Can Ppl With Ssa Be Admitted To Seminary?

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='BLAZEr' date='Mar 15 2004, 02:28 AM'] Ironmonk, surprise surprise I know, but I have to disagree.

First of all, it seems absurd to me that people with SSA would not be fit in a seminary because they will discuss Love and God. I went to Notre Dame, and in the Dorms we probably discussed love and God as often as we discussed math and politics. Still, I don't think it would have been an environment where a guy would have been tempted to commit homosexual acts. I think the reason is simply because a vibrant masculinity was the dominant culture in the dorm. It wasn't a healthy masculinity. It was somewhat sex obsessed and overy crude, but it was still masculine.

When I was in the seminary, the environment was still healthy and masculine, but less sex obsessed and definitely less crude. I know several guys in formation who I have found out later were struggling with SSA. One was ordained a priest, one will be next year, and 5 of them left the seminary. Both of those who are or will be priests were exemplary men who I was surprised to learn had this struggle. They certainly dealt with it differently than the 5 who left or were dismissed. There was certainly NOT any pressure to participate in the campy "gay" culture that I read about in Michael Rose's book, Goodbye Good Men. In fact, I would say the opposite culture existed. There was pressure to demonstrate your masculinity and your athletic prowess or comptetiveness.

I think that the culture that I experienced in the Seminary would be a healthy place for men to learn to live chastely, whether they had SSA or not. However, I do think that if there were people there who were "out" or who were expressive (even if not sexually) of their SSA then it would have been a difficult place. First, because this would have caused friction and destabilization to the life. And second, because it would have made all the other guys self-concious and uncomfortable, and guarded.

This is why I think it depends on the individual case. I also think this is where Fr. Groeschel's distinction about "identification" with SSA comes into play. Some guys, for various reasons, identify their 'self' more acutely to their sexuality. This true for both hetero and homosexual men. Those who have SSA can deal with their SSA proportionately to how much they identify themselves with their sexuality. I think it also affects how much they identify themselves with a masculine image of man.

Herein lies, what I believe is the Vatican's position on ordaining men with SSA. The issue is not, nor can it be, seminary formation. The Vatican doesn't caution against ordaining men with SSA because they will be in a seminary with all men and therefore risk temptation. Rather, the issue seems to be whether a man with SSA can fully integrate his identy with that of the priesthood. This is for two reasons, primarily, I think. First, Christ is fully human, but his humanity being perfect is fully masculine and WHOLELY masculine. It can be said that all men are insufficienlty masculine when compared to Christ. This means that in order for a man to integrate the ministerial identity of Christ he needs to be able to identify with the sacrificial sonship of Christ. This includes the forsaking of a wife and child, which the man desires. It also means imaging to the Church the Headship of Christ.

The Church seems to be saying that this very identity of the Priest requires a healthy and integrated sexuality that is ordered to its natural ends. I'm not quite sure why this is necessary, but this is what, in my opinion, the Church is suggesting. She is not suggesting anything definitively. She has not made an irreversable or ex-cathedra statement on this, so I maintain that it is a PRUDENTIAL decision.

The short of it is, Undercover, that the Church herself, through her Bishops and priests can offer you guidance on this. If you feel like you are being called by Christ to be a priest, then follow this vocation. Don't let a bunch of lay people who do not have the charism of state (authority) to tell you not to. However, as your pursue this, make sure you are honest with the vocationd director about your Same-sex attraction. If you are completely honest, then Christ will make clear your vocation to you. If he is not calling you to be a priest, and you are open and honest and sincere in your pursuit, then you will not beomce a priest and he will open to you your actual vocation.

GoodFriday, I hope this kinda of respons to your statement as well.

As for the recommendation that Opus Dei is a way for a person who lives with SSA to live their vocation, well, I don't know if this would work either. The Numeraries of Opus Dei live in single-sex communities also. I'm not sure their formation would be for those who have SSA. More information on this would be appreciated if you can supply it, Ironmonk. [/quote]
Agreed! Very well put

God Bless