I responded to a comment submitted to the previous post as follows. I am putting this in a separate post so that it would be noticed by those who don't read the comments.
You are right to point out that the people in the pews - who are the Church too - really do not care whether their priests and religious order members are gay or straight. You are also right to point out that there have been gay popes, bishops, priests, brothers and sisters. There is no question about that. You are also right to point out that Pope Benedict, and all others including ourselves, are products of our times. However, the institution has issued official documents barring men with persistent homosexual tendencies from seminaries, and has officially taught that gay people should not be in religious life. I think that the institution must 'own' its dysfunctional prejudices. I think that the institution must be held to accountability for them. And I think that the present day climate is so oppressive, so unwilling to engage in even the most timid dialog, that it is wrong for me to encourage gay man or woman in a priestly or religious order vocation. I am terribly sad as I write this. I look at my own experience and see the men in my order who are devoted and talented pastors, chaplains, administrators, and missionaries. My order would not have survived this long in North America without its gay members. But the psychic and spiritual cost of being a gay religious or priest is now so great that I can't recommend it to anyone.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
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3 comments:
I like to believe the words of the poem Desiderata by Max Ehrmann "And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should"; It helps me to put into perspective the sad realities of the times.
And all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well - Julian of Norwich helps me in a similar way.
Father, I think a big problem is if they drive all the gay clergy out of the Church, who is going to be left to help the young people? As it is now, having a large number of gay priests would be such a benefit to young gay men as positive role models if these priests would have the courage to be open about their sexual orientation. The hierarchy lies to people. What good is this? When are they going to start caring about young people? Yes, the Church must face its prejudices. Many in the Church don't want gay people as priests, they don't want them as seminarians, they don't want same sex marriage. Their line is that gay people can marry, only someone of the opposite sex. So if you marry someone of the opposite sex you are welcome but otherwise, there's the door. Some don't think gay people should marry anyone, they just want them to disappear and leave the Church in peace. I apologize if this doesn't make a lot of sense but I am just trying to express how I feel.
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