Psychological tests to screen for gay priests - more reactionary crap from the Vatican

Religious people are forever banging on about wanting their beliefs to be respected and not to be offended, delicate little flowers that they are. Yep, plays, books , art mustn't be nasty about their particular superstition yet they happily come out with offensive crap themselves. Fair enough, free speech and all that. Just it does work both ways. If you dish it expect to take it.

So what brings on another Stroppy rant about god bothers ?

This :

The Catholic Church is to vet all candidates for the priesthood to eliminate anyone suspected of "deeply seated" homosexuality.

After being hit by a series of sex scandals, the Vatican has given the seal of approval to the psychological screening to test for evidence of personality disorders or serious doubts about aptitude for the priesthood.

Controversially, the head of the Vatican committee that made the recommendations has made it clear they should be used to screen out homosexuals, even if they are celibate, because homosexuality is "a type of deviation" that disqualifies a priest from exercising "spiritual paternity".

Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, the prefect of the Congregation, Cardinal Grocholewski, explained why a seminarian should be excluded from the priesthood even if he is celibate if it appeared that he was homosexual.

"The candidate does not necessarily have to practise homosexuality. He can even be without sin," the Cardinal said. "But if he has this deep-seated tendency, he cannot be admitted to priestly ministry precisely because of the nature of the priesthood, in which a spiritual paternity is carried out. Here we are not talking about whether he commits sins, but whether this deeply rooted tendency remains."

He added: "In a certain sense, when we ask why Christ reserved the priesthood to men, we speak of this spiritual paternity, and maintain that homosexuality is a type of deviation, a type of irregularity. Therefore it is a type of wound in the exercise of the priesthood, in forming relations with others. And precisely for this reason we say that something isn't right in the psyche of such a man. We don't simply talk about the ability to abstain from these kinds of relations."

It says that if seminary students show signs of grave immaturity, then "the path of formation will have to be interrupted". Symptoms of "immaturity" would include unclear sexual identity, difficulty with the celibate life, excessive rigidity of character and lack of freedom in relations.

When it comes to assessing a candidate's ability to be celibate, the document suggests that "it is not enough to be sure that he is capable of abstaining from genital activity" but that it is also necessary "to evaluate his sexual orientation".



Where to start! The sex scandals as far as I'm concerned are not that they have had gay priests but the abuse of children, both male and female. I hope they are not implying that gay=paedophile? It most certainly doesn't.
So they see gay people as immature, deviant and with a wound that affects relations with others . Bit like Iris Robinson who believes a bit of therapy will straighten them all out.

Even if you approach this from the Catholic view that gay sex is a sin rather than enjoyable, it seems a bit intolerant to stop even those who refrain from 'genital activity' (don't they realise sex is a lot more than what you do with your genitals, but hey what do you expect from celibate old men) . So how come its alright for heterosexual ones who struggle with celibacy?

Oh and finally how exactly are they going to smoke out the deep seated gay man? Check out their record collection and DVDs for show tunes and Judy Garland? Perhaps being well dressed with an eye for good interior design? (btw I know these are stereotypes!)

Or perhaps a penchant for red shoes , flamboyant flowing frocks and designer sunglasses?

Exactly why should I give any respect to this 'faith community'?They certainly wouldn't respect my beliefs, way of life or friends.