Friday 2 August 2013

IS THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD A PREDOMINANTLY GAY PROFESSION IN 2013?

IS THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD A PREDOMINANTLY GAY PROFESSION IN 2013?

A PRIEST FRIEND OF MINE RECENTLY SURPRISED ME BY SAYING: THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD IS NOW A PREDOMINANTLY A GAY PROFESSION

THIS PRIEST FRIEND WHOM I HAVE KNOWN FOR OVER 30 YEARS IS A HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND EDUCATED MAN WHO STUDIED IN ROME TO DOCTORATE LEVEL AND WHO IS NOT GIVEN TO IRRATIONAL EXAGGERATION. 

HE ACTUALLY CAME BACK FROM ROME WITH HIS FAITH IN TATTERS HAVING BEING SEDUCED AND TAKEN TO BED BY A LOT OF CLERGY IN ROME - SOME AT A HIGH LEVEL IN THE CHURCH. HE HAS NOW LEFT THE PRIESTHOOD.

BUT IS HIS CLAIM TRUE THAT MOST MODERN CATHOLIC PRIEST ARE GAY?

I THINK THAT IN THE PAST HIS CLAIM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TRUE. THERE HAVE ALWAYS OF COURSE BEING GAY PRIESTS BUT I THINK THAT IN THE LAST THE PRIESTHOOD WAS MUCH MORE A MIXTURE OF "STRAIGHT" AND "GAY" PRIESTS.

IN IRELAND WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF PROMINENT PRIESTS WHO LIKED WOMEN - BISHOP EAMON CASEY AND ANNIE MURPHY 
BISHOP EAMON CASEY





AND FATHER MICHAEL CLEARY WITH PHYLIS HAMILTON AND THEIR SON ROSS

I HAVE KNOWN AND STILL KNOW MANY PRIESTS WHO HAVE WOMEN PARTNERS AND THE OCCASIONAL PRIEST WHO HAS A NUN FRIEND. IN THE USA PRIEST/NUN PARTNERSHIPS ARE KNOWN AS THE THIRD WAY.

WHY THE CHANGE TO MOSTLY GAY?

THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GAY BISHOPS AND PRIESTS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND INDEED IN ALL THE CHURCHES.

CARDINAL KEITH O'BRIEN WHO WAS RECENTLY "OUTED" HAD BEEN SECRETLY HAVING SEX WITH SEMINARIANS AND YOUNG PRIESTS FOR DECADES
CARDINAL O'BRIEN
LESS "STRAIGHT" MEN ARE ENTERING THE PRIESTHOOD FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

1. BECAUSE OF ALL THE SCANDALS MANY CATHOLIC FAMILIES NO LONGER SEE THE PRIESTHOOD AS A DESIREABLE PROFESSION FOR THEIR SONS WHEREAS YEARS AGO MOST CATHOLIC FAMILIES WANTED ONE SON IN THE PRIESTHOOD.

2. WITH THE INCREASE IN FREE OR SUBSIDISED EDUCATION MANY POOR MEN CAN NOW STUDY FOR MORE PROFESSIONS.

3. MOST YOUNG STRAIGHT MEN WHO NOT WANT TO ADOPT OBLIGATORY CELIBACY.

4. THE PRIESTHOOD IS NOT A PARTICULARLY WELL PAID PROFESSION.

5. THE PRIESTHOOD USED TO HAVE IMMENSE PRESTIGE BUT NOW WITH THE SCANDALS THE PRIESTHOOD IS A TAINTED PROFESSION.

WHY ARE GAY MEN ATTRACTED TO THE PRIESTHOOD?



1. WITH CATHOLIC ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL TEACHING MOST GAY CATHOLICS ARE SECRETLY GAY - AT LEAST AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR LIVES.

2. IF YOUNG CATHOLIC GAY MEN ENTER THE PRIESTHOOD THEIR PARENTS AND FAMILIES WILL NOT BE PESTERING THEM ABOUT GETTING MARRIED AND GIVING THE FAMILY THEIR "BIG DAY".

3 MANY YOUNG GAY CATHOLIC MEN START OFF LIFE WITH A LOW SELF ESTEEM BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUALITY AND THEIR GUILT ABOUT IT AND THE PRIESTHOOD, THEY FEEL, GIVES THEM A CERTAIN PRESTIGE AND A PLACE IN SOCIETY.

