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Over a billion people - a sixth of the world's population - are Catholic. As we run up to the most religious time of the year, we ask closet
priests to ageing Popes: gluttons for Papal punishment, Quest and the Lesbian & Gay
Christian Movement's RC Caucus to 'fess up to OutUK's own ex-altar boy Adrian Gillan.
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OutUK: Some estimate that 30-50% of all Catholic priests may be gay: Does the Catholic
Church - ironically - attract queer clergy?
Mark: Yes, a book by Father Donald Cozzens in 2001 put the cat among the pigeons
by raising this issue and such figures are widely accepted. The culture of priesthood
attracts gay men for a variety of reasons: there are a lot of gay men in caring professions
generally; for many it's also a way of avoiding awkward questions about marriage; whilst it
allows the guilt-stricken to "padlock their unhealthy desires."
Mike: The priesthood has for a very long time represented a perfectly respectable option
for young men who know they will never marry, and in many countries there have been few if
any alternatives. The estimates you mention are actually well supported by several pieces
of academic research; I doubt many researchers would go as low as 30%.
OutUK: The Vatican's anti-gay arguments often seem more personal than theological!
Do you think a lot of this arises from internalised homophobia?
Mark: Yes, there is much anecdotal evidence about internalised homophobia.
Bishops and senior clerics often react with great anger and irrationality when a priest
breaks the unconventional contract of silence and openly talks about these subjects. Closeted
gayness is rife behind the scenes, but gay superiors know that if they are seen to encourage
openness, their own secrets may be scrutinised.
Mike: At a deep level I am sure this is a factor. At a shallower level, changing
the teaching would involve a very big climb down - as they would see it - and
who likes to do that?
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The Catholic hierarchy is rarely shy about putting the boot in when it comes
to gay rights, but more dangerously exerts considerable influence amongst certain
politicians and in the United Nations.
If one son in a family is different from his brothers; if a boy
is not involved in sports; if he is a loner who spends endless hours on the internet…
it is prudent to bring the child to a reliable clinical psychologist.
John Harvey, founder, Courage, a Catholic organisation dedicated to getting gay
people to give up sex, as quoted on the Vatican's Newswire, the Zenit News Agency
The AIDS virus is roughly 450 times smaller than the
spermatozoon. And [even] the spermatozoon can easily pass through the 'net' that
is formed by the condom.
Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, President for the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family
The tendency to homosexuality is a disorder… the practice of homosexuality
is truly sinful.
Monsignor Eugene Clark, RC Archdiocese of New York, in a Sunday sermon
Men with a homosexual orientation should not be admitted
to seminary life.
Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith
Gay unions and these sort of things are becoming commonplace. Where is
society going? Is there nobody going to take a stand?
Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Scotland
I am willing to write in my own blood that of all those
who call themselves lesbian or gay, a maximum of 5-10% are effectively lesbian or
gay. All the rest are just sexual perverts. I demand you write that down.
Cardinal Gustaaf Joos, gets hot under the cassocks in the Belgian P-Magazine
Positive [media] support is at times given to divorce,
contraception, divorce and homosexuality. Such portrayals, by promoting causes
inimical to marriage and the family, are detrimental to the common good of society.
Statement released by the Pope on the RC's World Communications Day
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OutUK: Is it a sinful collusion of priests - whatever their sexuality - to remain
silent whilst LGBT Catholics suffer?
Mark: God and only God can see inside a person's heart. Let him that hath not sinned...
Mike: One might argue that. "Judge not", said the Lord, so I will not make such an argument;
each priest has his own conscience before God and I am content for it to be so.
OutUK: Can you realistically see any way out of the current Vatican stance?
Mark: It'll take a long time I fear. They'll tackle married priests, even women priests,
before this subject comes under review. But the arguments and witness of good, healthy people
are all on our side. We must trust and not lose hope.
Mike: It's possible but I do not expect to live to see it. Other things will change
first - contraception, priestly celibacy, perhaps also divorce.
OutUK: Is there any chance of a revolt or split amongst clergy? Could you countenance one?
Mark: I want to work from within, in full communion with the rest of the Church. It's
very easy to be sidelined and let the conservative clerics get the satisfaction by
depicting you as rebels and so suspect. No, a split is not an option - for me at least.
Mike: It's possible. You hear of breakaway groups from time to time already. However
it is possible to imagine all sorts of fragmentation over single issues, and this
would not be healthy at all. Jesus wanted us all to be one, and for that reason I will stay put.
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