Published today is the Vatican 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.”
Many people think that it is the Vatican’s declaration against homosexuals in general. But I think most of those people who think so have not read the entire document. The official Statement even says that people who have homosexual tendencies “must be accepted with respect and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. They are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter.”
Homosexual acts are considered by the Catholic Church as intrinsically immoral and contrary to the natural law. And thus it “cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called “gay culture.”
In other words, the Catholic Church is not saying no to people who have homosexual orientation, but to people who are homosexually active. It is not also saying that homosexuals who are in the clergy already should be thrown out.
I hope it will become clear to everyone that what the Church wants to convey with the Statement is that it seeks to guarantee that the people of God always have suitable priests who are true shepherds according to the heart of Christ.
My feeling on this is – if one will single out the sexually active homosexual, they had also better single out the sexually active heterosexual. If one is to take a vow of celibacy, one should follow through and not engage in any sex, whether it be heterosexual or homosexual.
Yes.. I agree ..888