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Catholic Church: No Fags Allowed, Even if They Repress It

Sep 22, 2005 8:40 AM
Tags:

So much for tradition:

Homosexuals, even those who are celibate, will be barred from becoming Roman Catholic priests under stricter rules soon to be released, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

...

It noted that the Pope is a conservative who said last spring that there was a need to "purify" the church after deeply damaging sex scandals of the last several years.

But wait ...

The church official told the Times the ban would pertain only to candidates for the priesthood, not to those already ordained.

Hmm. Something tells me that we'd have a seriously understaffed Church otherwise.

And, as a side note, it's always been my (mis-?)understanding that Catholicism condemned actions, not thoughts. Or at least that's how some thoughtful, liberal Catholic friends tried to rationalize it (the Church outlawing homosexual acts, but not being homophobic) to me.

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Comments: Catholic Church: No Fags Allowed, Even if They Repress It

"it's always been my (mis-?)understanding that Catholicism condemned actions, not thoughts"

What about all those confessions of 'impure thoughts'?

Posted by: S on September 22, 2005 11:51 AM | permalink

No idea ... Catholic practice doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Posted by: Joe Grossberg on September 22, 2005 4:40 PM | permalink

Joe, c'mon, this is a pretty easy question to answer. Let's refer to the Bible, which I believe Catholics still hold in high regard.

"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28

The answer is simple: if you willfully dwell on homosexual thoughts/desires/fantasies, you are committing a sin. If you have these feelings, but suppress them, you are not "being homosexual" because no act of will is involved in the homosexuality. You do not have to move your body to commit an "act."

I am not a Catholic, btw... so take the above for what it's worth.

Posted by: Dick Clark on September 27, 2005 1:38 PM | permalink

Dick:

But why single out homosexuality? Why not go after hetereosexual priests who don't act on it, instead of forcing themselves to be asexual?

Posted by: Joe Grossberg on September 29, 2005 1:29 PM | permalink

No more comments! Either someone has violated Godwin's Law, I'm tired of the discussion or, most likely, the ten-week window has closed. You can, however, contact me through email.