Hypocrisy Still Reigns in the Catholic Church

Recently I met a young man who wanted to be a Roman Catholic priest. I was interested in his vocation and asked him if he was applying to the main seminary in Ontario. No, he said, he was trying another route because although he was celibate, he was gay and had previously been in a relationship. “And you may have heard about the most recent statement from the Pope,” he said, looking upset and hurt.

I had.

Rome recently reiterated a 2005 ban on any homosexual man from entering a Roman Catholic seminary, and added more insult to the injury. The only exception is for men who have overcome “transitory” and “adolescent homosexual tendencies” many years earlier.

In other words – what this insulting document says is that if you had the odd dream about another man a few years ago, or as a child, and were not entirely sure about your sexuality you might – just might – be allowed into a seminary.

More than this – and here is where the secular and political world should take notice – the document goes on to state that gay men are “gravely hindered from relating correctly to men and women.” Not some, but all gay men, and not just priests but all people.

Consider that statement once again: gay people can’t relate properly to anyone else.

So can gay people can be teachers, politicians, social workers, police officers, administrators . . . anything? This is one of the most pernicious comments in memory to come from a mainstream institution about people born with same-sex attraction.

The document is based quite firmly on the 1992 apostolic exhortation on priestly formation, and also on the teachings of Benedict XVI. The former was issued by John Paul II – a man who allowed child abusers and those who had sheltered child abusers back into church positions and even gave them senior Vatican positions. As for Pope Benedict, let us just say that hypocrisy comes to mind.

Benedict’s statement included the lines: “The church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture.’”

Cruelty aside, it’s difficult to see how the Catholic Church can respect those who can’t “relate correctly” to other people.

Surely that makes them odd and not to be trusted.

The document further states: “One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.” The implication here is quite clearly to the abuse crisis, and this is truly vile.

The Roman Catholic Church dealt appallingly with the long-term and widespread rape of young people by its priests.

While most clergy were innocent, a culture of retarded sexuality, of subterfuge and of enforced celibacy and patriarchy allowed this plague to occur.

Only after being exposed by the media and after constant denials, the Catholic Church effectively blames the abuse crisis on gay men. They might claim this isn’t true, but then failing to tell the truth is not a new game for them. If so, they would admit that at least 30 per cent of Roman Catholic clergy are gay, including some of the people behind this report and at the most senior levels of the hierarchy.

But rather than being open, loving and well-adjusted gay men – who often in my experience make the best and most compassionate priests – they are deep in the closet and terrified of allowing the world to understand the authentic nature of the situation.

The suffering this will cause and the stigma it will allow is incalculable.

Pope Francis once said that we should not judge someone for his or her sexuality, but that is precisely what is being done.

Gay people don’t abuse, bad people abuse.

Religion is no excuse for bigotry and the time is coming when prejudice will not be allowed to hide behind faith.

As a Christian, I pray that time is soon.