www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Are Most Priest Homosexuals?

Alex,

This thread has NOTHING to do with pedophilia. I agree 100% that most priest are pedophilia free. I am trying to have an open discussion on Sexual Orientation in the priesthood. I presented some facts (i.e. the above article) and I am asking for opinions nothing more. I am not trying to make a point in anyway.

Please forgive me if I did not make myself clearer.

God Bless!

Dmitri Rostovski,

Thanks! That is the kinda opinions I was looking for...

"I respect your position but I think I might agree that a large percentage of priest are homosexuals. Now that does not mean they are ACTIVE homosexuals."

Is this like saying:

"Men are rapists, but that doesn't mean they are ACTIVE rapists."

or:

"Women are abortionists, but that doesn't mean they are ACTIVELY getting abortions."

[ 03-13-2002: Message edited by: J Thur ]

J Thur,

I don't understand Homosexuality nor do I claim too. I am a big enough sinner that I have no room to judge Homosexuals. I don't think it is a genetic thing or we would see it in Twins. Nor do I think it a choice. It must be something else. Something we don't understand yet. With that said I think it is possible for people to have Homosexual thoughts but remain celibant and not act on those thoughts. That is just my humble opinion. I am open to other thoughts on the subject.

Dear Roman Catholic at Work,

I am trying to think of a rule that might have been broken here, but everyone has spoken respectfully and no "epithets" have been used.

Still, posting a long quote, just to see what reaction it will cause is not the best way to initiate a serious discussion. In fact this one, with an inflamatory thread title, will win a prize!

The thesis suggested, that the liberal excesses in the Roman Catholic Church are due to pediphiles, homosexuals and jews seems is simply ludicrous.

You have managed to raise all the "red flags" that have been given much attention on this forum over the past month, with a curious twist. Once again, these topics have managed to get our attention.

While there are possibly some serious topics for discussion hidden here, they have not managed to get a serious attention on this thread.

Keeping in mind that we are approaching the holy days, when graver and more serious approaches to our conversation should be made, may I suggest that we cease and desist here.

May I humbly make a suggestion? If you wish to open up a discussion on one of these topics, and propose what point you want to make, and why you think it is important just now, please open a new thread with a more modest title?

I think experience has shown, that simply posting an article for "reaction" is not really the best way of initiating a serious discussion!

Thanks,

Elias

Bless me a sinner, Reverend Father Elias!

Thank you for your wisdom and erudition!

Kissing your right hand, I again ask your blessing,

Alex

IMHO, this is one of the many attitudes, and in my book one of the main causes, that chase young men away from the priesthood.

That of, most priests are gay. So, logically, if I think I have a calling to be a priest, I must be gay. WRONG.

Until we fix this attitude, along with the other causes, we will continue to have a vocation crisis.


David

[ 03-13-2002: Message edited by: DavidB ]

Dear David,

How right you are!

Also, I think that the way we ask questions is often more a statement or affirmation of the conclusions we have already personally reached.

Alex

DavidB,


How do you suggest we change this attitude?

Monk,


I for one NEVER wanted to make a correlation with the Jews. I regret placing that in my original statement. I did so as to not to exclude any of my former professors comments. Please forgive the confussion!

Also, pediphiles is NOT part of this thread. Nor am I trying to suggest there is a link between Homosexuality and pediphiliea (spelling).

[ 03-13-2002: Message edited by: aRomanCatholic@Work ]

DavidB,

Exactly.

The logic in their heads:

PRIESTS ARE ALL GAY,
X IS STUDYING TO BE A PRIEST,
THEREFORE X IS GAY.


Boys grow up today being told not to get too close to Father. In the Latin Church the girls are encouraged to serve at the altar and boys are ignored. In my mother's large family not one boy serves at his parish church. But the girls do.

So ... between the fear of pedophilia, homosexuality, and being passed over for girls, how does a boy or young man develop a vocation?

There are many good priests out there, but a few bad apples spoiled it all.

