The Congregation for Education issued a decision a few years ago to the effect that homosexual candidates cannot become priests because their sexual orientation estranges them from the proper sense of paternity, from the intrinsic nature of priestly being. The selection of candidates to the priesthood must therefore be very careful. The greatest attention is needed here in order to prevent the intrusion of this kind of ambiguity and to head off a situation where the celibacy of priests would practically end up being identified with the tendency to homosexuality. Sexuality has an intrinsic meaning and direction, which is not homosexual. We could say, if we wanted to put it like this, that evolution has brought forth sexuality for the purpose of reproducing the species. The same thing is true from a theological point of view as well. The meaning and direction of sexuality is to bring about the union of man and woman. And, in this way, to give humanity posterity, children, a future. This is the determination internal to the essence of sexuality. Everything else is against sexuality’s intrinsic meaning and direction. This is a point we need to hold firm, even if it is not pleasing to our age …
Homosexuality is incompatible with the priestly vocation. Otherwise, celibacy itself would lose its meaning as a renunciation. It would be extremely dangerous if celibacy became a sort of pretext for bringing people into the priesthood who don’t want to get married anyway
Homosexuality is incompatible with the priestly vocation. Otherwise, celibacy itself would lose its meaning as a renunciation. It would be extremely dangerous if celibacy became a sort of pretext for bringing people into the priesthood who don’t want to get married anyway
—Pope Benedict XVI, writing in his new book Light Of The World, bravely prohibiting even celibate gays from joining the priesthood. That’s right, kiddos, only adult men who prey on little boys are allowed in those parts! This also means: The pope himself lusts after women, but he’s so in love with Jesus (A MAN) he can do without. [via]
David
….said the old, creepy, repressed sex perv wearing a fancy dress.
GregorVonK
Another reason why I won’t even describe myself as a “LAPSED” Catholic. I am proud NON-Catholic Catholicism is so remote from me now, it’s hard to even think of myself as an EX-Catholic.
Totally out of touch. And obviously in denial.
Mike F.
Well…when you believe the fairy tale of Adam and Eve, what do you expect from the guy?
Jeffree
Goes to show how delusional Benny XVI is — he igmores that a large % of priests are gay. Denying gay men for the priesthood means that there will be fewer & fewer priests, in a country where there’s already a shortage of them.
As a guy is willing to be celibate, why does it matter which gender he’s NOT sleeping with?
notsurprised
the number of men who joined the priesthood because their church taught them the only way to get to heaven was to deny their sexuality is- countless. its historical. so is joining because you dont want to get married, so is joining because work wasn’t working out for you, familial pressure, etc.
most catholics cant fathom that their straight “holy” priests could ever harm a child, so, blame the “disordered” homosexual. Benedict has been on a witch hunt for gay men in the seminary/priesthood, as well as sisters in convents, and anyone who dared not agree with him since he was elevated, this is not news.
as an ex-catholic, it was a gay priest who finally convinced me that i did not need weekly confession for being gay, and ultimately, that they had no authority over my life.
i think its good, because the priesthood’s slow death should go a little faster now, and young men will be less apt to doom themselves to such a life.
plus, when the pedophilia continues, it’ll be obvious gays are not the problem.
Jacob Woods
Does anyone know the rate of priests who are gay. Considering the correlations of youngest brothers being gay and the correlation of youngest brothers being drawn to religion more frequently than their other siblings, I am assuming it to be rather high. And from the news and I think even with some statistics there is a rather high amount of gay priests. Which doesn’t surprise me in the least. And as we all know, it isn’t a bad thing!!!
Equal Rights Now
I wonder if Jesus tried to prevent any gays from becoming an apostle? hahaha
JusticeontheRocks
Something is wrong with their selection process – ask any altar boy.
McMike
So says the man who has a boyfriend. It’s been estimated between 60%-80% of the priesthood is queer. It’s unreal we have a gay pope saying priest can’t be gay.
Tom
@Jeffree:
“there will be fewer & fewer priests”
See, every cloud has a silver lining.
declanto
So where can I read about his erections for women???
