Theo paper on Vatican Document
I know Abby talked a little bit about this in her post, but apparently im not her lj friend so therefore i cannot comment on her lj. So I'm just gonna throw this behind an lj cut and you all can read it if you want or dont if you dont want to. just my thoughts on homosexuality and the Vatican document that was just released.
Exiling Clerical Disorder
On November 29, 2005 the Vatican officially released a formal document entitled “Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with Regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in the view of Their Admission to the Seminary and the Holy Orders Congregation for Catholic Education.” This document mainly discusses, as the title suggests, the acceptance of homosexual men into the seminary and Holy Orders. Although it may seem that it bans homosexuals from the priesthood, it does not; it simply states that homosexual tendencies are not allowed, leaving the door open for those homosexual men who declare themselves celibate. Nonetheless, the Vatican views homosexuality to be unnatural and is an issue of importance, even though the basis of the Catholic faith lies in the four Gospels, in which Jesus does not mention anything about homosexuality, only the love and acceptance of everyone.
The document expresses that the Vatican views homosexuality as disordered but at the same time believes that “Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” Many conservatives, including most Vatican officials, would agree that homosexuality is indeed unnatural, and needs to be dealt with precaution until it has disintegrated; however, a more liberal perspective looks at homosexuality as simply a way of life, and not at all a disorder. A very close friend and Roman Catholic priest expressed his views on the document to me, saying that he focuses in “on the word ‘disordered’ when used by the Church in referring to those of a homosexual orientation, even though the Church says that one's orientation itself is not evil or sinful. It's just a word power-filled with negative, demeaning strength.” If the Vatican is trying to not discriminate against homosexuality at all, as said in the document, then why are such negative words used when discussing homosexuality? For this answer, we turn to the basis of Christianity: The Bible. The Old Testament explains that homosexuality is abnormal in Leviticus 18:22, stating that "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (RSV). Therefore, the Vatican is just following the tone that the Bible has set up for the modern Christian, which is one of negativity towards the homosexual community. It does not justify the usage of disapproving words in a nondiscriminatory document, but it does explain them to a certain degree.
When focusing on just the Catholic faith instead of the broader Christianity, we move our focal point from the entire Bible to the four gospels. Because these books of the Bible are the basis of the Catholic belief system, it is acceptable to look at them and take Jesus’ word over any Old Testament text. An example of this would be comparing the Old Testament text from Exodus stating “If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (RSV Exodus 21:23-24). This passage explains that if harm is done, revenge is an acceptable action to take. This is not the case in the gospels, however. There are multiple instances in which Jesus is heard spreading the news to love one another. For example, in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks of the second commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (RSV Matt 22:39b). This is saying that you shall love others regardless of their relationship to you. It is easy to love those who are kind and gentle but very difficult to love those who are unjust or inhospitable. Jesus says that in order to be the most Christian, you have to love everyone. Keeping this principle in mind, we are able to come to the conclusion that the Vatican is not showing its love towards all when it discriminates against the homosexual community with this document. In another example, from the gospel of John, “As I have loved you, that you also love one another” (RSV Jn 13:34b). This is when Jesus is talking to his disciples and he tells them of the glory of God and they will be parting soon. This specific verse clearly states that they are to love everyone as he has loved them. Not only are they to love those they encounter, but they are also supposed to spread this principle of loving others. These are both great examples of Jesus’ teachings of love. No matter what the case may be we need to love one another for who we are. To emphasize the point that God does indeed love those who sin, one final passage from Luke is able to show this: “He is kind to the ungrateful and selfish” (RSV Luke 6:35b). This proves the point that Jesus loves even those who are viewed in a negative light, such as prostitutes, or tax collectors. The connection can then be made that because the Catholic Church views homosexuals in a negative light, Jesus still loves them for who they are.
Another argument that can be made is one that God created all of humanity, and He created everyone to be different. It is widely believed that homosexuals do not choose the lifestyle that they live, but instead intrinsically know that they are indeed gay. The Roman Catholic priest mentioned earlier told me that in his experience, he has noticed that “every [homosexual] totally believes this is the way God made them.” This then raises the question if God created people to be gay, and he loves everything that he creates, then why is there such a negative attitude toward the gay community in the eyes of the church? The solution is simple: Humanity is unable to love the way that God does. For example, God didn’t want warfare or famine to occur, but because humanity doesn’t share the same divine love that God has, there will always be some form of negativity. This can be connected with the Vatican’s document. It is possible that the Vatican is closer to the divine than most of humanity; however, it is still not perfect in loving all of God’s creation.
Homosexuality is a difficult topic to work with. There are multiple places in the bible condemning homosexual acts. However, there are equally as many, if not more, when discussing a man and a woman either fornicating or committing adultery. Because all priests have to take a vow of celibacy, no matter what sexual orientation they are, they will be able to act the same way and preach the same word that heterosexual priests do. I believe that the Vatican could have emphasized the point that celibacy is essential when living the life of a priest, instead of putting their focus on the negativity of the gay community. In my opinion, any priest who breaks his vow of celibacy should be condemned, no matter what sexual orientation he may happen to be.