Joe

[ 03-13-2002: Message edited by: J Thur ]

My dear Father Elias,

EVERYTHING in the Catholic Chuch is the fault of Jews. Judaism is matrilineal. The most holy Theotokos (the greatest Jewish Mama of all time) was a Jew, and so was her Son.


Glad we've cleared that up.


Shalom, y'all


Sharon

Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com

Dear Joe Thur and David,

Actually, I have to THANK +Ray for bringing this up, not because I like his thread - I don't.

But because somehow we've gotten on to this topic that was so painful to me so much so that I've never shared this with anyone before. I was too ashamed to and this is what actually turned me away from the priesthood for good.

And somehow there was the implication among my "good friends" at the time that had I gone into the priesthood, I would "wind up Gay."

The experience for me was quite traumatic. I filled out my application form to the seminary and then mailed it.

I later called to say I wouldn't be coming and then hung up and wailed for a while.

I don't know if things were different had I not gone to a Catholic school, I just don't know.

When my friends get ordained and I am at their ordination, I often have to look away.

My wife then looks at me and says, "You are sorry it isn't you up there with the bishop laying hands on you, aren't you?"

I never know what to tell her.

Blaming the Church for this or that would come very easy for someone like me, let me tell you.

I'm not a convert, but my gripes are deep-seated. I am a bit angry.

But I like to think that God will bring good out of any situation.

While I won't be a priest or a monk, I want to be God's servant, at His disposal to help others, to feel pain for others.

That's all the Priesthood I want.

Is that being gay? I couldn't be more gay and happy .

(During one of my religion classes, I told a troublesome fellow named Jeremy to come up to the front of the class so I could keep an eye on him. He turned to the class, and said, "The man must be Gay!" To this, one Simon quickly responded, "So what, Jeremy, these are the nineties!" )

God bless and thank you for this opportunity to take a load off my soul!

Alex

Alex,

Your comments is exactly what I would like talked about in this thread!

Rest,

I edited my previous statement to exclude Jews at all in this thread. They had NOTHING to do with this topic so please let's not talk about them in this thread.

Thanks

RC@work,

Please specifically delineate your reason for beginning this thread.

Was it just to see what reaction it would bring?

Was it for some other reason? Please be very specific in telling us exactly what your motives were for starting this thread and what type of responses you expected.

Pedophilia is indeed a problem within the Church. Some Catholic bishops have indeed failed to act earlier in removing such priests from parishes permanently and it is correct to call them on the carpet for their failure while at the same time supporting the efforts they are now taking.

As sad and as sinful as the behavior of these priests and certain bishops has been, it should be noted that the experts tell us that the rate of pedophilia among Catholic priests is no different in terms of percentages than that of Protestantism. It should also be noted again that the rates of pedophilia appear to be similar among heterosexuals and homosexuals, be they clergy or lay people.

Again, this could be a valuable discussion in you discipline yourself and provide your reason for starting this thread along with your expectations for those responding to your post. Since you are a Roman Catholic, you might also tell us if you have posted this article on Roman Catholic boards and what the reaction was there.

Thank you,

Administrator

Alex,

I am so sorry you had to experience what you did. I have to wonder if the sort of struggle you had is perhaps the modern world's contribution to the BOATLOAD of stuff qualifying for "Blessed are you when they insult you and utter every kind of curse against you because of me." In our sex-obsessed culture, accusations, implied accusations or even mere implications (valid or not) about someone's sexuality strikes to the core of their being. It is a violation of sorts, deeply hurtful - especially when it is based on a lie.

My very dear, dear brother in Christ, please let God lift the burden from you, heal the memory, the anger & the hurt - and bring you peace. A wise man once said that Jesus Christ is the biggest garbage collector in the world. (I know He's collected enough of mine to exhaust a landfill!) Let Him collect this.

Presanctified tonight. Fair warning, I'm gonna drag you there with me tonight....

In Christ,

Sharon

Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com