Vatican document bans ‘active’ gays from priesthood

Rome – A new Vatican document that excludes from the priesthood ‘active’ gays, with few exceptions, has found itself in the eye of the storm of criticism, Christian Today has confirmed.

The long–awaited document, which was published in the Italian Catholic website, was www.AdistaOnline.it, contain strong language, banning specific candidates "who are actively homosexual, have deep–seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so–called 'gay culture'."

The document appears to allow ordination only for candidates who experienced 'transitory' homosexual tendencies that were 'clearly overcome' at least three years before ordination as a deacon, the last step before priesthood.

The document, however, does not define 'overcome', thereby, worrying several critics that language would make it nearly impossible for men who believe their basic orientation is gay – but who are celibate – to become priests.

The document has divided Catholics, especially in the US, igniting contentious debate over whether this is an appropriate response to the recent sex scandals and whether celibate gay men can still be good priests.

On both sides of that divide, there was general agreement that the document presented a strong deterrent to homosexual men, but with some limited room for seminaries to make exceptions.

The document puts the onus on bishops, seminary directors and the spiritual advisers "to evaluate all of the qualities of the personality and assure that the candidate does not have sexual disorders that are incompatible with priesthood."

A candidate, in turn, would have to be honest about his sexuality. "It would be gravely dishonest for a candidate to hide his own homosexuality, regardless of everything, to arrive at ordination," the document stated.

"Such an inauthentic attitude does not correspond to the spirit of truth, loyalty and availability that must characterize the personality of one who considers himself called to serve Christ."

Though Vatican spokesmen refused to comment anything on the document, an Italian reporter, Andrea Tornielli, a Vatican specialist for Il Giornale, who saw the entire document some time earlier, stating that the Adista document matched the one he saw.

An anonymous church official was also quoted by AP as saying the document, a short five pages with footnotes, was genuine.

While church documents as early as 1961 banned homosexuals from the priesthood, conservative Catholics complain that the ban has often been ignored.

The present document represents a stand that has been welcomed by conservatives both in the Catholic Church and in other religions.

"That's a policy that we have been promoting and that we support whole–heartedly," said Canon Tunde Popoola, director of communications for the Anglican Church of Nigeria. "It gladdens my heart to hear others coming up with such a policy."

However, according to South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Laureate and a champion of human rights, the document was not just. "For me, to make someone suffer penalties because of their sexual orientation is on the same level as making people be penalised for their gender, or race," he told Reuters.

Father Tom Reese, a U.S. Jesuit scholar and author, also feels that the Vatican had not necessarily done its homework on the issue.

"The Vatican is making decisions about the appropriateness of ordaining homosexuals in total ignorance of how many current priests are homosexuals, how well they observe celibacy and how well they do ministry," he said.

Reese, who lost his job as editor of the U.S. Jesuit weekly America because the journal displeased Pope Benedict, said the Vatican appeared to be missing the point. "If someone is called to the priesthood by God but denied it by church officials, then it is not a violation of a human right, it is a violation of a divine right – the right of God to call whomever he chooses to the priesthood," he said.

The document does not affect those men who are already priests, but some said it could hurt future vocations.

Many rights groups suspect that the document amount to mere witch–hunting and avoids tackling the real problem of paedophiles within the Church.

"This looks like a diversionary tactic to deflect public attention away from the Vatican's real problem which is child sex abuse by clergy," said Peter Tatchell of the British gay pressure group OutRage!

"The Pope should be tackling paedophiles within the Church, not witch–hunting gay people," he told Reuters.

"If these regulations had previously existed, many existing archbishops and cardinals would have never been allowed to enter the priesthood ...this edict is pure hypocrisy," he added. "The Church will not survive without its gay clergy."

"At a time when the Church should be taking responsibility for the harm created by a devastating sex abuse scandal, they are instead using gay people as scapegoats," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a U.S. gay rights group.

"This decree is a diversion that neither keeps children safe nor holds criminals responsible," he said.

Many in the Catholic Church also believe that the document risks alienating men who would be good priests and would be able to honour their vow of celibacy.

"I have no doubt that God does call homosexuals to the priesthood, and they are among the most dedicated and impressive priests I have met," Father Timothy Radcliffe, former master of the Dominican order, wrote in the British weekly The Tablet.

The official English version of the document is titled, "Instruction Concerning Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with Regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in View of Their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders" and is divided into three chapters – "Affective Maturity and Spiritual Fatherhood", "Homosexuality and Ordained Ministry", and "Discernment by the Church Concerning the Suitability of Candidates."

Besides stating that the deep–seated homosexual tendencies are "objectively disordered," the document reiterates the Church’s belief that 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" and goes on to add that heads of seminaries have a serious duty to see to it that candidates for the priesthood do not "present disturbances of a sexual nature which are incompatible with the priesthood."

"If a candidate practices homosexuality, or presents deep–seated homosexual tendencies, his spiritual director as well as his confessor have the duty to dissuade him in conscience from proceeding towards ordination," it stated.

In his book "The Changing Face of the Priesthood", Father Donald Cozzens estimated that 40 percent of U.S. priests were gay but that only a tiny minority were practicing homosexuals.

Other estimates have been as low as 10 percent and as high as 60 percent.