December 08, 2005

For area Catholics, Vatican's policy on gay priests creates controversy

NEW YORK
Buffalo News

By JAY TOKASZ
News Staff Reporter
12/8/2005

On at least one point, most Catholics agree: The American church needs more priests.

But the latest directive from the Vatican regarding whether gay men are eligible for that role is creating little unanimity.

Some Catholics are concerned that the document scapegoats gay priests for the church's clergy sex-abuse scandal and ultimately will shut out highly qualified gay men from the priesthood.

Others applaud the Vatican instruction as a long-overdue crackdown on a permissive "gay subculture" in seminaries. They think the directive will spur new vocations, especially among heterosexual men put off by the gay subculture.

"I pray to God that this will go a long way toward correcting the situation," said Raymond Duggan, a Hamburg resident and parishioner of SS. Peter & Paul Church. "I hope it works. I think it's badly needed."

Posted by kshaw at December 8, 2005 12:15 PM