Quebec priests challenge Vatican on homosexuality

[Lincoln]

A group of 19 Roman Catholic priests from Quebec has published an open letter criticizing the church's stand on homosexuality.

    * INDEPTH: Same-sex Rights

The 980-word letter, published Sunday in the Montreal newspaper La Presse, is in response to two recent church decisions: the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' opposition to same-sex marriage and the Vatican's refusal to ordain homosexuals.

Titled "Trop, c'est trop!" ("Enough is enough!"), the letter asks: Does the church "have the last word on the mysteries of political, social, family and sexual life?

"In these matters, the official teaching of the church has shown itself more than once to be wrong," the letter warns.

    * FROM NOV. 29, 2005: Vatican says no to gay men in priesthood

In its first major policy announcement since Pope Benedict's election, the Vatican in November barred men with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" from entering the priesthood.

However, the Quebec priests who signed the letter dispute the Vatican's position that homosexual acts are "immoral and contrary to the natural law," writing that throughout human history, mankind has evolved and redefined what is natural to them. The church's views must reflect human evolution, said the priests.

Archbishop expects 'discussion' on letter

Sherbrooke Archbishop André Gaumond, who is also the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he wasn't surprised that the 19 priests had decided to go public with their opinion.

He appreciated that the letter had a polite and non-aggressive tone, he added in an interview with CBC.

"I'm not very happy with the means, to have a public declaration, a public article in the newspaper on a Sunday morning to say, 'We priests are not in accord with our church,'" he added.

"I'm not very happy with that, but it's not a reason to throw them out of the church."

Gaumond said the issue will be discussed at a meeting of Catholic bishops of Quebec in about 10 days.

"What will be the result of our discussion, I do not know, but well, life is going on."

Priests who penned letter hope for dialogue

One of the letter's authors, Rev. Claude Lefebvre, said he's not sure what the group expects the letter to accomplish, but hopes it will open up dialogue on the issues.

Lefebvre said the church must reconsider its attitude towards homosexuals or it will not remain credible.

Another author, Rev. Raymond Gravel, said some priests who oppose the Vatican's position didn't sign the letter, fearing it would cause problems with their superiors.

This is a divisive issue within the church, according to Gregory Baum, a retired professor of religious studies.

"A church that is international, that is universal, has a much more difficult time to adapt to changing circumstances because it exists in so many different cultures," he told CBC in an interview.

Baum said conservative church factions in Europe and Africa disagree with open-minded dioceses in some parts of North America.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/02/27/quebec-priests060227.html

[virtuoso]

Lol surely if this is the churches morals then they cant be changed, if they are that makes the church a joke, i dont agree with a lot of the churches beliefs but they shouldnt flip flop, if that is their beliefs then so be it, stick to them.