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Published: July 26, 2010
Come out, then get out
After exposé, Vicariate of Rome asks homosexual clergy leading 'double lives' to leave priesthood
Rome, Italy, Jul 23, 2010 (CNA) -- After an Italian media report exposed sexual activity by gay priests in Rome, the Vicariate of Rome responded quickly by calling on all priests who are leading such "double lives" to come out and leave the priesthood for the good of the Church community.
 The Italian weekly magazine Panorama ran a feature story on the morning of July 23 titled, "The wild nights of gay priests." The article tracks three supposed priests, monitoring their behavior in gay nightclubs, where they solicited sexual encounters from male prostitutes hired by the magazine.
The author, Carmelo Abbate, claims to have everything on tape, including the sexual acts and the same priests celebrating Mass. Panorama has set up priests before using false requests for the Sacrament of Confession to "poll" what they teach on moral or political issues and then publish the results.
In response to the story, the Vicariate of Rome, the office which assists the pope in running the Diocese of Rome, released a message stating that "the purpose of the article is obvious: to create scandal, defame all priests... discredit the church and -- in another way -- put pressure on that part of the Church defined by them as 'intransigent, that strives not to face the reality' of homosexual priests."
The vicariate did not deny the information in the article, instead saying the Church community cannot help but feel "sorrow and dismay" at seeing the report, knowing its priests intimately "not by their 'double lives,' but with a 'single life,' happy and joyful, consistent with their vocation, given to God and the service of the people, committed to living and witnessing to the Gospel and model of morality for all."
Because the Panorama article painted the 1,300 priests of the Diocese of Rome using gross generalizations, the vicariate replied that the essence of the Church of Rome is not found in those with "'double lives,' who haven't understood what 'Catholic priesthood' (is) and should not have become priests."
"Know," the statement continued, "that no one forces them to remain priests, exploiting only the benefits."
"Coherence,” said the statement, “would require them to come into the open. We don't wish to hurt them, but we cannot accept that due to their behavior the integrity of the all the rest might be tarnished."
"Before such facts," the vicariate asserted, "we firmly adhere to what the Holy Father Benedict XVI has repeated several times in recent months: 'the sins of priests' call us all back to conversion of heart and life and to be vigilant so as not to 'pollute the faith and Christian life, damaging the integrity of the Church, weakening her capacity of prophecy and testimony, tarnishing the beauty of her face.'"
Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 6:18 AM By Central Valley
This story should be required reading in the diocese of Fresno. Studies clearly show abuse of children is clearly linked to homosexuality. Almost all predator homosexual priests have had relations with adults before they move onto children. Bill Donohue of the Catholic League had a recent oped in the Washington Post on this.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 6:23 AM By Sawyer
Contrary to what dissenters claim, the problem IS homosexuals in the priesthood. SSA is a disorder that often makes it extremely difficult for a man to be a man as God intends a man to be. Since God intends only men to be priests, if a man cannot be a man as God intends a man to be, then he cannot be a priest.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 6:59 AM By Mea Culpa
More scandal at the hands of sodomites masquerading as priests. The Church needs to clean house from top to bottom, getting rid of all of what Benedict XVI called "the filth in the Church."
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 7:15 AM By Maryanne Leonard
Yes indeed. I agree with every word from the Vicariate of Rome except the word "might," as in "might" be tarnished. I am trying to think of any way at all in which the priesthood and the faith itself is not tarnished by priests living double lives, which in itself is a gentle way to phrase it. But at least they have, rightly, denounced such scandalous behavior.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 7:20 AM By Robert Lockwood
Without a doubt these priests, and all of the other priests of like actions, should leave the priesthood for the good of the church.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 9:40 AM By Willi H
"After exposé, Vicariate of Rome asks homosexual clergy leading 'double lives' to leave priesthood". Asks?! ASKS?!!! A priest leading a double life that includes womanizing is bad enough for me to asked for de-frockmant, for the gross hypocracy, but for "gay" priests, commiting abominable acts (and since they probably think they are not doing anything wrong and probably not confessing them) and then handling our Sacred Lord in the Eucharist, commit horrible sacreilege! These priests should not be asked to leave, they should be driven out!
