Dealing with gay priests

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

Factoid: Quite a few of us on Phatmass are not "young" and a couple of us are not even Catholics.

CatherineM has spoken many times of her training in theology. I find what she writes to be both clear and edifying. Have you read any of CatherineM's books?

This particular post was CatherineM expressing her feelings. As I understand it, the Catholic Church allows that.

[MIKolbe]

9 hours ago, ortus said:

This is one of the most appalling threads imaginable.

 

I note that you are a ‘church scholar’ … a ‘scholar’ of what exactly … because your post has nothing to do with the Catholic Church I recognize.

 

 

You claim to have ‘knowledge’ of this Bishop and stand in judgment of his moral capability. Did you see fit to pass on your ‘knowledge’ to the relevant and competent authorities – the Apostolic Nuncio? The Congregation of Bishops?

 

No, instead of this you decide to post your allegations on a website aimed at young Catholics. Did you think through the implications of what you were doing? You do not even make the most basic attempt to ananomize your statements ... as it would take no more that a few clicks on Google to identify the object of your salacious gossip from the information you have provided.

 

 

To make matters even worse, you make your scurrilous allegations on the internet so that they will hang around indefinitely.

 

Appalling! Absolutely appalling!!

 

Your Excellency, is that you?

[dominicansoul]

1 hour ago, MIKolbe said:

Your Excellency, is that you?

[<3 PopeFrancis]

9 hours ago, dominicansoul said:

CatherineM is a highly respected member of phatmass.  Who are you? 

 

Perhaps she started this thread to vent to friends?  I too am wondering how a homosexual could be made a bishop when I'm pretty sure Pope Benedict said homosexuals shouldn't be allowed in the priesthood.  Was this guy "grandfathered" in?  I'm pretty sure Catherine is appalled by lack of obedience more so than this mans sexual orientation...

 

12 hours ago, ortus said:

This is one of the most appalling threads imaginable.

 

I note that you are a ‘church scholar’ … a ‘scholar’ of what exactly … because your post has nothing to do with the Catholic Church I recognize.

 

 

You claim to have ‘knowledge’ of this Bishop and stand in judgment of his moral capability. Did you see fit to pass on your ‘knowledge’ to the relevant and competent authorities – the Apostolic Nuncio? The Congregation of Bishops?

 

No, instead of this you decide to post your allegations on a website aimed at young Catholics. Did you think through the implications of what you were doing? You do not even make the most basic attempt to ananomize your statements ... as it would take no more that a few clicks on Google to identify the object of your salacious gossip from the information you have provided.

 

 

To make matters even worse, you make your scurrilous allegations on the internet so that they will hang around indefinitely.

 

Appalling! Absolutely appalling!!

 

I think she dealt with them very prudently even agonized over her friend.  How would you have handled it?  Would you as an "adoring fan" said congratulations to him, enjoyed the food and the party, then talk about how horrible it is for this priest to be "GAY" or maybe worse?

Do you think that the fact that she felt "she wasn't missed" felt good?  Your sympathies are misappropriated.

 

12 hours ago, ortus said:

This is one of the most appalling threads imaginable.

 

 

Indeed it is, but not Catherine M's.

[Basilisa Marie]

Idk I just don't see how one's orientation matters if you have a mature and healthy understanding of your sexuality.  I'd be more interested in a bishop's personality and pet projects than who he feels attracted to.  Being gay doesn't automatically mean you promote certain things.  

That being said CatherineM isn't being unreasonable. She's expressing her feelings.  

[Amppax]

Of all the people on this forum, CatharineM is probably the person whose judgment I would most trust in this scenario. 

[CatherineM]

I was lecturing at the seminary, group of seminarians and the lay formation class, on dealing with the mentally ill, and I caught myself thinking about 30 years ago when I was going to young people's funerals instead. Being one of the few attorneys willing to take on clients with AIDS back when we weren't sure how you could catch it, I did lots of wills for twenty year olds who were preparing to die. 

Believing that every person has equal human dignity, I never closed my door to a gay person, or a trans, or an inter-sexed person. They all understood that as a faithful Catholic, I didn't believe their choices were healthy, but I wasn't going to condemn them. I can still see their faces alive and later in their caskets. 