4. MANY GAY MEN LIKE ART, MUSIC AND DRAMA AND THE PRIESTHOOD INVOLVES A LOT OF DRESSING UP AND MUSIC.

5. MANY GAY MEN  ARE ASHAMED OF THEIR SEXUALITY AND THE PRIESTHOOD IS A VERY RESPECTABLE HIDING PLACE.

6. MANY GAY MEN HAVE A SENSE OF "POWERLESSNESS" - SOMETIMES THE RESULT OF AN OVERPOWERING MOTHER AND MATRIARCH, AND THE PRIESTHOOD GIVES THEM A SENSE OF POWER OVER OTHERS.

7. THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD IS EXCLUSIVELY MALE AND THE GAY MAN LIKES THE COMPANY OF OTHER MEN. 

SEMINARY LIFE

HOMOSEXUALITY ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE A FEATURE OF THE ALL MALE SEMINARY LIFE. I WAS AWARE OF HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY IN BOTH THE SEMINARIES I ATTENDED - HOLY CROSS COLLEGE, CLONLIFFE, DUBLIN AND ST JOHN'S COLLEGE, WATERFORD.

I WAS TOO HUNG UP ON GUILT AND SEX BEING A BAD THING AND A "MORTAL SIN" TO HAVE ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE SEXUALLY ACTIVE IN THE SEMINARY.

THERE WERE PEOPLE I HAD CRUSHES ON IN THE SEMINARY AND EVEN ONE OR TWO PEOPLE I KNEW WHERE LOVE COULD HAVE BLOSSOMED. BUT AS I SAY I WAS TOO HUNG UP ON GUILT THEN. PART OF ME REGRETS THAT. BUT ANOTHER PART OF ME IS GRATEFUL THAT I DID NOT DIVE HEAD FIRST INTO THE RAMPANT HOMOSEXUALITY THAT WAS AND IS A FEATURE OF MANY MODERN SEMINARIES.

THE IRISH COLLEGE IN ROME HAD BIG PROBLEMS WITH HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE PAST
THE IRISH COLLEGE IN ROME
A RECENT REPORT BY CARDINALS SAID THAT THE IRISH COLLEGE SHOULD BE CLOSED FOR THAT REASON. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THINGS ARE LIKE THERE NOW.

MAYNOOTH SEMINARY JUST OUTSIDE DUBLIN HAS HAD SIMILIAR PROBLEMS
MAYNOOTH
EVEN MAYNOOTH'S PRESIDENT FOUND HIMSELF IN  DIFFICULTY

MONSIGNOR LEDWITH


LISTEN BELOW TO FATHER GERARD MC GINNITY - THE FORMER DEAN OF MAYNOOTH BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW FATHER MC GINNITY'S PIC


WHATS THE ANSWER TO ALL THIS?

1. MAKE CELIBACY OPTIONAL FOR ALL CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND BISHOPS.
2. LET STRAIGHT CATHOLIC SEMINARIANS AND PRIESTS DATE WOMEN.
3. LET GAY CATHOLIC AND PRIESTS DATE OTHER GAY MEN.
4. LET MARRIED / PARTNERED PRIESTS BE IN MINISTRY.

Bishop Pat Buckley. 2.8.2013

35 comments:

  1. Excellent and well thought out piece,it is an issue that needs to be "outed",pardon the pun!When I was in Maynooth there was an area of accomadation known as "The Pink Corridoor",every body knew what was going on and the case of micheal ledwith backs this up.I find it rather odd that a church so oppossed to homosexuality has relied for so long on gay men to fill the ranks of its priesthood,some might say its hypocritical.I do not think the sexuality of a priest is important,but I do agree that the emmotional and physical expression of that sexuality should be optional.Straight or gay lets just get all the so called good priests speakingi up and jioning + Pat in moving towards a more open,tolerant and inclusive church.Mike

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  2. Could that be true? A “gay profession” like hairdressing. I read this letter recently in an American journal... “When I left my job as a teacher at a Catholic high school to enter our diocesan
    seminary, the typical reaction I received from my students was, ‘You’re going to be a priest? But you’re not gay.’ At the time I was shocked. It did not take me long, however, to realize that their notions were well founded. For many years we have heard about the shortage of priests, and there has been much talk on the subject of ‘gay’ seminarians and priests. It should be glaringly obvious that the latter has (at least in part)
    caused the former. Until the common seminary policy of not considering an applicant’s sexual orientation (despite 10 hours of psychological testing, I was never even asked if I were ‘gay’) is rethought, our young men will continue to view the priesthood as an option that is not for normal males.”

