I feel it is my duty to now inform you and faithful Catholics that the homosexual collective within the hierarchy which enabled McCarrick to function in an unobstructed manner is still alive and well today in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.Pope Francis, who made headlines in the first months of his papacy by responding, "Who am I to judge?" when asked about gay priests, has now signed off on a Vatican decree that priests cannot bless same-sex unions since God "cannot bless sin."
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I quote from Marsden’s letter: “I hope and pray that the action of the Holy Spirit is now beginning to purify the hierarchy by exposing the evil committed by homosexual clergy around the world.
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Marsden has also made some very disturbing links between predatory priests and homosexuality, referencing Theodore McCarrick, an American prelate, who resigned in July from being a Cardinal after many allegations of predatory behaviour were made against him. The principal, who is clearly a man of substance, outright refused. He was dismissed for disagreeing with the principal over a student who he claims was openly gay. Marsden wrote his open letter after being dismissed from his post at Oscott College, a priest-training college in Birmingham. That’s why when I received a copy of an open letter to the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, written by priest David Marsden, I wanted to speak up. A priest involved in the selection process joked that if the church got rid of all the gay priests, there’d just be one old cardinal left with a typewriter.Īnd so now, as a priest of almost 10 years’ experience, I no longer have to give lip-service (not that I ever have in practice) to these repugnant teachings, such as homosexuality being intrinsically disordered, and that good young men should be turned away from the priesthood simply for being gay. Thankfully, when I applied to the priesthood, and was honest about my sexuality, I was treated with respect and was accepted. Vincent Nichols, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales and Bishop of London, Rt Revd Dr Richard Chartres take Vespers at Hampton Court Palace, in south west London on February 9, 2016. Later down the line, church guidelines would state that men with deep-seated homosexual tendencies should not be admitted for training as a priest. However, I never raised my head to challenge this, and just accepted it, like everyone does. The official teaching of the Catholic Church states that homosexuality is intrinsically disordered. When I was a young man, thinking seriously about becoming a priest, I was afraid of being rejected because I was gay. I was always private, and still am, and am only out to certain family and friends-but happy this way.
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I grew up with the knowledge of it, gradually going through several phases of shame due to bullying versus acceptance-before embracing it and even enjoying it as I do today. Growing up gay was as much a part of me as being human. I also spent many years in a priest-training college, at the heart of the institutional Catholic Church.įor what I am about to write, I have asked to remain anonymous, through fear of being “called in” and reprimanded. I am also a priest posted to a vibrant and welcoming community of faith.