On Nov. 29, the Congregation for Catholic Education released its "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 Sacred Orders."
In this document, Bishops, Religious Superiors, and Seminary administrators are given criteria to assist them in discerning the suitability of men with homosexual tendencies for seminary formation and priestly ordination.
Having reviewed the Instruction thoroughly, I can attest that the Instruction reaffirms the admissions policy and practice of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and St. John's Seminary. Our policies and practices have been developed over the years to emphasize that all candidates for Holy Orders must be men who are living committed chaste, celibate lives, and who are able to continue living celibately for the rest of their lives. The mandatory period of celibate living prior to admission to St. John's Seminary is already two years, and this policy will be retained for all Seminary applicants.
The first section of the Instruction affirms that the candidate for Holy Orders must have reached "affective maturity" which renders him capable of having a correct relationship towards men and women. Such maturity develops in the priest a sense of "spiritual paternity" towards the ecclesial community entrusted to him.
The second section of the Instruction emphasizes that since the Second Vatican Council various documents of the Church have confirmed the teaching of the Church on homosexuality. The Catechism of the Catholic Church especially distinguishes between homosexual tendencies and homosexual acts. While profoundly respecting homosexual persons, the Church cannot admit to the Seminary or to Holy Orders those who:
---"Practice homosexuality;
---"Present deep-seated homosexual tendencies;
---"Support the 'gay culture.'
"Different, however, would be the case in which one were dealing with homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem --- for example, that of an adolescence not yet superseded. Nevertheless, such tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate."
The third section states that priestly formation ought to integrate the four dimensions of formation --- human, intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral --- in their essential complementarity. To admit a candidate to the Order of Deacon the Church must verify that, among other things, he has reached the affective maturity of a candidate for the priesthood.
The roles of the Diocesan Bishop, the Major Superior of a Religious Community, and the Seminary Rector are emphasized in order to assure that only those candidates are admitted to the Seminary and to Holy Orders who have been judged to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, are men of prayer and of pastoral abilities, and have proven that they can maintain a life-long chaste, celibate life in service of God's People.
I commend this new Instruction to all of our priests serving in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as well as to all of our seminarians. It is my prayer that all who are ordained or vowed for the service of the Church, whether they are heterosexual or have homosexual tendencies, may reaffirm their deep commitment to Christ and to a life of chastity and celibacy after the example of Jesus himself. |