I posted this because I felt powerless. Being a priest is an incredibly difficult life choice. It's not surprising that priests have a higher rate of things like alcoholism than the general public. Having same sex attraction is a very heavy cross. Adding that on top, and now the stress of being a bishop is more stress than most humans are capable of handling without cracking. When priests or bishops crack and turn to unhealthy activities to endure the stress, it tends to make the press, which harms the entire Body of Christ. A regular Joe gets caught exposing himself in an adult theatre, or drunk driving, or gambling away the company payroll, and no one cares. If that person wears a collar, then it's headline news. 

As far as I am aware, he is celibate. I don't know, and seriously don't want to know. He does have health issues, and isn't a young man anymore. When I compare him to the excellent men who run our archdiocese, I have to shake my head. Compared to the other bishops that have been elevated recently in dioceses that I have lived in or have contact with, again, I'm stunned. I have a pretty good idea why this man was picked, and I hope he ends up being a real asset to the area he will administering to. 

Ultimately, I believe that the magisterium is led by the Holy Spirit, and have faith this is a good choice. It's just not a choice I'd have made. Honestly, at times like this, I'm really glad the choice isn't in my hands no matter how irritated I am. I posted this here because my friends are here. People who know me, and can understand my concerns. My public position here is such that I can't really vent my frustrations to local friends without causing potential scandal. That's one thing we've had enough of already. 

[Gabriela]

19 hours ago, ortus said:

This is one of the most appalling threads imaginable.

I note that you are a ‘church scholar’ … a ‘scholar’ of what exactly … because your post has nothing to do with the Catholic Church I recognize.

You claim to have ‘knowledge’ of this Bishop and stand in judgment of his moral capability. Did you see fit to pass on your ‘knowledge’ to the relevant and competent authorities – the Apostolic Nuncio? The Congregation of Bishops?

No, instead of this you decide to post your allegations on a website aimed at young Catholics. Did you think through the implications of what you were doing? You do not even make the most basic attempt to ananomize your statements ... as it would take no more that a few clicks on Google to identify the object of your salacious gossip from the information you have provided.

To make matters even worse, you make your scurrilous allegations on the internet so that they will hang around indefinitely.

Appalling! Absolutely appalling!!

ProTip: Never walk into a forum as a noob and presume to question the credibility of a veteran. Everyone knows them, and nobody knows you. It just makes you look like an ass.

Also, chill the flip out. Exaggerated (self-)righteous indignation doesn't get anyone on your side.

[<3 PopeFrancis]

4 hours ago, CatherineM said:

Honestly, at times like this, I'm really glad the choice isn't in my hands no matter how irritated I am.

 

Amen! It must be so hard.  Thank you for sharing your story.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

14 hours ago, Gabriela said:

ProTip: Never walk into a forum as a noob and presume to question the credibility of a veteran. Everyone knows them, and nobody knows you. It just makes you look like an ass.

Also, chill the flip out. Exaggerated (self-)righteous indignation doesn't get anyone on your side.

I'm not yet convinced that this is isn't someone who used to be a Phatmasser trolling us. Who says "appalling" nowadays?

This troll knows us well enough that we took the bait--including me.

[Gabriela]

5 minutes ago, IgnatiusofLoyola said:

I'm not yet convinced that this is isn't someone who used to be a Phatmasser trolling us. Who says "appalling" nowadays?

This troll knows us well enough that we took the bait--including me.

Well, I say "appalling", but only at things that are truly appalling, not at banalities such as this... 

Does that make me old?  

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

4 minutes ago, Gabriela said:

Well, I say "appalling", but only at things that are truly appalling, not at banalities such as this... 

Does that make me old?  

You are younger than me, so you are not "old." However, you are highly educated, living in an academic community, so it's understandable. Do you also read a lot of British fiction? 

[Gabriela]

7 minutes ago, IgnatiusofLoyola said:

You are younger than me, so you are not "old." However, you are highly educated, living in an academic community, so it's understandable. Do you also read a lot of British fiction? 

No, but I watch TONS of British murder mysteries. LOL.

[CatherineM]

I don't know. I think I'd rather be known as appalling than banal. I haven't gotten to hear, "Madame you're making a scene," in a long time. 

[Maggyie]

Although I gotta admit, the poster was correct that it's way too easy to figure out who it is.