    Then there are all the sex scandals. We don’t have precise information, but our impression is that more often than not, a sex scandal involves samesex transgressions. Clerical culture is all male. When that culture is attracting a highly disproportionate percentage of people who have same-sex attractions, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out
    that there’s going to be libidinal trouble in spades — that attraction will lead to temptation, then to giving in to temptation, and then to an entire subculture of homosexually-active priests who protect one another from scrutiny and lawsuits.

    Yes, homosexually-oriented celibate priests who are orthodox and obedient to Church norms, who are splendid priests, do mostly exist. But when they must function in a priestly culture that’s electric with same-sex attractions, the temptations and (let’s face it) the solicitations they must contend with will be daunting. It’s no favor to them to make them function in such an environment.

    And let no one think that allowing priests to marry would solve
    the problem. It would have no effect on homosexuals. The Times of
    London recently indicated that priests in the (Anglican) Church of
    England are dying of AIDS at a rate roughly 2 to 3 times greater than Catholic priests in the U.S. — and the Church of England has always allowed priests to marry!

    No, the problem isn’t the celibacy requirement. The problem is a hideous breakdown in basic Christian faith and morality.
    Actually, we have plenty of real men in the priesthood.
    But when the priesthood gets characterised as a “gay profession” and sex scandals are a common occurrence, unwarranted suspicion is cast upon all our good, hard-working priests. Have we got a problem, or do we need to get real about homosexuality!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your very interesting and rational comment.

      Can I ask you what GETTING REAL ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY involves in your mind?

      Sincerely,

      Bishop Pat

      Delete
  3. I am old enough to remember a time in the Diocese of Down and Connor when a potential candidate for priesthood was required to visit the Bishop at Lisbreen for a wee chat. Before the visit due diligence was made into the prospective candidates background. If the boy was from a working class background and went to a local secondary school and the family "weren't known" then the lads chances of getting into the wing at St Malachy's were less than average. However if the boy's connections were known (Parents part of the Catholic doctors, publicans, lawyers set up or the Fortwilliam business brigade or perhaps an uncle already serving in the diocese then he went through on the nod !! True. And then the daddy and mammy could boast at the cup and saucer circuit that "our boy" is "going on" for the diocese. The real snobbery took off into the stratosphere if, after 3 years at the Wing and Queens, the lad was sent to the Irish College in Rome. A possible D.C.L, or Masters or Doctorate in some of the "Sacred Sciences" could now be attained so that when ordination time arrived mammy and daddy could drop the fact into conversation that their son was actually a Rev Doctor rather than a plain Rev Father. And over the years then the priest and the family had to watch as the priest's career limped from one curacy to the next. Little recognition of the years of expertise gained from the intense study. And then after years of serving in parishes, running youth clubs and organising altar boys rotas and frustrated by jealous old PPs who mocked them and their "Roman" education and folk in the parish who couldn't give a toss about their degrees a parish comes up. Years of servile labour, much study and blood sweat and tears have led to this great appointment. Parish Priest of Ticknaplonker !! 300 poor souls needing saved (but not this week thanks, we're busy Father, sorry Doctor), 5 at daily Mass, school with 14 weans. What a waste. What a waste !!! Perhaps if the clock could be rolled back the good Very Rev Dr (and mammy and daddy) would wish that he could have been like the boy who visited Lisbreen all those years ago and got knocked back, went on to earn lots of money, marry happily and been a success and content with life

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    Replies
    1. You paint a rather sad picture - but probably true :-(

      Delete
  4. After Pope Francis admitted to a ‘gay lobby’ in the Roman Curia, a ‘fraternity of homo-sensible’ priests have spoken out against the claims 18 JUNE 2013!

    Gay Catholic priests looking to meet up for friendship and more now have a place to do it online. Venerabilis, an unofficial gay dating site targeted for priests and the people who love them, is based in Vatican City.

    According to reports, the site says it is run by a ‘fraternity of homo-sensitive Roman Catholic Priests’ looking to find ‘like-minded priests’ via chatrooms.

    The site offers five chat rooms in different languages, and by looking through the backlog there seems to have been plenty of face-to-face hook-ups.

    It appears to have been online since 2007, but has only started making headlines after attacking the Catholic Church. Renowned journalist Vittorio Messori wrote an article in an Italian newspaper in June, outing the website.

    On the website, it posted a manipulated picture showing Pope Francis with cardinals dressed as the Village People.

    On Twitter, Venerabilis has spoken out against Pope Francis’ allegations of a ‘gay lobby’ within the Vatican.

