CBCP: NO TO GAY SEMINARIANS, PRIESTS
MANILA, November 2, 2004 (STAR) By Nikko Dizon - An updated manual for priestly formation released by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has expressly stated the Church’s disapproval of gay priests and seminarians.
"Issues regarding homosexuality need to be calmly surfaced and clarified," said the 63-page Philippine Program for Priestly Formation, which puts emphasis on the human development of seminarians.
Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, chairman of the CBCP’s Commission on Public Affairs, said in an interview that while the subjects of chaste celibacy and sexuality were included in the old manual, the new edition has put down in black and white the Catholic Church’s preference for heterosexual priests.
But while active homosexuality is not acceptable, Iñiguez said effeminate traits are.
"Active homosexuals do harm to others through their victims. They do harm to the Church," he explained.
Iñiguez said the Catholic Church had dismissed homosexual Filipino priests found guilty of abusing young boys.
"It is not only the Catholic Church in the United States that had to deal with such incidents. It has happened even here," Iñiguez said without elaborating.
Iñiguez said the issue of homosexuality should be explicitly included in the manual to make clear to aspiring priests what the Church requires of its clergy.
Seminarians discovered to be active homosexuals are expelled outright, Iñiguez said.
The manual, which serves as the curriculum for seminaries, gives administrators the responsibility to help their students confront and deal with such issues by creating an "atmosphere where seminarians could be more open and honest to them regarding issues they concretely confront in the area of sexuality and celibate chastity."
Iñiguez added that it is the seminary administrators and formators who determine whether a seminarian is a practicing homosexual.
"This is actually a (difficulty), that’s why having psychologists will really help us," he said.
Iñiguez said seminary formators would sometimes make inquiries regarding a seminarian reported to be gay but added that this technique has rarely helped in determining the truth.
The manual emphasized that seminaries should be vigilant on the "presence of sub-cultures... that undermine genuine communion," which include the code of silence, machismo, convenient sex and the gay culture, among other things, that have negative effect on seminarians.
The manual also stresses that such vigilance and having "a healthy community life in the seminary must continue in a vibrant community of priests after ordination."
Iñiguez said the Church is aware that there are instances when a seminarian recognizes his homosexuality only after he has been ordained a priest.
The manual was the central topic of discussion during the recently concluded launch of the Church’s Institute for Seminary Formators held Oct. 21-27 at the San Carlos Pastoral Formation Center in Makati City.
The work to update the Philippine Program for Priestly Formation was begun in 1995 by the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Seminaries then led by Manila Archbishop Gaudenco Rosales, in consultation with seminary personnel nationwide.
Upon assuming Rosales’ post in 1999, Bishop Benjamin Almoneda continued the archbishop’s work, this time including the "societal realities" voiced out by some seminary personnel.
The board of drafters was composed of Almoneda and Fathers Aloysius Cartagenas, Carmelo Diola, James Agoo, Timoteo Ofrasio, Rodel Cajot, Eddie Mercado and Augusto Angeles.
The draft was revised and finalized by Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle and Fr. Danny Huang, SJ, in June 2003, and was presented to the plenary assembly early this year.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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