UNITED STATES
Renew America
Matt C. Abbott
September 22, 2005
Three Roman Catholic priests have been gracious enough to provide me with their observations (edited) on the recent report that Pope Benedict XVI "has given his approval to a new Vatican policy document indicating that men with homosexual tendencies should not be ordained as Catholic priests."
Father Burns Seeley of the Chicago-based Society of St. John Cantius:
"Note that the document (I have not seen it yet, obviously) seems not to be touching principally on priestly chastity. I think 'Even if they are celibate...,' should read, 'Even if they are chaste...' We are all called to be chaste, whether we are clergy, religious or laity. I certainly don't know if fallen homosexuals are more inclined to be unchaste than fallen heterosexuals.
"The key point seems to be that homosexuals possess 'a serious personality disorder which detracts from their ability to serve as ministers.' I take this to mean that they are incapable of perceiving human nature as God as created it, consisting of male and female persons meant for mutual attraction, complementarity, and, God-willing, marriage and children.