247Gay.com
11.27.05
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has called on the nation's media to carefully examine the implications of a leaked Vatican document that seeks to bar gay men from becoming seminarians and priests.
On Wednesday, Nov. 22, an Italian Catholic news Web site called Adista leaked a copy of "Instruction Concerning The Criteria Of Vocational Discernment Regarding Persons With Homosexual Tendencies In View Of Their Admission To Seminaries And Holy Orders." The document, which Vatican officials have said will be released Nov. 29, says that the Catholic Church "cannot admit to seminary or holy orders those who are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture."
VIGOROUS QUESTIONING, SCRUTINY OF DOCUMENT'S CLAIMS
"This is a situation with tremendous potential for inaccurate and even defamatory coverage," said GLAAD President Neil Giuliano. "And while coverage to date has been generally good, there have been incidents where media have presented without basic scrutiny the Vatican's latest attempt to scapegoat honorable gay priests for the abuse crisis in the Catholic Church."