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Gay News: The Pope has reaffirmed that gay men cannot become priests - even if they are celibate.
By: Nigel Robinson
Homosexuality "against God's wishes"
Homosexuality "against God's wishes"
Homosexuality incompatible with priesthood, says Pope
25 November 2010
The Pope’s comments appear in an interview conducted by German journalist Peter Seewald in the book Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times.
“Homosexuality is incompatible with the priestly vocation,” the Pontiff said, “otherwise celibacy itself would lose its meaning as a renunciation. It would be extremely dangerous if celibacy became a sort of pretext for bringing people to the priesthood who didn’t want to get married anyway.”
Asked by Seewald whether the Church’s teaching that homosexuals should be treated with respect contradicted its stance that homosexuality is “intrinsically disordered”, Pope Benedict replied;
“No. It is one thing to say that they are human beings with their problems and their joys, that as human beings they deserve respect, even though they have this inclination, and must not be discriminated against because of it.”
He went on to say that sexuality had an “intrinsic meaning and direction” which is not homosexual.
“The meaning and direction of sexuality is to bring about the union of a man and woman and in this way to give humanity posterity, children, a future.”
Homosexuality was contrary to God’s wishes, he maintained.
When confronted with the claim that homosexuality existed within the church, he replied:
“That is just one of the disturbing problems of the Church. And the persons who are affected must, at least, try not to express this inclination actively, in order to remain true to the intrinsic mission of their office.”
The Pope’s comments follow remarks in the same book that condoms were the lesser of two evils in the fight against HIV infection.