Exiling Clerical Disorder
On November 29, 2005 the Vatican officially released a formal document entitled “Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with Regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in the view of Their Admission to the Seminary and the Holy Orders Congregation for Catholic Education.” This document mainly discusses, as the title suggests, the acceptance of homosexual men into the seminary and Holy Orders. Although it may seem that it bans homosexuals from the priesthood, it does not; it simply states that homosexual tendencies are not allowed, leaving the door open for those homosexual men who declare themselves celibate. Nonetheless, the Vatican views homosexuality to be unnatural and is an issue of importance, even though the basis of the Catholic faith lies in the four Gospels, in which Jesus does not mention anything about homosexuality, only the love and acceptance of everyone.
The document expresses that the Vatican views homosexuality as disordered but at the same time believes that “Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” Many conservatives, including most Vatican officials, would agree that homosexuality is indeed unnatural, and needs to be dealt with precaution until it has disintegrated; however, a more liberal perspective looks at homosexuality as simply a way of life, and not at all a disorder. A very close friend and Roman Catholic priest expressed his views on the document to me, saying that he focuses in “on the word ‘disordered’ when used by the Church in referring to those of a homosexual orientation, even though the Church says that one's orientation itself is not evil or sinful. It's just a word power-filled with negative, demeaning strength.” If the Vatican is trying to not discriminate against homosexuality at all, as said in the document, then why are such negative words used when discussing homosexuality? For this answer, we turn to the basis of Christianity: The Bible. The Old Testament explains that homosexuality is abnormal in Leviticus 18:22, stating that "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (RSV). Therefore, the Vatican is just following the tone that the Bible has set up for the modern Christian, which is one of negativity towards the homosexual community. It does not justify the usage of disapproving words in a nondiscriminatory document, but it does explain them to a certain degree.
When focusing on just the Catholic faith instead of the broader Christianity, we move our focal point from the entire Bible to the four gospels. Because these books of the Bible are the basis of the Catholic belief system, it is acceptable to look at them and take Jesus’ word over any Old Testament text. An example of this would be comparing the Old Testament text from Exodus stating “If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (RSV Exodus 21:23-24). This passage explains that if harm is done, revenge is an acceptable action to take. This is not the case in the gospels, however. There are multiple instances in which Jesus is heard spreading the news to love one another. For example, in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks of the second commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (RSV Matt 22:39b). This is saying that you shall love others regardless of their relationship to you. It is easy to love those who are kind and gentle but very difficult to love those who are unjust or inhospitable. Jesus says that in order to be the most Christian, you have to love everyone. Keeping this principle in mind, we are able to come to the conclusion that the Vatican is not showing its love towards all when it discriminates against the homosexual community with this document. In another example, from the gospel of John, “As I have loved you, that you also love one another” (RSV Jn 13:34b). This is when Jesus is talking to his disciples and he tells them of the glory of God and they will be parting soon. This specific verse clearly states that they are to love everyone as he has loved them. Not only are they to love those they encounter, but they are also supposed to spread this principle of loving others. These are both great examples of Jesus’ teachings of love. No matter what the case may be we need to love one another for who we are. To emphasize the point that God does indeed love those who sin, one final passage from Luke is able to show this: “He is kind to the ungrateful and selfish” (RSV Luke 6:35b). This proves the point that Jesus loves even those who are viewed in a negative light, such as prostitutes, or tax collectors. The connection can then be made that because the Catholic Church views homosexuals in a negative light, Jesus still loves them for who they are.
Another argument that can be made is one that God created all of humanity, and He created everyone to be different. It is widely believed that homosexuals do not choose the lifestyle that they live, but instead intrinsically know that they are indeed gay. The Roman Catholic priest mentioned earlier told me that in his experience, he has noticed that “every [homosexual] totally believes this is the way God made them.” This then raises the question if God created people to be gay, and he loves everything that he creates, then why is there such a negative attitude toward the gay community in the eyes of the church? The solution is simple: Humanity is unable to love the way that God does. For example, God didn’t want warfare or famine to occur, but because humanity doesn’t share the same divine love that God has, there will always be some form of negativity. This can be connected with the Vatican’s document. It is possible that the Vatican is closer to the divine than most of humanity; however, it is still not perfect in loving all of God’s creation.
Homosexuality is a difficult topic to work with. There are multiple places in the bible condemning homosexual acts. However, there are equally as many, if not more, when discussing a man and a woman either fornicating or committing adultery. Because all priests have to take a vow of celibacy, no matter what sexual orientation they are, they will be able to act the same way and preach the same word that heterosexual priests do. I believe that the Vatican could have emphasized the point that celibacy is essential when living the life of a priest, instead of putting their focus on the negativity of the gay community. In my opinion, any priest who breaks his vow of celibacy should be condemned, no matter what sexual orientation he may happen to be.