Catholicism: Homo priests: Brian St-Paul, Crisis, says Benedict XVI's ruling on homo seminarians more liberal than pred

Yes, the editor of Catholic tradition-affirming Crisis magazine, Brian Saint-Paul, says in his latest email newsletter that, technically, Pope Benedict XVI's ruling on admission of homo candidates for the priesthood, to Catholic seminaries is more liberal than were the standards set by German Benedict's predecessor Polish Pope John Paul II. The difference? JP II was widely ignored by many seminaries, particularly in the United States, Canada, and certain countries in Europe.

...[I]t looks like the Vatican's statement on homosexuals and seminary admission will be released on November 29. According to those who have seen it -- including Italian newspaper, Il Giornale -- the document will prohibit those who are actively homosexual, participate in the homosexual culture, or demonstrate strong homosexual tendencies from admission. It will, it is reported, leave open the possibility of ordination for those who have same-sex tendencies, but have overcome them for three years.

Predictably, dissenting Catholics and gay rights advocates have gone nuts over this. And some in the media have jumped on board. Take Rachel Zoll of Associated Press, for example. In her story, "On eve of new Vatican rules, gay priests struggle with serving a church that considers them 'disordered,'" she manages to get through an entire article without ever quoting an orthodox Catholic. Indeed, it doesn't look like she even spoke with anyone who supports the Church's position.

But she does take the opportunity to get in a few editorial shots of her own:

"Researchers have estimated that thousands of homosexual clergy across the United States have dedicated their lives to a church that considers them 'intrinsically disordered' and prone to 'evil tendencies.'"

I'm sorry, but is that reporting?

Happily, other journalists have taken the time to get both sides of the story, and I've seen some balanced coverage of the issue in other outlets. A faithful Catholic, after all, doesn't demand media favoritism... just media fairness.

As for the policy itself, it would actually represent a liberalization of the official stance. In 1961, John XXIII clearly barred men with same-sex tendencies from the seminary. This new policy, on the other hand, would open the door for those who support the Church's teachings and have succeeded in living chastely. The key difference, of course, is that Benedict XVI will expect his guidelines to be followed.

Tuff luck!, Catholic would-be seminarians, you must practice celibacy sucessfully for a long period before you can apply for admission to a Catholic seminary to train for the priesthood. That's the canon law of the Latin-based worldwide mega-dnomination. That's that. Sorry! but the Roman Catholic Church and the alternate-rite Churches affiliated to the Pope's monarchical church-law rule has settled the rules. Find another job, or another avenue of Christian non-Church service. - Owlb

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