The Daily Clarity

Catholic Church to “screen” for homosexuality?

  The Catholic Church is an ancient institution, and sometimes the way it acts, demonstrates this. In a new publication from the Church, “Guidelines for the Use of Psychology in the Admission and Formation of Candidates for the Priesthood”, they detail how they are now to screen all potential priests for potential psychological problems, including homosexuality. It seems a rather archaic view that homosexuality is a psychological condition, and further that can be “screened” for as if it is a form of mental disorder. We do understand what the Church is trying to do – having been inundated with sex scandals, it is seeking to protect itself. However, taking such an outdated view of a person’s sexuality, once again opens up the Church to allegations of being outdated and irrelevant in today’s world.

There seems to be something of a backlash on the issue of homosexuality. In the recent US elections, many states carried a ballot on Proposition 8. This was a measure to roll back the rights for homosexuals to marry. This Proposition, surprising many, was successful even in States like liberal California. Religious groups spent massive amounts of money on ads including a major investment by the Mormons, urging the faithful to vote that marriage only be defined as between a man and a woman. How did this proposition succeed in California? It was primarily a religious vote that brought out Christians of all ilks, including faithful Catholic Hispanics and African-Americans. It was a proposal that succeeded from the pulpit not from democratic process of free thought.

The Catholic Church can be considered orthodox. It can be considered historic. It is a missionary faith with representation around the world, with a special focus in Africa and Latin-America. The Catholic Church does many good works. The Catholic Church has excellent schools. It does, however, appear to many moderate individuals to be increasingly not germane to the current world we live in. Homosexuality is not a psychological disorder despite what the Church appears to believe. Churches will be full today with the faithful at prayer, but we are hopeful what they hear from the pulpit is a message of tolerance not one of bigotry.