    ‘Pope Francis talks about a gay lobby in the Vatican. What changes? Today there is a lobby everywhere,’ they write.

    ‘The problem is not gay priests but lying stupid thieves.’

    The added: ‘The gay lobby in the Vatican? Just an excuse to reform the Roman Curia or TO DESTROY the Catholic Church from the inside.’

    A local newspaper has also alleged in the Italian region of Luguria, where Genoa is the main city, many of the priests are gay.

    The claim: ‘Former priest Franco Barbero has revealed in Luguria, there are 80 homosexual priests. That is 5% of the total. Among these there is a very famous cardinal…’

    In February, it was claimed Pope Benedict XVI had resigned because of the ‘gay influence’ within the Vatican.

    Referring to an internal report prepared by three senior cardinals, Italian newspaper La Republica said there was an ‘inappropriate influence’ by gay priests in internal Holy See affairs.

    The internal report was commissioned after the so-called ‘Vatileaks scandal’ by the former pope himself, which ended with the arrest and conviction of the Pope’s butler Paolo Gabriele last year. He was found guilty of having stolen confidential documents from the papal apartment.

    Do these Catholic apologists need any more evidence or are they 'scandalised'! They need to get real about 'homosexuality' not homosexual priests.

    Realist!


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  5. It means for me Bishop that 'homosexuality' is not the issue - it is the duplicity and unreal attitudes to all kinds of sexuality and the human condition from the Roman Catholic Church.

    In other words, I think that 'gay' priests are fine, but dishonest priests are not and that applies to straight and gay.

    My opinion!

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    Replies
    1. I think you make an excellent point

      Delete
    2. Did you manage to listen to Father Mc Ginnity's RTE interview?

      What a dreadful injustice he suffered.

      Delete
    3. Sinful, but all to typical! FOr a bunch of well educated men they sure are a bunch of cowards. I do not want to insult, bu they all know the truth of it. Stand up and the people will support you.

      Being a straight or homosexual priest is actually ok, it is the dishonesty that is corrupt and corrupting! Be brave and fight the clerical club.

      My opinion again.

      Delete
  6. This is the type of priest that we need Bishop - an open and honest priest who can be happy in his own skin whilst serving the people of God:

    Meier, 49, had talked to St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson and told him that he could no longer teach the Catholic church’s stance on homosexuality.

    “I have tried over the years to reconcile my silence as a gay priest with that of the Church’s increasingly anti-gay stance. I have been unsuccessful,” Meier writes in his book “Hidden Voices: Reflections of a Gay, Catholic Priest.” “I was hopeful that I could find a way to have integrity while remaining part of a hierarchy that is anti-gay — I was unsuccessful.”

    Meier originally published the book anonymously in 2011. But last week, he republished it with his own name on the cover. The crowd of 80 or so supporters who turned out Tuesday afternoon at UMSL — where Meier is studying for a master’s degree in counseling — included former parishioners, other Catholic priests, former priests (the Rev. Marek Bozek, pastor of St. Stanislaus Church was in the audience) and members of gay-rights groups.

    Since his public declaration of his sexual orientation, Meier said, he has received a lot of support on his Facebook page. One woman, though, scolded him for accusing the church of a “lack of love.”

    “That’s not at all what I’m saying,” Meier told his audience. “But I am accusing the church of a lack of tolerance and acceptance.”

    In doing so, he is risking his priesthood, while also drawing attention to the church’s stance on homosexuality and gay priests.

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  7. Is Priesthood a Vocation, Profession or a bit of both. I certainly agree that priesthood has been a route to up the social ladder particularily in the past in Ireland. Rich families sons staid in Ireland and poor families sons went on the missions. A 2 teir class distinction because poorer families could not afford the tuition fees. Now Christian (including RC) churches are thriving in third world. This 2 brings social status. Like in the Bible good Prophets are needed to keep the modern "wandering Arameans" on the strait & narrow. To identify sexual orientation with a particular profession I believe is stereotyping and over emphasising this misses the point...Now what was the point in the first place? Sean

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  8. As a gay Catholic I only go to mass in certain chapels, if you know what I mean. I do not 'out' men at all, but they are lovely and caring. It is well known who they are and they would have our support in the gay community if they needed it.

    Love

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  9. At different points in my life, I had grappled with the idea of going into the priesthood - in high school or law school. Where it ends, I'm not quite sure. Perhaps it ends with death, grappling with one's spirituality and sexuality.

