Why does the Catholic Church knowingly ordain openly gay priests, while preaching that homosexuality is a sin?

Question

Isn't this hypocritical? I'm sure some people will respond that as long as the priest does not act on his sexuality, it's O.K., but the bible states that even lusting in your heart is a sin, so is the priest sinning every day of his life?

I am not prejudiced against ANYONE, but the church did state that they will ordain men that admit they are homosexual as long as they do not commit homosexual acts

Answer 1

I think it was a big mistake on the part of my Church to ordain homosexuals. More than 3/4 of the priests involved in child molestation cases were homosexual.

The American Psychological Association has ruled that homosexuality is incurable. So why accept abnormal people into the priesthood? Why take such a big risk? This mistake has cost the Church more than 600 million dollars ... and counting.

Added: The overwhelming majority of the priests involved in these incidents are accused of sexual molestation of adolescent males, not females. This means that nature of the scandal is homosexual. The media downplayed or ignored this fact in its handling of the subject. But it has everything to do with the cause, the extent, and the cure of the problem.

Answer 2

First I agree that if the person does not act on their attraction to the same sex then they are not homosexual no matter their feelings and should not think of themselves in that way.

As far a being Priests, I am not a Catholic but can imagine that the fact that a priest cannot be married would greatly cut down on the numbers of men who would serve in that capacity. Then the fact that many who feel that way never act upon their lusts is a testament to their faith.

In the Bible when it states lusting in your heart, I have to wonder at what point it is considered a sin. Would it be just a fast glance where the thought crosses your mind before you can think of something else? Or maybe a lingering thought that you have where you entertain the idea briefly before choosing to banish it from your mind. Or maybe the point that you masturbate and satisfy your carnal lust to some degree by entertaining the thoughtfully. I don't think it wrong for them to use people who have a same sexual attraction problem if that person feels they can keep it well under control, but think they need to set standards where a priest is never alone with young men or women for that matter The LDS Church has very strict rules on two deep leadership when involved with children and have rules about how to conduct privet interviews safely.

Answer 3

1. The Church does not teach that homosexuality is a sin. The Church teaches that sex (homosexual and heterosexual) outside of marriage is a sin.

2. Do you think a homosexual person lusts more than an heterosexual person? Or do you think homosexual lust is worse than heterosexual lust?

3. And finally, I think if you do your homework, you will find that the Catholic Church does not knowingly ordain openly gay men. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/religion/july-dec05/gays_11-29.html

Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.

The Catholic Church believes there is nothing sinful about being homosexual. But homosexuals like all unmarried people are called to celibacy.

The Church specifically says that homosexuals "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."

Here is the text of the document, On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (1986): http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_df86ho.htm

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 2357-2359: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art6.htm#2357

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

No. It doesn't.

The church never did that, even though priests are required to be celibate, and celibacy is celibacy, whether one is hetero or homo.

A homosexual priest living with other priests would be a near occasion of sin, and that would be totally unacceptable.

Some bishops chose to operate the way you described, but they did it on their own, and with abominable results.

Perhaps they were homosexual too.

Answer 5

I like your question! The Catholic church is an abomination before the Lord and he will destroy it during the tribulation for the reasons given in Revelation Ch.17 v1-9

Answer 6

Priests have a vow of celibacy. Even if someone has an inclination towards something sinful, they have a choice to act on it or not. Even straight priests have an inclination to have sex, but they choose not to. Lust isn't in having a human response to another person, it's in giving yourself over to dwelling on that desire. So if someone is gay, but decides that their commitment to Christ defines them more than their sexuality, they would still qualify for the priesthood.

Answer 7

Honey, the world is full of sinners who lust in their heart's and minds.

You are one of them. Nobody is free of thoughts that include sexuality. You are no better or worse than any other human on the face of the earth.

You have no proof that the Catholic Church "knows" a man is gay when he is ordained. It is not tattooed on his forhead, ya know.

Answer 8

#1 Catholic Church isn't the only one doing it, and #2 I do not see where in the bible it is a sin! Give the page and passage where it says that! Besides Man wrote those rules, not God.

Answer 9

Actually, Catholic Church does differentiate between the sin and the sinner. Having homosexual tendencies is not a sin if you don't act on it.

Answer 10

But the Catholic Church is not alone in this. Protestant Churchs do it as well.