“Today, I am just staggered by the Catholic Church’s new policy on “homosexual seminarians.” For all of the reasons you cited, I was surprised with this new policy. Perhaps what is most surprising to me, however, is what this policy says about what the leadership of the Catholic Church believes about the work of Christ.
I have always believed that Christ’s redemption is for all of humanity and that all “who are in Christ are a new creation.” Inherent in this policy is a belief that God’s grace and sanctification is not fully redemptive for gay and lesbian persons, whether we are celibate or enter into committed monogamous life-long relationships. It is as if the Church is redacting gay and lesbian persons from the rest of humanity, for whom the Gospel is sufficient.
Strangely, this policy not only demeans gay and lesbian persons, it also diminishes God. This new policy suggests that the efficacy of Jesus’ death and resurrection, sufficient to cover all sins and to regenerate the most reprobate of souls, simply cannot reach gay and lesbian persons. It is a sad day when the Church is willing to opt for a diminished Gospel and a smaller God rather than accept the basic humanity of gay and lesbian persons.
Praying for a Church that fully grasps the breadth and the depth of God’s love.”
It is particularly heart-breaking when the Church has already forcefully asserted the equal humanity and dignity of homosexual persons; and was built and sustained by the work, sweat, faith and love of so many gay priests, nuns, monks, bishops and popes.
The Dish 