In a closed-door speech to Italian bishops on Monday, Pope Francis spoke about the number and quality of seminary candidates, including concerns about their sexual orientation.
At the start of his May 21 audience with Italian bishops, Pope Francis voiced three areas of concern for the Church in Italy, the first of which was the lack of vocations.
Francis’ brief remarks on his concerns, which also touched on evangelical poverty and transparency and the incorporation of Italian dioceses, were televised; however, his discussion with the bishops afterward was not.
In the discussion that followed the pope told the bishops to care more for the quality of seminary candidates than the quantity. Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti of Perugia-Citta della Pieve, president of the Italian bishops’ conference, confirmed Francis’ comments about homosexuality in a May 24 press conference.
The Pope touched on the topic of homosexuality, particularly when it comes to individuals with “deep-seated tendencies” or who practice “homosexual acts”, yet who want to enter the seminary.
In these cases, “if you have even the slightest doubt it’s better not to let them enter,” Francis said, according to Vatican Insider, because these acts or deep-seated tendencies can lead to scandals and can compromise the life of the seminary, as well as the man himself and his future priesthood.
Pope Francis’ comments were made during the opening May 21 session of the 71st general assembly of the Italian bishops’ conference.
However, the pope’s statements on the issue of homosexuality and the seminary reflect the Church’s teaching on the topic.
In the 2016 edition of the Congregation for Clergy’s ratio on priestly formation, the dicastery had written that “in relation to people with homosexual tendencies who approach seminaries, or who discover this situation in the course of formation, in coherence with her own magisterium, ‘the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called “gay culture”.’”
The ratio quoted from the Congregation for Catholic Education’s 2005 instruction “Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders.”
The instruction noted that those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the gay culture “find themselves in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women. One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.”
It distinguished those with deep-seated homosexual tendencies from those “with homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem – for example, that of an adolescence not yet superseded.”
Men with transitory homosexual tendencies could be admitted to seminary, the congregation wrote, though “such tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate.”
Though Pope Francis has not addressed the topic publicly, he alluded to problems of homosexuality in seminary formation during a recent meeting with Chilean bishops.
In a letter written to the bishops which was leaked to Chilean media, the pope issued a sharp correction of his brother prelates for a systematic cover-up of clerical abuse in the country.
In the case of many abusers in Chile, Francis noted how problems had been detected while they were in seminary or the novitiate, but rather than expelling these individuals, some bishops or superiors “sent priests suspected of active homosexuality to these educational institutions.”
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
One of the best pieces of advice this pope has ever given to anyone.
Unfortunately, some bishops have NOT even the slightest doubt to let homosexuals enter.
Bergoglio’s words mean nothing. If he really meant them, he would remove Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia who commissioned a homosexual artist to paint a gigantic blasphemous homoerotic mural, including an image of Paglia himself, in the cathedral church of the Diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia in Umbria, central Italy. Paglia also defended Bergoglio’s infamous “Amoris Laetitia” on allowing adulterers and others living in mortal sin receive the Eucharist, which reinforces the suspicion of many that the real intent of Amoris Laetitia ultimately is to legitimate homosexuality.
https://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/archbishop-vincenzo-paglia-in-homoerotic-church-mural.jpg
Instead, Bergoglio actually saw fit to promote Paglia…
You are so right. Tthat is the ultimate goal.
Please remember Bergogloi’s own words, which also explains his indecisiveness:
“Who am I to judge?”
So true for both homosexuals and heterosexuals who cannot stay true to the vow of celibacy. Several years ago a priest in our diocese ran off with a married woman – who happened to be my sister-in-law.
At first he says “who am I to judge”, now he says “if you have even the least suspicion, judge against him”. What is one to make of Francis’ endless contradictions?
All of them need to purged from the Church
that would actually contradict the clear teaching of the catechism bohemond
Some of the Pope’s reported words, like these, get no coverage in the secular media. Others, that fit the agenda of the LGBTQ lobby and mainstream media, get excessive coverage, even when coming from a gay activist. Hopefully, Catholic diocesan newspapers will cover this.
Even if there is no coverage, the Catholic Church is and will always remain the one true Church, established by Jesus himself, which has His personal promise of divine assistance — “I will be with you until the end of the age, and against which the gates of hell will not prevail.”
Diabolical forces, whether they come disguised as prelates, clergy, religious or ordinary people will not invalidate or supercede Our Lord’s promise!
While the Holy Father only addressed the Conference of Italian Bishops, whete is the voice of outrage fron the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops over the scandal below, among others, here in tne United States:
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/scandal-in-saginaw
Where are our prelates?
Too bad Francis makes these statements behind closed doors instead of out in the open. Our Lord preached in the open, not in secret so that all could hear and know.
Hires and fires are policy. Not what someone says.
Pray for Francis and the Church.
The Holy Father has made it quite clear that homosexuals should not be allowed to enter seminaries. The Church has been infiltrated by homosexual priests over the past 40 to 50 years and this has been the major reason for the vast majority of all the sexual abuse scandals in the Church. It is not just a pedophile priest problem. It has become a homosexual pedophile priest problem. Let all of us hope and pray that Pope Francis and the bishops all around world deal with this mess asap. Turn to a God of love and mercy before it is too late. Repent and convert! Jesus Christ King of Kings Lord of Lords True God and True Man is coming back soon like a thief in the night. Pray the Rosary. Pray America Pray. Pray Pray Pray!
I support LGBTQ. Let’s Go Back to Tradition Quickly!
Instead of “tradition”, wouldn’t it be beyyer and more authoritative to just gollow the teaching of the Catechism?
And what of individuals with “deep-seated Marxist tendendcies” or who practice “community organizing” yet want to enter the seminary?