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	Return to News & Articles			A New Instruction on Homosexuality and a New Question? by Fr. Jeffrey Robideau 11-30-05
		The Vatican has released the document on homosexuality. The instruction says little that is new. What is new, leads to a question. After stating that those who are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture may not be admitted to seminary or be ordained, the document continues to say, “When dealing, instead, with homosexual tendencies that might only be a manifestation of a transitory problem, as, for example, delayed adolescence, these must be clearly overcome at least three years before diaconal ordination.” A “transitory problem” due to “delayed adolescence” applies to only a few people. To know who these people are we need to look at these two concepts. The first is “delayed adolescence.” This simply means that one is taking a longer time to mature than what is the norm. So they are immature and childlike. This can be due to psychological problems, poor rearing from parents, personal curiosity or to some social factor. The result is the same, they are not mature enough to enter seminary. The second concept it that of a “transitory problem.” The word transitory means that something is likely to pass away. A person who is said to have a transitory problem means that they have a problem that is likely to pass away. It can be believed that there are some (few) who get caught up with homosexual infatuation as an adolescent and that as they mature come to realize the error of their ways and return to the heterosexual state. They have a “transitory problem” that stems from a “delayed adolescence.” This is different from those who are deeply rooted in the homosexual way of life and are likely to never change. In this case it is not a “transitory problem” nor is it a matter of “delayed adolescence.” They have made a firm decision in their life to be homosexual. There are those who believe that as long as a man is celibate, he should be allowed to be a priest. This is based on a wrong understanding of the word celibate. Celibacy, which the Church requires for the priesthood, is the formal and voluntary sacrifice of one’s desire and right to marry for the greater glory of God. It is a formal, personal and public promise or vow, received by a competent authority, to dedicate one’s life to God alone. We notice that celibacy is the sacrifice of marriage, not of sex. The Church teaches that sex is only legitimate within the context of marriage, so with celibacy goes the virtue of continence (no sex). It is a point of reason and the understanding of the Church that one cannot sacrifice what one does not desire. Therefore, if one does not desire marriage, they cannot forsake it for the glory of God. A homosexual does not desire marriage and so cannot make a sacrifice in this area of their life. Yet it is this very area that the Church finds important and essential for the priesthood, that one sacrifice the love of a wife and family so as to take the Church as his bride and laity as his children. The Church teaches that homosexuals are called to chastity. Chastity is defined as the successful integration of ones sexuality. Chastity does not have to do with sexual activity but with ones health and maturity in their sexuality. Chastity has to do with one having right relationships with men and woman according to their state in life as defined by the eternal law of God. The Church’s call of homosexuals to chastity is an acknowledgment that they can grow, mature and become properly ordered. They can become heterosexual. When a homosexual completes this transition to the virtue of chastity, they have a whole new world before them. They can now consider marriage and children and desire them in their proper context of chastity for the first time. The new instruction says that the transition to being heterosexual needs to be complete three years before ordination to the deaconate. This brings me to the question. If a person just became heterosexual and for the first time has the desire for marriage and children, how can they know they want to live a celibate life? When I was in the minor seminary (college), we were allowed to date the first three years, but we had to make up our mind to start living as if celibate by the forth year. They said that we had to know we could live this life style before major seminary (graduate school) because major seminary was not the place to deal with these questions. Major seminary is for those who are mature and know what they want. It is a time for intense studies and final preparation for the priesthood. This does not mean that those who go on to major seminary don’t decide to leave and get married. This is fine. What is not fine is if they decide to stay in major seminary and continue dating. By the time a life long heterosexual man enters major seminary he has had all his teen years and four year of college to date and learn proper relationships with men and woman. A homosexual with his new found order as a heterosexual has not had this time to know what he wants. Now that these new opportunities for marriage and children are before him, how does he know he wants to be celibate? Has he done any dating? Has he proven over some period of time that he is not going to fall back into homosexuality and if he does during his time in seminary, does the three year clock get reset? The Pope will have to come back to answer these questions. What may happen is that he will have to put forth a new policy that those with this transitory problem must have completed the transition five to ten years before entering major seminary. This will give them time to date and discern where God truly wants them.   If they are truly called to the priesthood, this period of waiting and testing will end in their favor. They will be able to make a true sacrifice as they say yes to celibacy.
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