Gays 'should be dealt with by experts'
By Patsy McGarry,
Religious Affairs Correspondent

MONSIGNOR Andrew Baker of the Vatican's Congregation of Bishops has described homosexual tendencies as "aberrations that can and should be addressed by both the individual and by competent experts with the aid of behavioural sciences as well as by spiritual means, including prayer, the sacraments and spiritual direction".

Writing in the current issue of America, the US national Catholic weekly, he quotes from a 1997 circular letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship which opposed admitting men to seminaries "if there exists a prudent doubt regarding the candidate's suitability." Where homosexuals were concerned, such doubts existed, he claims.

"First and foremost among them is the possible simultaneous manifestation of other serious problems such as substance abuse, sexual addiction and depression," he says.

Likewise, there was an increased possibility that homosexuals "may be more familiar with certain patterns and techniques of deception and repression, either conscious or subconscious, which were learned in trying to deal with their tendencies in a largely heterosexual environment".

There was also "the risk that such an individual will struggle with or even deny the clear teaching of the church regarding his disordered inclinations and any acts that might flow from these tendencies."

He also feels that where a homosexual is concerned, the vow of celibacy is "superfluous" because, in taking it, he promises "to abstain from something that one is already bound to avoid by the natural law" (homosexual acts) or "to avoid doing something [heterosexual acts\] that one does not have an inclination to do".

Nor can a homosexual "be genuinely a sign of Christ's spousal love for the church".

He says some experts believe homosexuality "can be treated and even prevented with some degree of success" and argues against the admission of homosexuals to seminaries, as this would give false hope that may "hinder the needed therapy and healing that might come from appropriate psychological and spiritual care".

However, if the homosexual "could be healed from such a disorder, then he could be considered for admission to the seminary and possibly to Holy Orders, but not while being afflicted with the disorder".

In the same issue of America, Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit says that "obviously God has called many gay men to the priesthood and to the episcopate throughout the whole history of the church. Indeed, to declare all of these ordinations invalid would call into question the integrity of our whole sacramental system."

© The Irish Times