Advice wanted: Can a celibate gay man become a priest?

I've reached my mid-thirties and want a change in my life. I've lived for periods with Krishna devotees, but would like a path to God that is more acceptable to my society. Like my grandfather, I want to become Catholic. I am a gay man with HIV (and celibate since 2004), and I have degrees in the humanities. I like the Catholic church because they have room for internal disagreement and debate. Yet, I recently heard that any "gay" is not welcome as a priest. I've never been intereted in little boys or girls. Even if not a full priest, is there any way I could devote my life or make a contribution to help the poor?

here is my understanding of this as someone brought up in the catholic church, although i have since turned away:

being gay isn't the crime, having sex with other guys is the crime...or sin i should say.

first off, i don't see how it's any of the churches business if you are gay. from what i know (working in a church for 4 years, going through 6 priests in that time, 3 teachers in high school who were in the seminary, 2 highly suspect of being gay in my opinion, and one since i left high school went back and finished) they never ask about sexual orientation. but if they do, you say you are gay, which i feel you should because it is nothing to hide from as im sure you feel yourself, and they turn you away, you honestly have a case of discrimination. when i was in the church i could care less if my priest likes guys or gals, as long as he is a just and moral person who helps his flock. my pastor at the church i worked at was the least compassionate straight man i knew, and i would have much rather have a gay man who was the priest then this guy.

if you feel going into the seminary is your calling, go for it. the church is all about callings. they can't deny you on that.

if you would like i can get in contact with my high school teachers who were in the seminary, i was family friends with one of them, and close to the other two. just message me and i'll be more than happy to help.

as someone who is just plain struggling to figure what they want to do in life, it's a breath of fresh air to find someone who seems to have an idea. gives me hope.

superman.

edit to add: if you find being a full fledged priest isnt going to work for you, maybe being a deacon will. it has all of the helpfull natures of being a priest, but none of the abilities to perform the sacraments. also, they are aloud to get married and such. the two deacons i knew were both married and good people. they also helped serve as a shoulder for those who didnt find one in our pastor.

[edit on 10/27/2009 by iamsupermanv2]

reply to post by halfoldman


I used to be Catholic, but have since changed to a different Christian denomination.

My advice would be this. Yes you can. If you do not want to become a priest, you can become a deacon in the Catholic Church. It is a lay position that works closely with the priest and can even give a sermon, if my memory serves me right.

My question to you is this: Why do you feel the need to become a priest to accomplish your goal? You can obtain your goal by volunteering and by become more involved with charities in your area.

Good luck!

reply to post by MarshMallow_Snake


yes, volunteering and being active in your church is also another way to serve.

i was always told i had the heart of a priest and should join the seminary, i was actively recruited by every priest i ever knew, as well as the 3 who left the seminary. i always felt it was not my calling at the time, and that is reinforced more so now.

as i'm sure you know, this is not something to tread into lightly. do your soul searching. make sure it is right for you.

I'm sure you could if you dont disclose any personal information, however if they find out they might crucify you, then call you a savior.

As a recovering Catholic...I would say, YES! Absolutely!! Your sexual orientation isn't the issue. The issue is your devotion to the Church and your celibacy.

If you truly believe you have this calling - go for it.

I have always wished I had strong faith but it isn't meant to be for me.

Good luck

Yes, you can be a gay Catholic priest, BUT you need to become Catholic first, get baptized, have first communion, then after all that, spend 7 years or more at a seminary, if you are accepted into the seminary. . . you better be patient, it will probably be 10 years from now before you are ordained a Catholic priest. You will probably have psychological evaluations to investigate everything about you before. They're more careful these days. Good Luck.

reply to post by vampira309

Well, all sounds good, and traditionally the church has distinguished two classes of gay men (practicing, and out of parctice). However recently, could someone please check up? The church now calls open gay men "unwanted", and as having a "distancing wound" that excludes them from the priesthood.

reply to post by halfoldman

Advice wanted: Can a celibate gay man become a priest?

Well, as it turns out - you are in luck!!


Any of the following, or combination thereof, is worthy of being a priest:

gay

pedophile

close minded

hypocrite

unenlightened

ignorant

ect, ect, ect....


Join up - that way we can have an insider that can post first hand on the chaos surrounding the catho-lick church.


Good luck!

