Some Guys Are Normal

Ex-Gays Can Be Priests

PFOX is applauding the recent decision by the Vatican to limit gay (or same-sex attracted) people in the priesthood. Specifically they are happy that the Vatican has said that seminarians are eligible if they are free from homosexual tendencies for at least three years.

Their press release says that ex-gays or "former homosexuals" can become Priests.

I guess that depends on what your definition of ex-gay is. Chaste, same-sex attracted men with "deep seated" homosexual tendencies will not be allowed to enter the Priesthood. This would leave the possible eligibility for people like David Morrison in question since he admits to still having same-sex attractions. It would also cause problems for many ex-gays that admit that struggling with SSA is a lifelong struggle.

I'm really not sure why PFOX is so excited about this. This part of the directive isn't talking about behavior, purely about attractions. From what I can tell a huge number of ex-gays (if not most) have now been explicitly banned from joining the Priesthood, even if they are celibate and chaste. Doesn't sound like much of a victory, especially since these chaste ex-gays have done everything they have been asked to do and still are being blocked from joining.

posted by Brady @ 11:06 AM