PlanetOut
by Wayne Besen
November 29, 2005
A new Vatican "instruction" on gay priests says the Catholic Church can admit those who have clearly overcome homosexual tendencies for at least three years. But practicing homosexuals, those with "deep-seated" gay tendencies and those who support a gay culture should be barred. In essence, the Vatican has adopted an "ex-gay" viewpoint, stealing a page from evangelical Christianity.
The Vatican is completely out of touch with reality. There is no such thing as "overcoming homosexual tendencies." However, people can bury themselves deep in the closet, which is what the Vatican is ordering priests to do.
All sexuality -- homo or hetero -- is "deep-seated," so the Vatican's document is essentially meaningless. What it really is is a gag order meant to crush dissent within the church. What the church unrealistically seeks is an official, ironclad position that sweeps disagreement under the carpet while making church sexual abuse scandals vanish.