    James McGreevey


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    Replies
    1. Dear James,

      Thank you for your comment and thank you especially for having the openness and integrity in putting your name to it.

      You are so right to say that grappling with one's spirituality and sexuality ends at death.

      In fact the "grappling" you refer to is a very noble endeavour - the endeavour to integrate one's sexuality and spirituality.

      Those who achieve this integration go on to have a very mature and wise sexuality and spirituality.

      Those who fail this integration very often live a life that is overshadowed by the failure to integrate them both and very often they end up with a spiritual/sexual schitzophrenia - a schitzophrenia that can even contribute to things like sexual abuse; alcoholicism; drug addiction; gambling or the abuse of power.

      God wants integrated people for the priesthood.

      For a broader discussion on this you could see my book A SEXUAL LIFE - A SPIRITUAL LIFE published in 2005 by Liffer Press, Dublin.

      O - and God may still be calling you to the priesthood.

      Bishop Pat

      Delete
    2. I believe sexual orientation will become less important beyond the grave for there their is neither male nor female. Spiritual growth I believe is eternal for we can never understand or comprehend the fullness of God. Heaven is definately not sitting on a cloud eating Philidelphia spread. James WELL DONE for putting your name in print. God bless you on your search for peace and meaning. Please remember that the ideal Church is not a hierarchy but a round table-a bit like King Arthur and his Knights(&Ladies) Priesthood is primarily an exercise of service. This service is built on the Royal Priesthood of all the faithful which we share through Baptism

      Delete
  10. One cannot escape the harsh fact that as a ministerial profession, the priesthood has very serious problems. They are not new. They did not develop yesterday or last year.

    Andrew Greeley


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  11. During a media interview while returning from Rio to Rome, the pope was asked about the gay lobby in the Vatican. He responded, “There’s a lot of talk about the gay lobby, but I’ve never seen it on the Vatican ID card!”

    He continued, “When I meet a gay person, I have to distinguish between their being gay and being part of a lobby. If they accept the Lord and have good will, who am I to judge them? They shouldn’t be marginalised. The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the problem. ... They’re our brothers.”

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    Replies
    1. I think that Francis is right. Given that sexual orientation is innate and that we are all, in theological terms, children of God, to deny access to some sacraments based on sexuality is as wrong as denying access to some sacraments based on race or gender.


      Delete
    2. You hit the nail on the head.

      Take Holy Orders for instance.

      Canon Law says that you have to be a male to receive Holy Orders.

      But Sacraments primarily impart Grace to the soul.

      Currently our souls are encased temporarily in our human body.

      Souls do not have a penis or a vagina.

      How can a decent theology argue that the soul's presence in a female body prevents the grace of Holy Orders making its way to the soul?

      Pat

      Delete
    3. Bishop Buckley you seem like a great and brave bishop. I hope you continue to pursue a path of openness in the catholic church to show the world that it is full of kind and honorable men like yourself.

      Delete
  12. A couple of years ago an in law of our family, a priest in Glasgow, died. I have no doubt that he was gay. He more or less told me so but he was a lovely, caring man and a very devoted and hardworking priest who was held in high esteem. That was evident at his funeral. The church was filled to overflowing, the liturgy was beautiful and the choir was magnificent. What made a lasting impression on me was that at his funeral mass over a hundred priests all vested identically in matching chasubles were on the sanctuary concelebrating the mass with the bishop as the presider. It must have given his family a great sense of pride to have witnessed such a great spectacle. At the end of mass all the priests gathered at the bottom of the altar steps in a semi circle around the coffin as the bishop said the prayers of commendation. It was a great act of unity, bishop and members of the presbytery saying farewell collectively to a brother priest. Some months later I attended the funeral of one of our own priests in Down and Connor. In the sanctuary were 3 bishops and half a dozen priests. All the other clergy were sitting in choir dress like overgrown altar boys watching on. It was as if the local hierarchy were saying" We are in charge here and we will run the show the way we want to and you boys will just sit down there and spectate" Surely gathering around the Lord's table at the breaking of bread and celebrating the eucharist is the greatest prayer we can offer especially for the repose of someone soul. Could I suggest that Noel has a wee chat with mainland bishops and get some advice as to how things should be done.....

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    Replies
    1. The story of your priest relative is most touching.

      It proves that there always have been, still are and always will be good, holy, kind, loving gay priests.

      The funeral Mass in Scotland sounds truly wonderful.

      I have been at Down & Connor priest funerals and I was touched by the priests singing the Office for the Dead for the deceased priest.

