Gay Priests struggle with Vatican’s Rules
Uploaded by twolves815 on Nov 28, 2005
I chose this article in the New York Times because it is a moral issue which is stirring up controversy in religion and media. In the rapid change of social norms in today’s world, we are given a topic that mixes both the new generation of people and the old traditional way of living. My evaluation of this subject has left me in an interesting situation; and caught between moral or social customs.
Rachel Zole wrote this editorial in the NY Times and in doing so helped voice out Rev. Fred Daley’s belief who was one of the first priests to expose his sexual orientation. What the author is trying to do is help people understand the situation plus persuade the reader to understand and side with the Reverend. The crisis that is taking place in the church is, because homosexuality is not morally accepted, the Vatican is passing a set of rules which forbids any “known” gay persons to enter the church and also “back up the teaching with documents that can set new restrictions on candidates entering priesthood” (12-13). The document excludes most gay men from the priesthood, banning in strong and specific language candidates “who are actively homosexual, have homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture.” The document appears to make exceptions only to allow priesthood for candidates who experienced “transitory” homosexual tendencies that were “clearly overcome” at least three years before ordination as a deacon, the last step before priesthood. There are an estimated 2,300 priests and clergymen that are participating in the church who considers them to “be morally unstable.” The document draws a clear line in banning active homosexuals and what many experts said is a less clear line in also banning candidates for the priesthood.
As a conservative and a church person, I am against a priest who has any sort of known homosexuality in his background to be even considered a candidate. The church is one of the last places left in the world that is free of violence and persecution and shouldn’t be corrupted with and priest who thinks he might have a different sexual preference. With the rising number of people attending church, it wouldn’t be suitable for a young child to get exposed to such dishonesty and shape his/her opinion in a way contradictory to what the church believes. I disagree with the article because it is stated by...