Vatican City (AsiaNews) The Vatican has published its long-awaited guidelines which reaffirm that "active homosexuals, those who show signs of deep-seated homosexual tendencies and supporters of so-called gay culture may not become priests".
The guidelines, found in the "Instruction Concerning the Criteria of Vocational Discernment Regarding Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in View of their Admission to Seminaries and Holy Orders" and released by the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, today solemnly confirmed that there can neither be gay priests nor supporters of gay culture within the Catholic Church. Anyone who falls within the purview of these criteria cannot attend seminaries.
The Instruction, which specifically addresses the issue of candidates to the priesthood, follows in the footsteps of other Vatican declaration on the question of homosexuality such as the 1975 Persona Humana - Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; the 1986 Letter Homosexualitatis problema that concerned pastoral care for homosexuals; and another paper answering questions raised by a 1992 bill that proposed protecting homosexual people from discrimination. In 2003, the Congregation articulated the reasons for opposing granting homosexual couples legal recognition.
In presenting the Instruction, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, said that all these documents are motivated by the fact "in this sector, there is a certain disorientation in today's world. Many defend the position according to which the homosexual condition is a normal condition for human beings, as if it were nearly a third gender. Instead this absolutely contradicts human anthropology. According to the Church, it contradicts natural law and what God has pressed upon humanity, namely two sexes.
Today's document, which Pope Benedict XVI specifically approved, says that homosexuals are excluded from the seminary because priests need to "be in a correct relationship with men and women". This requires an emotional maturity that can give him a true sense of spiritual paternity towards the church community that will be entrusted to him. People with deep-seated homosexual tendencies find themselves in a situation that seriously hinders a correct relationship with men and women.
Should these tendencies be the expression of a transitory problemfor instance, an deficient adolescencethey must have clearly been overcome for at least three years before anyone can receive diaconal ordination.
On the issue of homosexuality, the Instruction reiterates the distinction the Catechism of the Church makes between homosexual acts and tendencies.
For the Holy Scriptures, the former are "grave sins". Deep-seated homosexual tendencies are objectively disordered and are often evidence of such a condition.
The Instruction like the other many documents calls for respect and consideration for homosexuals, and excludes all forms of discrimination.
Homosexuals "are called to fulfill God's Will in their lives and join to the sacrifice of the Cross of Our Lord the difficulties they may encounter".
There is "no right to the sacred ordination". "Training for the priesthood must be articulated in an essential complimentarity around its four dimensions, namely human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral."
In this context, "to admit a candidate to the diaconal ordination, the Church must attest to, among other things, whether the candidate has reached the necessary emotional maturity for the priesthood."
Ultimately, even though "the task falls on the rectors of seminaries and spiritual directors, it is the candidate who is primarily responsible for his own training".
"It would a highly dishonest for a candidate to hide his homosexuality in order despite everything to achieve the ordination".
Such a unauthentic attitude does not correspond to spirit of truth, loyalty and availability that must define the personality of those who are called to serve Christ and His Church in the priestly ministry". (FP)