tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post3190862185973158730..comments2024-01-01T21:57:26.021-05:00Comments on Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Can a Christian vote for the Liberal Party of Canada? Go ahead... it will probably only cost you your soul!Fr. Tim Moylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-33063338429792738822010-02-09T19:34:43.342-05:002010-02-09T19:34:43.342-05:00Fr.Tim,
Father, I believe there is no need ...Fr.Tim,<br /> Father, I believe there is no need for me to worry about what candidate I am going to vote for in my area when election time comes around.<br /> Thank you for the information and thanks for responding to my post.<br /><br /> LinaLinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-24989685237826252192010-02-09T15:07:10.937-05:002010-02-09T15:07:10.937-05:00Lina: My understanding is that both the representa...Lina: My understanding is that both the representatives you reference are solid pro-life candidates. It is a pleasant coincidence that they represent a party that is at least morally neutral to the question of abortion and euthanasia. You are correct in your assessment of the NDP stand, and after the latest edicts from the Liberal leader, it seems they too have removed themselves from any list of acceptable parties. Even if the candidate him or her self is pro-life, the dye seems to be cast for the direction of the party. It is sacrificing itself in virtually all of rural Canada with the heavy handed intrusions that threaten what is becoming a majority opinion, aided in becoming so by the advent of sonograms and ultrasounds. <br /><br />I live in a different riding (Nipissing) and thus I have to make the same determination here among whatever candidates I face at election time.<br /><br />Fr. TimFr. Tim Moylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-45901157414995338322010-02-09T00:04:39.035-05:002010-02-09T00:04:39.035-05:00Fr. Tim,
I believe it is only right to do one&#...Fr. Tim,<br /><br /> I believe it is only right to do one's duty and vote.<br /><br /> Fr. Tim, are you suggesting if there is no pro-life candidate in an area or speaking about our area which is Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, a voter like me should think seriously about spoiling my ballot by writing on it 'refused'? <br /><br />I know both levels of government in our area is Conservative. Cheryl Gallant MP is on Federal level and Mr.John Yakabuski MPP is on Provincial level?<br /> <br /> Any NDP candidate is usually not pro-life I think?<br /> <br />Which candidate in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke is nearest to pro-life views anyway in your opinion?<br /><br />By the way, I pray not only for all world Leaders. I also pray for our local leaders. I probably should be praying more often for them.<br />It is not a easy job they have. <br /> <br /> LinaLinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-54396452779551078662010-02-08T22:47:05.584-05:002010-02-08T22:47:05.584-05:00Mary G: I agree that we have an obligation to vote...Mary G: I agree that we have an obligation to vote. As I see it, we have two choices as believers.<br /><br />First we can assess the respective candidates, and vote for the one the closest resembles what we believe. There often is a pro-life candidate in many ridings for whom one can vote.<br /><br />Failing all of this, I spoil my ballot. I write "refused" across the ballot and return it for counting. I express with this some of the wisdom of my dear departed friend Richard John Neuhaus as we expressed in his final work: "American Babylon:Notes of a Christian Exile" in which he reminds those who claim the mantle of 'Christian' they live here, now, in anticipation of the New Jerusalem (over which he fervently hoped hung the sign: "Brought to you by the people who built New York") and daily called to mind the rights and obligations of my life as a "citizen in exile." This is not a consideration for those who do not hold to a theist position. If ones existence is limited to the 'here and now' of daily life, and nothing more, then such a person can fall back upon only the will and dictates of the majority in the determination of what will or will not be allowed by the state. Rights held firmly today and founded in 40+ yrs of settled law, can be altered, strengthened or reduced by little more than the corporate will of the citizenry through elected governments. <br /><br />Forgive me for saying so, but that seems to be a mighty shaky foundation to base ones logic upon. Please remember that in such a culture, nothing is so strongly held as 'common wisdom', until the moment it is held no more as wise. Such a system which grants to the state the power to pervert or alter its core covenantal/cultural conventions on little more than the will of the majority, often ends up morphing into an oppressive regimes of either the left or the right; systems both theocratic and atheist which have killed millions upon millions throughout the ages (think of the change in Iran at the time of the fall of the Shaw - secular became theist almost overnight; or Poland becoming secular in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Empire as good examples of countries which experienced a sudden change in its theistic orientation) culminating in the horrors of the Inquisition and the ovens of the concentration camps.<br /><br />I do not hold any of my fellow companions in this discussion to be representative of either extreme, but we should heed the effects of our cultural/societal experimentation lest we inadvertently repeat the errors of history.<br /><br />Fr. Tim<br /><br />Sorry for grammar errors - hard to work in such a small window (sigh).Fr. Tim Moylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-27969931970660968662010-02-08T21:47:36.659-05:002010-02-08T21:47:36.659-05:00Father Tim