Jacob Woods
@JusticeontheRocks:
I find that sexually explicit. Augusten Burroughs writes a phenomenal chapter on this topic in I belief his book Magical Thinking. I am about 90% sure the chapter was in Magical thinking. We will just say it involves like 3 priests and male to male sexual behavior.
johnny
@GregorVonK:
What you said.
Jim Hlavac
You would think a man who believes that evolution’s purpose for sex is purely for procreation would spend a few moments thinking about why it is that evolution keeps plunking gay people at a steady 5 to 6% into every culture on earth. It’s instinct right, this urge to procreate? How do gay folks override this instinct? Sounds like a good subject to study a bit. Obviously evolution has no trouble with gay folks. And I think evolution and the God who created it knows a little more about the matter than the pope does. Meanwhile, 106 boys are born for every 100 girls, and when the 100 marry the 100 for the procreation bit, the Six are left to dance amongst ourselves. Just like evolution intended.
Syl
Don’t gay men have paternal instincts as well? Hell, some of the nicest dads I’ve met are gay! If you removed all gay priests, we’d have nothing left but alcoholics and sexual predators (yes, I am actually saying “most gay priests aren’t sexual predators”, in spite of the opposite being conservative Catholics and the hierarchy’s explanation for the abuse scandals and the need to discriminate even harder against gays).
Look, we’re in a different era. People can expect, on average, to live at least to sixty. Infant mortality is low, most diseases are kept in check by vaccination, plumbing, antibiotics, and hygiene. We don’t need a baby to come out every time someone has sex! And if Pope Sidious I is gonna bring evolution in, then he loses because homosexuality, bisexuality, and individuals who mess with the gender binary *are* natural! Hell, from a purely biological perspective, not only is celibacy a total waste (you not only have individuals eating the community’s resources who won’t make offspring to contribute to the next generation) and monogamy is crap, since you’d want maximum genetic diversity in your offspring to maximize your genes’ chances!
@notsurprised: This. There are so many reasons other than a person being gay that ought to keep them out of the priesthood. Why deny the few sincere vocations because they want to (but promise they won’t) have sex with men? Except that, even if the abuses continue after the gay priests are thrown out, the hardcore Catholics will still insist it’s the gays. We’re dealing with people who think the Vatican has any legitimate moral authority here. They’re not exactly big on the critical thinking thing.
Marvin Vann
“We could say, if we wanted to put it like this, that evolution has brought forth sexuality for the purpose of reproducing the species.”
Which leads to the obvious next question: For what purpose does evolution keep on bringing forth homosexuality? Presumably because it is in some way equally advantageous for the survival of the species.
This is far as his intensive training in philosophy has got him? Rather pathetic.
Jacob Woods
Some studies and some people are hypothesizing that homosexuals are here because first, we don’t want the burden of children because we are to genius to deal with children. It is something I don’t necessarily agree with. But homosexuals tend to be more creative. I don’t think there is any empirical data that is going to support that claim. None that I know of yet.
Sophie
So basically he’s saying it wouldn’t be a sacrifice for homosexual men to give up sex, only straight men. Ok…
I guess asexual people can’t be priests either, because they wouldn’t feel like it was a punishment, and that’s what Catholicism is apparently about – being miserable.
Lucius Vorenus
He and his father were Nazis. He has got a hard on for Hitler.
robert in nyc
Actually, what he says could have a silver lining. Banning gays from the priesthood will hasten the demise of this evil, oppressive cult once and for all. It can’t function without an adequate supply of priests and vocations are at their lowest ever. That’s why they have to import them from bigoted backward third world countries. Catholic gays could always join the Episcopalians if they want to become priests.
Mike B's Husband
Dear Mr. Pope,
Be careful as you stand on the rim of Hell to toss us in that you don’t fall in yourself!
UhHuh
Ugh. Priests. Believe me, they can be as mean and vicious as Manhattan gays.
the crustybastard
Yes, Mr. Ratzinger, I wish gays would leave the church too. And all the people with family and friends who are gay.
I wish people would see your church for the Hate Club that it is.
ewe
religion has become the enemy of love constantly separating the people. Disgraceful.