Why is Catholicism a draw for Gay priests?

Question

I think it's funny and ironic (given the fact that gay men aren't really recognized by the church...especially as priests). I just want to understand what the draw is...I also think it's funny that they are switching to being Episcopalians, because the Episcopal church is also ruled by cannonic law, yet is much more understanding and open to different kinds of people.

I know, I know...this question might make you angry...do your research, you will see that I speak the truth...

Answer 1

I am Catholic and it does not make me angry.

Why do you think it is funny? A priest takes a vow of celebacy, what difference is it then if he did have homosexual tendicies or not? Celebacy is Celebacy.

There is no sin in having homosexual tendencys the sin is in homosexual acts.

Just because the Chruch does not sanction Gay Marriage is no reason to assume that the Church hates Gay people.

How can you tell if a Priest is Gay? They are Celebate! They don't date!

Peace!

Answer 2

Paedophiles are drawn to professions where one has access to children. You made several errors in your post. First of all, most paedophiles are heterosexual and married. Second of all you erred in saying that the Catholic Church draws more paedophiles than other religions. This is entirely false. In fact, the opposite is true. Between Protestants and Catholics the statistics are that 1/2 of 1% of Catholic priests may be paedophiles while it is estimated by at least one Protestant group, the Southern Baptists that up to 15 % of their clergy are sexual abusers. This seems to be more typical. There are much more accusations made against Catholic priests since the Church is open and does pay restitution to victims even with little evidence of a crime. Allegations are most often over 50 years old and the alleged perpetrators are dead. The fact is that children are safer with Catholic priests by a wide margin than other clergy, teachers or family members. The fact is that no church is immune to these potential problem and pretending that this is just a Catholic problem makes one more vulnerable to the same problem. But, people are only too anxious to throw the first stone while denying that their own house is not immune to the potential for abuse as well as guilt. I pray this puts things into a clearer perspective for you. God bless! In Christ Fr. Joseph

Answer 3

My opinion would be that the problem lies in Christianity's hatred of the body (blame it on St. Paul, Jesus seemed happy enough with his); the body in general and the female body in particular, which the early Church fathers wrote about with considerable prurience. Almost all the priests I've known say that their training for the priesthood gave them little or no help in managing their vow of celibacy ... and several of the young priests-in-training have struck me as being terrified of sex in general.

Add to that rather unpleasant mixture the fact that it's only recently that there's been any acceptance of homosexuality as a normal way of life for some people - as opposed to a sin or an 'objective disorder,' to quote the current Pope, and you can perhaps see that someone terrified of sex in general and his own homosexual preference in particular might opt for a career in the priesthood, somehow hoping that the combination of vows and sacraments and threats (and maybe hoped-for support) would mean that they wouldn't have to confront their own sexual and sensual needs ... and then are sadly disappointed when, after the initial fervours of ordination, they find that the urges haven't gone away after all.

What strikes me as particularly sad - whether it's hetero- or homo-sex under consideration - is that the Church's concentration on the prohibition of the sexual act means that it turns its attention away from the other needs that are expressed through sex - companionship, friendship, comfort, and love.

Them's me sentiments, anyway.

Answer 4

I am Catholic and proud to be Catholic however, I believe there are many things in the church that are corrupt. I don't know why a gay man would be drawn to be a priest. This just adds to the corruption. Does he struggle with the fact that he is gay? Does he think that being a priest would somehow "straighten" him out? I don't know. One thing I do know Catholicism is not the only Christian denomination that struggles with this issue. We hear about it because it is one of the largest denominations and it seems like the media can't wait to ostracize the Catholic church. I'm pretty conservative when it comes to my faith however, I think your question is a very good question and it did not make me angry.

Answer 5

This is an invalid assumption with no data to support it. While there are gay men who become priests, there is not a disproportionate amount of gay men drawn to the Catholic priesthood.

Nonetheless, the Catholic Church isn't closed to those "different kinds of people." It teaches that acting upon homosexual urges is wrong and encouraging or teaching otherwise is a grave matter. However, those who are struggling with that particular vice are no different than anyone (everyone) else struggling with temptation towards other sinful behaviors.

Answer 6

I think a couple of hundred years ago, any gay man might enter the priesthood as an escape. He's not attracted to women, so why marry one? Why not hang out with other men in the rectory?

I have heard the theory advanced that part of the cause of the shortage of priests in the US is the success of the gay liberation movement.

Answer 7

It isn't. The incidence of homosexual men in the priesthood is just about the same as the incidence in the general population- 1 to 2% If it seems like more than that, you can thank the secular news media, who put every case of misconduct by a priest on the front page nationwide, while most of the cases involving teachers (the most frequent group of molestors), scout leaders, guidance counselors, grandparents, etc. don't even make the news, except perhaps locally.

Answer 8

It used to be, because of the celibacy vow, that many young men thought they could 'hide it' as preists. These young men loved God and wanted to be good Catholics. They thought it was a sin to be homosexual, and thought that as priests it wouldn't be a problem since they'd never have sex. Many were not able to control their urges. I am NOT Catholic or gay bashing here. I'm old and come from a time when gays had to hide themselves from society. Not excusing anyone's behavior, especially against children. I'm just saying that I think the young men started out with good intentions, but were not able to control their sexual urges.

Answer 9

It make a who lot of sence if you think about it.
The Catholic Church says that Gay acts or pedofilic acts are wrong but still recognizes that there are some people who are attracted to the same sex or little kids but it urges them not to act on the urges.
Since there must be religious Catholics who are atracted to the same sex and can't act on their urges being celebate is not a major sacrifice. Since they won't serve God by trying to procreate they tend to become priests and serve God in that manner.

I suppose being a priest builds trust and allows the priests to be put in tempting situations some times then the priest abuse the trust that is when we hear about it.

Answer 10

I don't think it was a"draw" for gay men (or paedafiles-not comparing the two btw) But a place where no questions would be asked if a man remained unmarried, also the truly faithful may find priesthood to be a way of hiding from their "sinful" behaviour

I in NO WAY believe being gay is sinful BTW!! but being bi-that is just greedy!!!!