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 9:50 AM By St. Christopher
First, the article must be determined to be true. This should be easy enough if photos of the priests' faces are available. Second, in all circumstances, whenever a priest commits any sexual act -- think of Fr. Cutie -- he must be suspended from all priestly duties. Third, in the event of an active homosexual sexual action, the priest must be removed from the priesthood, without exception. Active homosexuals, and even those so inclined, must be barred from seminaries and the clergy.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 11:57 AM By ted
Priests who lead double lives should not be allowed to continue to be priests. I think, though, that we lay people also are obligated to encourage good priests by treating them as members of our family, not just at a parish level, but as individual families in the parish too. Include them in our lives during the week, give them prayer support and moral support. Let them see us at our best, not just our worst. We need to honor them and love them as our fathers, because that is what they are and should always be. They should hear from us more than when we want something or are hurting.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 12:15 PM By OneoftheSheep
From the time of Jesus, we have always found Judas Iscariots in the ranks of the Church. Obviously, these priests have lost their vocations and need to leave the priesthood. What damage such a priest can do to the faithful! How did we ever arrive at this corruption in the Body of Christ? Lance the boils, heal the Body.
"Therefore, since we for our part are surrounded by this cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every encumbrance of sin which clings to us and persevere in running the race which lies ahead." Hebrews 12:1
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 2:16 PM By Maryanne Leonard
Ted, your post about treating priests as human beings and members of our families is absolutely right on target. Priests often are isolated, rarely by choice, in the roles they play for us in the church, and people seem to want to both venerate and distance themselves from these usually terrific human beings. Getting to know a priest as a person is an enlightening gift from above, and seeing that gratitude when they are both respected and cared for, and treated as if they are members of the family, makes your heart soar. They do so much for us but have human needs too.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 6:16 PM By Paula
What does our Lord say about those whom do and don't abide in Him? In simple and plain english, here it is: The Holy Gospel according to St John Chapter 15: "1] I am the true vine; and my Father is the husbandman. [2] Every branch in me, that beareth not fruit, he will take away: and every one that beareth fruit, he will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. [3] Now you are clean by reason of the word, which I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine: you the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. [6] If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you. [8] In this is my Father glorified; that you bring forth very much fruit, and become my disciples. [9] As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father's commandments, and do abide in his love." Pray for these men masquerading in clergy attire. We all need to pray the Rosary fervently and devotedly because for most of us in this world, Our Lady is our last refuge. These priests have lost their faith, or simply never had it or the graces to preserve their faith and holiness to begin with. Pray that this evil homosexual plague will continue to be exposed and depart from the Vatican II Church. Pray for all sinners.
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 5:34 PM By Tom
I too am apalled by the thought of homosexual priests, and I pray for them that their souls will be moved and their inclination be suppressed. On the other hand, as many people say that they should not be allowed to be priests (or deacons, nuns or brothers, I would believe), how far would this restriction reach? What about homosexual physicians, lawyers, insurance agents,teachers, etc. These other professionals may be doing an at least adequate, and often exceptional job during the day, but indulging in homosexual activity privately. Legally, would such a ruling be also able to be applied to these other homosexual people? I am neither a lawyer, nor a homosexual, but I wonder how far reaching such a policy would be applied and enforcable.
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:02 PM By Mark from PA
Well, Tom, legally would such a ruling be also able to be applied to other heterosexual people who have sex outside of marriage? I wonder how far reaching such a policy would be applied and enforcable. Not very, I would imagine. In truth, most priests that break their vows of celibacy do so with women. There is no way that the Church would get rid of all those priests.
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:37 PM By JLS
ted, priests need the chutzpah to stand on their own.
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:38 PM By JLS
Willi, the word has to be "asks" for the reason that they don't know who they are ... or do they?
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 10:34 PM By Maryanne Leonard
My understanding was that most priests who indulge in sex contrary to their vows of celibacy do not do so with women. I believe the in-depth study of the priest sex scandal showed that, or am I mistaken? It has been so long since I read it. I remember being surprised that priests seemed to prefer to have sex or at least inappropriate conversations with young men in particular, often below the age of legal consent. That seemed as much about abuse of power as about sexual desire. I remember once being stunned to be asked by a priest who was a friend if I would marry him if he left the priesthood. Of course I said no, but I must say he never laid a hand on me or even acted inappropriately other than to ask me to marry him, with no previous indication that he was interested in doing so. He accepted my answer with grace and seemed a bit ashamed, and I stopped our friendship. I didn't want to be the cause of any priest ever leaving the priesthood, but I think I served as more of an excuse than anything else. I don't know how women can live with themselves who cause a man to leave the priesthood, but at least those who marry are not being dishonest about it. I just don't think most priests who break their vows of celibacy are after women. I do hope someone can set me straight on this, no pun intended.
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