R.I. priests: Pope Francis’ words on gays not a departure from Catholic teachings
Pope Francis’ remarks Monday to reporters suggesting that he would not bar the priesthood from a gay man who “searches for the Lord and has good will” does not represent a significant change in the Catholic Church’s position, two diocesan priests said Monday.
“In a sense, the Holy Father has said nothing new, and his comments only echo the Catholic Church’s consistent position that priests are still called to a life of celibate chastity and that homosexuals are welcome in the church,” the Diocese of Providence’s chancellor, the Rev. Timothy Reilly said Monday night.
With Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin out of town, Reilly responded to questions about the papal remarks, particularly Francis’ question “Who am I to judge?” in regard to homosexual men seeking the priesthood, and the pope’s insistence that homosexuals should not be marginalized but instead be integrated into society. The pope made the comments while returning to Rome from World Youth Day events in Brazil.
The chancellor said that’s also the position of Bishop Tobin, who, he said, has repeatedly declared that the “Catholic Church has respect, love and pastoral concern for our brothers and sisters who have same-sex attraction” and that “we pray for God’s blessing upon them, that they will enjoy much health, happiness and peace.”
The Rev. John A. Kiley, the retired pastor of St. Leo parish in Pawtucket and St. Francis of Assisi parish in Warwick, said he believes much of the frenzy over Pope Francis’ remarks stemmed from the media’s taking his words out of context. In fact, he said, Pope Francis was responding to a question about whether there was a “gay lobby” operating within the Vatican. The pope said that he had not found that to be true, and that he hadn’t found anyone with the word “gay” on his Vatican ID card.
“He said that when he meets a gay person, he has to distinguish between someone who is gay and someone who is part of a lobby. It’s at that point where he said that if someone accepts the Lord and has goodwill, who was he to judge? But he also made clear he didn’t like lobbies. He said lobbies were a problem. And it said to me he isn’t going to open the doors of the priesthood to anyone who is trying to promote gayness.”
“I don’t think that’s any different, really, from the policy of Pope Benedict who said people with deep-seated tendencies to homosexuality should not be ordained. People who are in a gay lobby are in that camp. But others, if they are living a chaste life, they are just as worthy as everyone else,” Kiley said.
In his response as diocesan chancellor, Reilly also reiterated the church’s view that “priests are expected to meet the obligations of living chastely and be resolved to a healthy, integrated lifestyle that expresses self-gift and fidelity to those they serve. Priests and candidates for the seminary are obliged to renounce anything that might endanger such a chaste life.”
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“In a sense, the Holy Father has said nothing new, and his comments only echo the Catholic Church’s consistent position that priests are still called to a life of celibate chastity and that homosexuals are welcome in the church,” the Diocese of Providence’s chancellor, the Rev. Timothy Reilly said Monday night.
With Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin out of town, Reilly responded to questions about the papal remarks, particularly Francis’ question “Who am I to judge?” in regard to homosexual men seeking the priesthood, and the pope’s insistence that homosexuals should not be marginalized but instead be integrated into society. The pope made the comments while returning to Rome from World Youth Day events in Brazil.
The chancellor said that’s also the position of Bishop Tobin, who, he said, has repeatedly declared that the “Catholic Church has respect, love and pastoral concern for our brothers and sisters who have same-sex attraction” and that “we pray for God’s blessing upon them, that they will enjoy much health, happiness and peace.”
The Rev. John A. Kiley, the retired pastor of St. Leo parish in Pawtucket and St. Francis of Assisi parish in Warwick, said he believes much of the frenzy over Pope Francis’ remarks stemmed from the media’s taking his words out of context. In fact, he said, Pope Francis was responding to a question about whether there was a “gay lobby” operating within the Vatican. The pope said that he had not found that to be true, and that he hadn’t found anyone with the word “gay” on his Vatican ID card.
“He said that when he meets a gay person, he has to distinguish between someone who is gay and someone who is part of a lobby. It’s at that point where he said that if someone accepts the Lord and has goodwill, who was he to judge? But he also made clear he didn’t like lobbies. He said lobbies were a problem. And it said to me he isn’t going to open the doors of the priesthood to anyone who is trying to promote gayness.”
“I don’t think that’s any different, really, from the policy of Pope Benedict who said people with deep-seated tendencies to homosexuality should not be ordained. People who are in a gay lobby are in that camp. But others, if they are living a chaste life, they are just as worthy as everyone else,” Kiley said.
In his response as diocesan chancellor, Reilly also reiterated the church’s view that “priests are expected to meet the obligations of living chastely and be resolved to a healthy, integrated lifestyle that expresses self-gift and fidelity to those they serve. Priests and candidates for the seminary are obliged to renounce anything that might endanger such a chaste life.”
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