According to a Sept. 21 article in the New York Times, homosexuals, even those who are celibate, will be barred from becoming Roman Catholic priests. Catholic World News on Sept. 19 stated that the text of the new policy, which was approved by Pope Benedict XVI in August, says that “homosexual men should not be admitted to seminaries even if they are celibate, because their condition suggests a serious personality disorder which detracts from their ability to serve as ministers.”This so-called solution solves nothing and only creates more problems. First of all, it fosters the illusion that child abuse is a homosexual problem. Secondly, it alienates gay Catholic priests. Lastly, it is an act of hypocritical gate-keeping, not to mention homophobia.
The suggested policy allows the continuing of rhetoric that blames homosexuality in the priesthood for the current child abuse scandals, hence avoiding the accountability on the part of the church as an institution itself. It makes homosexuality the scapegoat and avoids the bigger problem at hand: mandated cleric celibacy, which leaves people of the cloth with the task of repressing their own emotions and desires.
Celibacy was originally introduced in the church during the end of the third century. It did not become widely enforced until Pope Callistus II in 1123 declared all clerical marriages invalid. Perhaps the issue should be revisited.
The potential act will alienate current gay priests. Although present clerics might be “grandfathered in,” who would want to continue to serve under the new policy about to take place? In fact, some who have described themselves as “chaste, homosexual priests” say they are considering speaking against the proposal or even resigning, because they feel so distressed. Not only will this cause emotional harm to a certain group of priests, but in the bigger picture, this will contribute to a shortage of clergy overall, which is not good for anyone in the church.
Finally, the hypocritical gatekeeping is appalling. It just isn’t sensible for a church with egg allover its face from the sex abuse scandals to make a move so bold as to deny a group of their own members the opportunity to become a seminarian. These same hierarchs who covered up their own scandals are now trying to deny the opportunity of priesthood to others who wish to take their vows and who could arguably turn out more virtuous than those who covered up these scandals. It does not serve justice to punish a new generation of potential priests for the sins of their predecessors.
When all is said and done, this new policy places an undeserved blame on an already discriminated group of people. Authorities ought to open themselves up to the idea that pedophilia is not a gay problem; it’s a church problem–their problem. With this new policy coming out, however, it looks like they haven’t changed their mindset, and have no interest in solving the real problems at hand, but just passing down the buck.
On a very different note, a separate issue needs to be addressed. Readers of The Quad may disagree with my commentary, which is perfectly fine.
I’d love to read the responses of others in support or opposition to my own in a Letter to the Editor. Email submissions to quadforum@hotmail.com.
Anthony Maalouf is a senior majoring in political science with a minor in Spanish.