Vatican says prohibition against gays in seminaries is universal

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Vatican City, May 19, 2008 / 09:21 am (CNA).- Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, has sent a letter to the bishops of the world with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI reaffirming the norms established by the Congregation for Catholic Education in the 2005 document, “Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocation with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders,” as universal and without exceptions.

In the brief “Rescriptum ex audientia” –a written response to various queries—Cardinal Bertone said the norms establishing the selection of candidates to the priesthood are valid “for all houses of formation for the priesthood, including those under the Dicasteries for Eastern Churches, for the Evangelization of Peoples, and for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.”

The letter, which Cardinal Bertone said was issued in response “to numerous requests for clarification,” implies that the prohibition against accepting homosexual candidates in seminaries applies not only to diocesan seminaries but also to those of religious orders and congregations, as well as to those that are located in mission territories.

The 2005 Instruction indicated the Congregation for Catholic Education, “in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture'."

"Such persons, in fact, find themselves in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women. One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies," the 2005 document also said.

Comments: 26

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Anonymous
New York, NY USA 12/14/2008 03:34 AM EST

Quote from Jack
"Remove the Diseased sheep from the bishops,priests,politiutions,and laity whom are still in our Religion."

What is a same sex attracted person's place in the Church?

We're not allowed to get married (not that I would have the arrogance to presume the Church should grant this), are not wanted in religious life (of course not every gay person or every straight person is fit for religious life), and even when we are chaste/celibate single lay people, are looked at suspiciously or talked about negatively by many others, if not also rejected by our own parents and abandoned by our friends.

Blessed Mother, let your motherly heart be refuge to those who have asked for your Son's life giving bread but instead given these scorpions, let your heart give comfort to those who are reading this and may be struggling as we all struggle. Amen.

Published by: emmanuel mc stravick
belfast,northern ireland 09/07/2008 12:52 PM EST

how dare u or the vatican throw the stone.GOD LOVES.Stop stop stop judging,ALL are called to serve and love God.

Published by: Bill
USA 06/08/2008 12:12 AM EST

This news is excellent. But now the Vatican needs to ensure that seminaries fire their homosexual professors.

Published by: rocky
usa 05/24/2008 09:21 AM EST

It's PAST Time the Vatican Spoke Up about this UnChristian living of these people who have same sex attraction disorder..or GID, gender identification disorder. They need our prayers, and we need Holy, Celibate, Obedient (to the Pope) priests. We know that homosexuals as well as others who in fact were planted in our seminaries to obstruct and destroy our Catholic Faith, teachings, and tradition. They are true enemies of the Church. Lets "clean up", and "Clean out" those who should not be there. Pray for Holy vocations that only God has truly called to the priesthood and religious life. The world has no place for homosexuality, its in the Bible, Lv 18:22..1Cor6:9...Rom 1:27..1Tim 1:10 Save our children!

Published by: r
USA 05/24/2008 08:02 AM EST

Holy Scripture condemns homosexuality as grave sin. Just another infectious disease of mind and body that humans have to battle, and conquer to achieve purity in Jesus' way towards Heaven, our earthly goal. Holy Orders should remain pure, holy, and Jesus-like eternally.

Published by: Joe
North Hudson NY 05/22/2008 12:08 PM EST

Then what about a bishop's open, published invitation to gay men to become seminarians in his diocese?

Published by: Siena
Canada 05/21/2008 06:43 PM EST

What about the men who are in denial about their homosexual orientation? They will still become priest, Also,I feel deeply about the present priests that are gay and are struggling with their vocation. I believe a man who remains celibate can be a good priest just like a man who for goes marrying a woman to become a priest.

Published by: brisbane Australia
Tony Robertson 05/21/2008 12:04 PM EST

Rate: Regular

Just what is a "deep-seated homosexual tendency"? If it is only a shallow homosexual tendency can a candidate get as far as deacon at least?

And what is a "gay culture"? Does saying Mass for groups like Acceptance indicate support for "gay culture"?

Do deep-seated heterosexual tendencies also cause concern? Perhaps a shallow tendency to heterosexuality is enough to get in the door!!

Will the Congregation for Catholic Education also issue a letter about the suitability of candidates who display deep-seated racist tendencies or mysoginist tendencies? And of course let's not talk about tendencies to megalomania!!!

It's all very silly as we have been ordaining and consecrating Gay men throughout the history of the Church.

Published by: Virgil
Turin 05/21/2008 08:31 AM EST

Will someone please publish the actual document? This "news" report, as well as all the others I have read in English and Italian, isn't saying anything by way of clarification.

The question before seminary rectors and vocation directors is this:

There are three things that prevent a man from entering seminary:

(1) "Practicing homosexuality."

(2) "Homosexual tendencies."

(3) "Support for gay culture."

What do these things mean, exactly?

As for the last millenium, does celibacy mean that (1) and (2) are not invoked?

Does being in the closet mean that (3) cannot be invoked?

Or, on the other end of the spectrum...

Does it mean that a priest's or seminarian's red-blooded fantasies about chicks are somehow essential to the validity of the Sacrament of Orders?

Please, Cardinal Bertone, draw the line somewhere.

Published by: a Catholic
Oxford, Mich, USA 05/21/2008 01:05 AM EST

I'm glad this was made even clearer. I have a homosexual brother and there is most certainly a gay culture and agenda. Please pray for them all as they are very confused in their beliefs and are still being taught that it's an acceptable lifestyle by many priests that are still in the active ministry! I pray that the Pope will be quick to rid the church of these wolves in sheeps clothing that continue to confuse and endanger so many souls.