The issue of sexuality is irrelevant as you are expected to be celibate. So the whole issue of practicing or nonpracticing homosexual is irrelevant as all Priest are expected to nonpracticing sexual.

Really, other than the devotion to God the most important thing is education. You will have to enter a seminary, and as far as I know the RCC does not offer that on line . You can not just walk into a Church, tell the Priest that you would like to become one, and walk out with the vestments. He will however be able to offer you advice as far as where to go, how to be admitted, what life is like, that sort of thing.

Here is one site I found it provides some of that advice from Priests.

God Bless

reply to post by halfoldman


I'm going to go out on a limb and say "You wouldn't be the first!"

So get in there and follow your dreams.

Becker

reply to post by happygolucky


Wow, and here we find a bigot. You know I had thought of commenting on the lack of antiCatholic ranting, but thought against it, then I hit reply and guess what is the message that appears on my screen. It's unfortunate that you have not encountered the many wonderful Priests.

The government may be able to help you force society to accept gay people, but no one can do anything to make your God accept it. From what I understand of the Bible, it's a sin to be gay, and it's confusion (or maybe that's with animals). But the point still stands. You can't force your views/lifestyle on a religion that doesn't follow them. If all else fails, start a new religion and write your own storybook Bible that does allow gays as priests. Call it: Gaytholic.

Originally posted by searching4truth
reply to post by happygolucky

 

Wow, and here we find a bigot. You know I had thought of commenting on the lack of antiCatholic ranting, but thought against it, then I hit reply and guess what is the message that appears on my screen. It's unfortunate that you have not encountered the many wonderful Priests.

How is happygolucky a bigot?

reply to post by halfoldman

Sorry for You. Anyway it depends...
First of all, even being Catholic I dont know the conditions about admission to the seminar...I think hard&heavy enough....an rightly so.
But if You really want to- it seems to be easier to become the monk- just simple brother in the monastery- there is also trying period etc. Are you sure ists for you instead of some new age thing? if so very- hard live but helped many to find the peace.
But first of all ask yourself: what is your aim?- to find peace??? or?
All the best for you!!
[edit on 27-10-2009 by ZenOnKwalsky]

[edit on 27-10-2009 by ZenOnKwalsky]

No you can not. Official Catholic Church policy is against ordaining celibate gay men as priests.


The Vatican is clearly opposed to homosexuality.


If this is the course you wish to take I hope you can keep a secret, and no skeletons fall out of your closet.

Why the heck would you want to????? It's an oxy-moron. They are sopposed to represent somoeone who is "following Jesus" adn trying their best to live as Jesus would have. A priest is not by any means a perfect man, but they are sopposed to try. I may make some folks mad, but I'm going to be realistic here.

Homosexuality is a sin, according to the holy book you will be expected to live by. Why would you willingly go into an institution that believes you will burn in hell for the way you are? There are many ways you can affect people and have a positive impact in their lives, without taking a beating such as this. You will be ridiculed, talked about behind your back, just imagine all the tasteless Priest jokes you will be inviting. My advice is to find a different way to help people. Being a priest is just not something that makes sense for you.

I sincerely hope you find what you are meant to do. I get the feeling you have sensed some sort of call of duty to help the many lost people in this world, I hope you find your way.

reply to post by halfoldman


You raise an interesting question.
At first sight it seems something of a conundrum.
But you said you're celibate (and, presumably, willing to stay so), so there should not be a problem.

It is true there are some new rules (and BTW, that link leads directly to the source - not third-hand interpretations of it) that may make it somewhat more difficult for you.
But on the other hand you probably know there is - of course - a great variety of individuals within the priesthood (AND the higher hierarchy) of the Catholic church; and their viewpoints vary accordingly.

And so, if that is your choice, I would say: go for it.
And good luck.











[edit on 27-10-2009 by Vanitas]

plain and simple, don't let these haters dissuade.

go and find out. i can't believe any of these people are making these blanket statements about priests in a thread where a guy is asking a very serious question about his future.

but you seem smart enough to realize them as haters. go with your heart.

and if anyone tries to stop you from becoming a priest, in any religion, based on your sexual orientation, i'm in your corner.

an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.

reply to post by sr_robert1


Clearly, I thought this thread was a real question. Maybe it is maybe it isn't, I've explained myself to happygolucky and visa versa. I'm outta this thread, there's nothing to see here, I don't want to take away from whatever the topic may be.

Peace