family.

“On the day the "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders" was released by the Congregation for Catholic Education, Monsignor Anatrella published a controiversial editorial in L'Osservatore Romano.

In that editorial Annatrella stated that "homosexuality results as a lack of plenitude and an immaturity of human sexuality," Anatrella went on to opine on the difficulty of the "homosexual person to incarnate effectively this symbolic reality of spousal tie and spiritual paternity" and that gay priests "will need a special care, and regular interventions on part of the authority, and a life set in a constant medical and psychotherapeutic cure."

Monsignor Anatrella is now being sued in a French court for absuing one of his patients.

“According to the complaint, filed on 30 October in Paris, a French ex-seminarian named Daniel Lamarca said that, while being treated by Anatrella in 1987, he had sexual relations with the cleric, who Lamarca went to in the hope of "curing" him of his homosexuality. The patient was 23 at the time and spoke of "bodily work" therapy sessions with Anatrella that, according to the accuser, would progress into sex.”

If this is true, the filth of which Pope Benedict XVI has publicly complained extends far within the halls of the Vatican itself. When, oh when, will the Church begin to PROACTIVELY confront this problem? This as opposed to a constant set of REACTIONS, always too little, too late.

Et si scandalizaverit te manus tua abscide illam bonum est tibi debilem introire in vitam quam duas manus habentem ire in gehennam in ignem inextinguibilem

And if thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire.

Mark 9:42

Comments

[Patrick]

You might want to wait until the facts are known and the trial is finished before libeling the good name and reputation of a priest. I realize that there is plenty of precedent for believing the acccusor. But also, maybe, just maybe, the accusor has his own agenda, given the strong statment of the Monsignor.

[Thomistic]

I saw this story and considered writing about it. I discussed it with other bloggers and the general feeling was that we don't know the truth of the matter.

It is worth knowing about, though. Hopefully, it isn't true. If it is true, it doesn't necessarily mean Msgr. Anatralla is a hypocrite. In fact, he may be better qualified to say the things he said than others.

It is possible for people who suffer from same sex attraction to fall into such sins and still regret them later. That's why it's wrong for homosexual activists like Andrew Sullivan to suggest that Msgr. Anatrella is really overcompensating with "homophobia" as a cover for his true feelings.

[Franck]

I live in France and I did not know anything about this story. After a search on Google, I found that this story was launched by « Golias », a so-called liberal Catholic magazine well known for its hatred toward Monsignor Anatrella and everyting that is really Catholic. Monsignor Anatrella is relatively famous in France, if it was true, the whole press would have mentioned it. Xavier Ternisien, journalist for Le Monde (centre-left) and (liberal) specialist of religious issues, notice a recent paper from « Golias » about Monsignor Anatrella but did not notice those facts. « Golias » used to lie and to swear innocent people.