      But I get your point about the whole presbyterate gathering and con-celebrating and the profound significance of that.

      I cannot see Noel talking to the English bishops about that topic.

      Do you not think that poor Noel has a problem with warmth generally. God or nature has not gifted him with a warm personality. If he cannot be warm about the living its hard to see him getting all warm about the dead.

      But maybe if he reads your comment it might make him think.

      Thank you.

      Pat

      Delete
    2. A very touching story indeed. Your relative must have been a great man indeed. Like your relaitve I serve, I am gay and have never told a soul, even though I know my parents suspected ever since I was a boy. Parents are great, they know more than we understand at times.

      There are things coming from me that I felt I wanted to talk about. My search for my own blend of spirituality, my acknowledgement of my sexuality, my being a man first and then a priest.

      Perhaps Francis is making it easier for us to be free from this assault on human sexuality and God given freedom!

      Delete
  13. If repression has indeed been the fundamental link between power, knowledge, and sexuality since the classical age, it stands to reason that we will not be able to free ourselves from it except at a considerable cost.

    Gay Priest - D & C


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    Replies
    1. Dear Gay Priest - D & C

      Thank you for your comment. It can only be helpful.

      Perhaps there is a considerable cost for freeing yourself.

      But you don't have to walk away from everything. Be yourself - even privately and by your compassion for others people will see that your compassion comes from being in touch with your own humanity. Be gentle. Be kind. Be "powerless".

      Allow similiar brother priests and even the people you serve minister to you too.

      Pat

      Delete
  14. As a celibate I am sensual and very physical. I'm very erotic. But it is very sad because it is not real, I bring it to the spiritual level, but the spiritual makes me even more sensual.

    My sexuality exists on a sort of a fantasy level, I know this as fact and I am very, very sad about it. I refuse to drink or compensate at any other level, I simply live sexuality through social relationship, always in secret because I am not supposed to be sexual!

    I pray for change!

    Celibate

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad you are sensual, physical, erotic.

      If you were not you would be either a dead corpse or a living corpse.

      I'm sure you know celibate living corpses.

      Find someone who can help you to move beyond fantasy - it can be done.

      Social relationships are not enough. Every human being needs intimacy.

      Pray for change and pray yourself into changing yourself.

      Pat

      Delete
  15. The Roman Catholic priesthood is a predominantly closeted and sexually active gay profession. Their physical intercourse breaks their public agreement of total sexual continence with the faithful, who support them financially. This constitutes professional fraud. Their illicit sexual activity also opens them to blackmail and manipulation from sexual predators, so fellow priests and church hierarchy end up passively and often actively enabling these predators and turning their backs on survivors and their families.

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  16. Pat, I noted your earlier question about our bishop Noel lacking warmth. He does. Stories are now coming in thick and fast from all points of Antrim and Down which would suggest that this man is a cold fish and seems to feel a little above the rest of us. I have no doubt that as a political operator he is probably very skilled. I know he is a talented linguist but as a pastoral bishop in Belfast? Ummmm....!! It seems the Vatican has a much shorter memory than it is given credit for. We have had a similar situation before when Willie Philbin, a professor from Maynooth and a native of Clonfert diocese was parachuted into D&C when there were a number of very suitable candidates to fill Danny Mageean's purple carpet slippers. The more it becomes obvious to the Vatican that Noel is a square peg in a round hole and has little if any time for the common joes and janes of his diocese the more their problem is compounded because he has now missed the plum job. Armagh. Perhaps he could be swept away to Rome to work in some department which requires mandarins of ability but little personality or social skill. If that happens then the way would be clear. Arise, The Most Reverend Timothy Bartlett DD

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    Replies
    1. I have no reason to make any excuses for Noel - but he did not ask to come to D&C. Neither did poor old Philbin.

      The problem is really with the people making the appointments.

      I do think that Noel would be better suited to am admin/desk position. But I don't know if the Vatican care about D&C.

      Is Timmy the warm and cuddly type?

      Pat

      Delete
  17. I am not a prisoner of my sexuality like men younger than myself although I write about being a prisoner in the celibate sense, I did not know what a lifetime of celibacy would mean at the age of 23! It is criminal to ask someone so young to deny who they are, just wrong and dangerous!

    But who is listening!

    An older and unhappy celibate.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your comment.

      You are never too old to find happiness.

      Would you to willing to embrace it?

      Pat

      Delete
  18. it is big issue about gay priest, from church tradition, it is hard to accept it

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