Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - Made public today was the document: "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders." The document is dated November 4, memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, patron of seminaries, and bears the signatures of Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski and of Archbishop Michael J. Miller C.S.B., respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education. On August 31, 2005, Benedict XVI approved the Instruction and ordered its publication. The document has been published in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Portuguese”.
Articulated in three chapters and a conclusion the brief Instruction “does not intend to dwell on all questions in the area of affectivity and sexuality that require an attentive discernment during the entire period of formation. Rather, it contains norms concerning a specific question, made more urgent by the current situation, and that is: whether to admit to the seminary and to holy orders candidates who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies.”.
Chapter one, ‘Affective maturity and spiritual paternity’ states “the priest, in fact, sacramentally represents Christ, the head, shepherd and spouse of the Church. Because of this configuration to Christ, the entire life of the sacred minister must be animated by the gift of his whole person to the Church and by an authentic pastoral charity. The candidate to the ordained ministry, therefore, must reach affective maturity. Such maturity will allow him to relate correctly to both men and women, developing in him a true sense of spiritual fatherhood towards the Church community that will be entrusted to him."
On the subject of “homosexuality and the ordained ministry” chapter two refers to various documents of the Magisterium which distinguish between homosexual acts and homosexual tendencies. Homosexual acts are presented a serious sins “intrinsically immoral and contrary to natural law. They cannot be approved. Deep-seated homosexual tendencies, which are found in a number of men and women, are also objectively disordered and, for those same people, often constitute a trial. Such persons must be accepted with respect and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided”.
In the light of this teaching the Instruction “believes it necessary to state clearly that 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'.”… “One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies. Different, however, would be the case in which one were dealing with homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem - for example, that of an adolescence not yet superseded. Nevertheless, such tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the deaconate.”
The final chapter on “Church discernment concerning the suitability of candidates to the priesthood” highlights to inseparable aspects of every priestly vocation: “God’s freely given gift and responsible freedom of man”. “The desire to become a priest alone in not sufficient and there exists no right to receive Ordination”, it falls to the Church “to discern the suitability of a man who wishes to enter the seminary, to accompany him in the years of formation and call him to Holy Orders if he is judged to possess the necessary qualities”.
The conclusion “reaffirms the need for bishops, major superiors, and all relevant authorities to carry out an attentive discernment concerning the suitability of candidates for holy orders, from the time of admission to the seminary until ordination.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 30/11/2005, righe 43, parole 551)
