Homosexuality in the Roman Catholic priesthood

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Studies into the incidence of Homosexuality in the Roman Catholic priesthood are contested and controversial. Roman Catholic priests take a vow of celibacy at their ordination and as such are called to refrain from all sexual activity.

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[edit] Estimates on the number of homosexual priests

Estimating the number of homosexuals in a given population can be problematic due to problems of measurement, definition, and heterogeneous geographic distribution. Estimates in large populations range from 1% to 15%, with a mean of 4%-5%. (See Demographics of sexual orientation.)

A number of anonymous studies have suggested a prevalence of homosexual leanings in the Roman Catholic priesthood. Dr Elizabeth Stuart, a former convener of the Catholic Caucus of the Lesbian and Gay Christian movement claimed

"It has been estimated that at least 33 per cent of all priests in the RC Church in the United States are homosexual." [1]

Anecdotal press reports from anonymous sources also suggest that the incidence of homosexuality in the Roman Catholic priesthood is much higher than in the general population. [1]

[edit] Theological directives

Main article: Instruction Concerning the 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

The Catholic Church teaches that "Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder".[citation needed]

Although a 1961 document stated that homosexual men should not be ordained, this was left to bishops to enforce, and most did not, holding homosexuals to the same standards of celibate chastity as heterosexual seminarians. However, in November 2005, the Vatican completed an "Instruction" on the admission of homosexually inclined men to the seminary. According to the new policy, men with "transitory" homosexual leanings may be ordained deacons following three years of prayer and chastity. However, men with "deeply rooted homosexual tendencies", who support gay culture, or who are sexually active, cannot be ordained.

In practice, several bishops have indicated that the directive will be interpreted in a variety of ways, much as its 1960s predecessor was.[citation needed]

[edit] Sex scandals and "homosexuality"

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Church has been confronted with a series of sex abuse cases.

There has been been substantial debate over whether these sex abuse cases have anything to do with homosexuals. More than four out of five of the priests' sex-abuse cases, involved male victims. It has been widely asserted that those who sexually abuse infants, even of the same gender, are not truly homosexuals.[citation needed] However, according to data in the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishop's National Review Board study, conducted by John Jay College of Criminal Justice, only 0.3% of the victims of these scandals were under the age of four; the majority were pubescent. [2]

In some cases, such as Paul Shanley, priests had openly promoted homosexuality and/or revealed their own inclinations.[2] Some sex experts, however, dispute these notions as they deem pedophilia to specifically be about attraction to boys.[citation needed]

Kate Saunders wrote in her book Catholics and Sex that "In other quarters, there are fears that the overtly homosexual atmosphere in many of the seminaries are attracting too many gay men, and putting off heterosexuals."[citation needed] In various forms, anecdotal references to this effect has existed since the early Reformation, through the writings of Voltaire, especially in Candide.[citation needed]

[edit] References

The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking.
  1. '^ Dr Elizabeth Stuart Roman Catholics and Homosexuality quoted by Kate Saunders in Catholics and Sex
  2. ^ Among other sources on Shanley's homosexual activism, see the Boston Globe article:
    Sally Jacobs. 'If they knew the madness in me' A search for the real Rev. Paul Shanley suggests he was part hero, part horror Boston Globe, 7-10-2002. Online at: http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/stories2/071002_shanley.htm

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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