Published by: Paul A
Niceville, Fl, USA 05/20/2008 11:00 PM EST

"That 81 percent of the reported victims of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy were boys shows that the crisis was characterized by homosexual behavior," the board said.
John Jay Study

Published by: Peter Petras
Buffalo, NY 05/20/2008 08:34 PM EST

This is too little too late. The princes of the Church have let the lavender mafia hold sway over our seminaries and religious communities for far to long. And now. Surprise. A vocations crisis where real man-priests are desperately lacking in a North American Church where at least 1/3 of the priests are gay. Read Good-Bye, Good Men by Michael Rose to better understand why Cardinal Bertone's directive to the Bishops of America and those who run our seminaries will be largely ignored.

Published by: Nancy J
Washington State 05/20/2008 06:07 PM EST

The call to the priesthood is supernatural. A homosexual person is suffering from disordered thinking and temptations that are resisted with great difficulty during a lifetime. It is a great cross and great suffering. For those who truly want to serve chastely but cannot their reward in heaven will be great. But on earth the Holy Spirit has made the correct and prudent decision to protect the faithful.

Published by: William
Chicago, Il 05/20/2008 03:06 PM EST

As with so many other aspects of the Church, maybe in another 400 years the the Italian Church will come to its senses and will repent of this bigotry.

Thank you Cardinal Bertone once again for making be proud to be an Episcopalian.

Published by: Vin
ilion, ny usa 05/20/2008 01:35 PM EST

I just wanted to add my voice in gratitude for the Pope's re-stating the prohibition against homosexuals with deep seated homosexual tendencies to serve on the altar. I don't know why it had to be re-stated since you would think by now those in charge would already be fully aware of what the church teaching is. But I guess we have to go by the lessons of the past regrettably.

Published by: Jeannine
Ft. Myers Beach, Fl, USA 05/20/2008 06:46 AM EST

AMEN!

Published by: Johnston Z Mlambo
Zimbabwe 05/20/2008 12:24 AM EST

This reaaffirmation of the church's position on Homosexuals is very refreshing to any rational human being, while some christians have allowed themselves to be swayed by the waves of the sinfull tendences of this world, and sacuumbed to the nonsensical pressure from the so-called human rights activists who unashamedly wish to normalise the abnormal. Homosexuality has no place none whatsoever in church, I happy and proud that I am catholic.

Published by: Stan
U.S.A. 05/19/2008 10:04 PM EST

Rate: Regular

As all Priests are required to be celibate, their sexual orientation should be irrelevant.
"Gay Culture" is a myth. Go to work, pay the bills, etc. is what everybody does! Gays grew up in heterosexual environments, so relate to men and women the same as everyone else. There has always been Gay clergy; they just don't advertise it, as it's not important.

Published by: paul
los angeles 05/19/2008 08:59 PM EST

what about individuals who are living a chaste life following the teachings of the catholic church do not have a deep seated root in the homosexual lifestyle?

Published by: Dorothy Swingle
Zanesville, Ohio USA 05/19/2008 06:08 PM EST

Bertone needs HELP?? What about FATMIA?????

Published by: Jack Angelo Territo
Buffalo,ny USA 05/19/2008 03:30 PM EST

its GREAT NEWS that the Pope will not allow homosexuals to join Seminaries ,BUT why does'nt he Remove the Diseased sheep from the bishops,priests,politiutions,and laity whom are still in our Religion. Remove Evil From Roman catholicism!

Published by: Anonymous
U.S. 05/19/2008 01:42 PM EST

Very wel for cardinal Bertone.

Christ is the , the Bridegroom.

An homosexual man does not make a good candidate in a seminary nor makes a good priest.

If the homosexual man wants to deal only with men, and envies or imitates women, he has an identity crisis, and cannot serve well the children of God.

Published by: Allan
Miami, Florida, USA 05/19/2008 12:43 PM EST

I am very happy to see the Vatican and Pope Benedict XVI take a strong stand on this issue. Without disrespect to homosexuals as persons we as catholics must clearly articulate our beliefs without any gray area of interpretation.

God Bless the Pope.

Published by: Eileen
Largo, Florida, USA 05/19/2008 12:37 PM EST

Thank you for the clear statement. I pray the Seminaries and Bishops will adher to this mandate.

Published by: Thokozani Zwane
Durban SA 05/19/2008 12:06 PM EST

Hello,

This is quite disapointing I was also one of the people who wanted to join priesthood in my young years.

All this came to an end as I relised that we had Gay priest in church and they were had wrong tendencies.

I left my persue for this due to this and not wanting to be associated with this scurge.

Today, I am married with four kids and happy. I know marriage is one of the sacraments but I am still dying to serve the lord from the altar.

Everytime I see priests concellebrating in the altar I feel like something huge has been taken away from me. I die to serve the lord from the altar.

Thanks

Thokozani

Published by: Michael
Cape Cod, USA 05/19/2008 12:03 PM EST

This is a good call but one that starles me in that it has to be re-affirmed. Is there a bishop or religious order leader anywhere in the world who is not aware of the church's troubles with sexual deviance? Are there cultures so topsy turvey that they have convinced themselves that it is no big deal to ordain a gay priest?

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