Confraternity of Catholic Clergy Wholeheartedly Supports Vatican Letter on Seminarians

November 28, 2005 - 12:00 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Catholic PRWire

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy endorses, supports and applauds the recent letter from the Congregation for Catholic Education "Concerning the Criteria of Vocational Discernment Regarding Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in View of their Admission to Seminaries and Holy Orders" We invite all our ordained brethren (deacons, priests and bishops) to read it thoroughly and to obediently embrace the Magisterial teaching it contains and we urge vocation directors and seminary rectors to fully implement the directives given in that same document.

Specifically, that document states that the Church "cannot admit to Seminary or Holy Orders those who are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture." The only exception being "homosexual tendencies that might only be a manifestation of a transitory problem, as, for example, delayed adolescence, these must be clearly overcome at least three years before diaconal Ordination." Note that it does not say someone who has been actively engaged in a homosexual lifestyle merely needs to be chaste and celibate for three years to enter the seminary, as some have erroneously reported.

We do not consider this a matter of discrimination since as the document itself affirms in "the mere desire to become a priest is not sufficient and there is no right to receive sacred Ordination." It continues to say that "the call to Orders is the personal responsibility of the Bishop or the Superior General" since they act on behalf of the Church who alone has the authority and responsibility to confirm a vocation to holy orders. While the Catechism (#2358) says that those who have a homosexual orientation "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." It is not, however, prejudice to exclude them from holy orders since the homosexual tendency or inclination is considered "objectively disordered" and no one has an innate right to priesthood or diaconate as they do baptism.

As faithful sons of the church, we pledge our continued loyalty and adherence to the consistent doctrinal teachings of the Magisterium. We resent the distortions and misinterpretations surrounding this document months before it was published. This decree first of all applies specifically and only to those who are not yet ordained, i.e., to candidates for the seminary and seminarians already studying for the priesthood. This letter and its directives are not retroactive in that anyone already ordained would be affected. On the contrary, priests and deacons are properly under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Clergy whereas seminarians as candidates for holy orders are under the Congregation of Education, who issued this document.

Secondly, as the previous 1961 document (Careful Selection and Training of Candidates for the States of Perfection and Sacred Orders) pointed out when it, too, made similar restrictions, moral behavior is but one aspect of formation. It goes without saying that the recent scandals make it urgent and necessary to prudently, thoroughly and aggressively investigate every candidate for holy orders as well as the seminaries which train them. Sexual misconduct and immoral behavior certainly do not belong in seminarians any more than it belongs in the priesthood, the diaconate or the episcopacy. Disobedience to the Moral Law among the clergy and covering it up or condoning it caused a catastrophe of monumental proportions. No less pernicious and insidious, however, is disobedience to papal authority and theological dissent from Magisterium teaching. Bad theology is supported by bad liturgy and together they spawn bad morality. As Catholic clergy and as baptized members of the Church, we ask that across the board, our shepherds enforce the universal laws of the church; to protect and serve the people of God by ensuring that every ordained deacon, priest or bishop will act morally, properly and pastorally; defend the deposit of faith as taught by the Magisterium; and insist that reverent and proper celebrations of the sacred liturgy be done everywhere, from seminaries to parishes to cathedrals.

Rev. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD
President
Confraternity of Catholic Clergy

Contact

Confraternity of Catholic Clergy
http://www.catholic-clergy.org
PA, US
Rev. Fr. John Trigilio - President, 717 957-9309

Keywords

homosexual, seminarians

Category

Catholic Organizations

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