Thank you for speaking out so clearly o...Father Tim<br />Thank you for speaking out so clearly on our obligation and the consequence of not meeting it. My question now is what to do with my vote as we do not have a pro-life party in Canada ...i do think we have an obligation to vote <br />MaryMary Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-35917401166201826382010-02-06T23:07:38.621-05:002010-02-06T23:07:38.621-05:00The CPC has an official pro-abortion position on t...The CPC has an official pro-abortion position on the books, while officially the Liberal Party does not. I'm no fan of the Liberal Party and in fact am Conservative by temprament in almost all issues. (In fact, I would argue that Catholicism is, by its nature, conservative on every issue.?<br /><br />Be that as it may, the worst choice is still the Liberal Party. HOWEVER, as a matter of strategy, we should always vote for the MP regardless of Party. If all the candidates are rabidly pro-abort, vote for the candidate the represent the better Party.<br /><br />In any case, politics is essentially useless. Take it from someone has run in elections 4 times. It's the back end of the cultural work that needs to be done first. Politics is a reflection of the culture.<br /><br />As a side note, did you notice how Iggy is somewhat mitigating his comments now that 2 bishops have rebuked him? Can you imagine what would happen if the proper and balanced response (i.e. screaming bloody murder) were forthcoming from ALL of the country's bishops?<br /><br />The politicians would be scared they'd have wee'd themselves running for the back door on the issue.John Pachecohttp://www.socon.ca/or_bust/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-77753117628341951712010-02-06T20:47:46.302-05:002010-02-06T20:47:46.302-05:00Fr. Tim,
Great title for your post! I belonged to...Fr. Tim,<br />Great title for your post! I belonged to the now-extinct faction of the Liberal Party- "Liberals for Life" years ago. Naively, I thought that I could work within the party. Eventually, it just felt like I was the proverbial Dutch boy holding back the water. The Liberal Party of Canada is now officially out of the closet, with an official pro-abortion platform, as is the NDP Party. It is only the Conservatives who remain officially 'neutral' at this point. That is why it is essential that we communicate our pro-life views to our MP's, to ensure that they know that grassroot Canadians are pro-life!<br />Thanks for facilitating this interesting exchange of ideas, Fr. Tim.<br />KathieKathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-50935479656110080432010-02-06T20:19:13.819-05:002010-02-06T20:19:13.819-05:00Steve: The CCCB might be floundering, but I hope ...Steve: The CCCB might be floundering, but I hope that with the witness of men like Bishops Henry and Collins, maybe they will eventually (soon?) get their act together and offer a consistent witness to the faith and for life.<br /><br />Fr. TimFr. Tim Moylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-91596668048926264942010-02-06T20:17:19.955-05:002010-02-06T20:17:19.955-05:00Lady Janus: Thank you.
Fr. TimLady Janus: Thank you.<br /><br />Fr. TimFr. Tim Moylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-23245710350118497462010-02-06T20:13:37.004-05:002010-02-06T20:13:37.004-05:00Fr. Tim, I'm sorry for your loss. I had no id...Fr. Tim, I'm sorry for your loss. I had no idea when I wrote my little prompt that your friend's death was so near. He was very young, and those who loved him must be feeling his absence with a sense of bewildered injustice.<br /><br />You have priorities. I can wait.Janus Bellatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05467165902363025714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-27108328413130196712010-02-06T19:18:17.173-05:002010-02-06T19:18:17.173-05:00Very solid post.
I can't help but notice the ...Very solid post.<br /><br />I can't help but notice the parallels between Ignatieff’s model of international development aid and that of the CCCB. Both insist on offering condoms and birth control pills when they give out food or medical support.<br /><br />The recent statements by Bishop Henry and Archbishop Collins against Ignatieff ring hollow because the CCCB is implementing Ignatieff’s proposal.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12321887631444767220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-18157090634640818072010-02-06T10:24:44.097-05:002010-02-06T10:24:44.097-05:00Lady Janus: Sorry if the comments are jumbled. I ...Lady Janus: Sorry if the comments are jumbled. I have had a crazy 24 hrs with deaths and other emergencies. I trust that readers will be able to put your thoughts together in a manner that respects the points you are making. Hopefully this evening I'll have a chance to reflect upon what you have shared and respond.<br /><br />Thanks for your understanding.<br /><br />Fr. TimFr. Tim Moylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-31412355470907555632010-02-05T22:26:57.775-05:002010-02-05T22:26:57.775-05:00Er...we seem to be missing one of my comments... ...Er...we seem to be missing one of my comments... It was immediately before my last one, and I split them to keep from overflowing allowed space in the comments system.Janus Bellatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05467165902363025714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-38322919561552730352010-02-05T21:00:14.494-05:002010-02-05T21:00:14.494-05:00My stand/opinion on abortion is strictly my own. ...My stand/opinion on abortion is strictly my own. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. In fact, I really prefer that everyone seek his own individual "truth" on the matter. I don't answer for anyone else, but I refuse to answer <i>to</i> anyone else, either.<br /><br />I have seen "Silent Scream." I do not interpret it the same way you do. That "moving away" is not a conscious act -- it is a matter of physics and biological reflex. You can get the same effect with any other animal. There is no consciousness there, directing traffic, so to speak.<br /><br />Terminology again: it's the difference between "life" and "a life." It is not a life until it separates completely from its host. Or, as an old argument put it, an acorn has life, but it is not yet a tree. Nor is a hen's egg yet a chicken.<br /><br />And I always ignore the term, "innocent." It's implication is that there is a possibility of guilt, and I can't figure out of what a fetus may be "guilty." Then, too, it is a word geared to impact the unprepared by blindsiding him with emotionally charged negativity rather than logic, and an attempt to put him on the defensive. In other words, I think it's a cheap shot. A bid for emotional subjugation. For some reason, I always picture a Sally Struthers commercial from a few decades ago, weeping huge alligator tears on behalf of some charity or other. Her cause may very well have been a good one, but the cheap emotional blackmail turned me right off. <br /><br />The argument about whether or not the woman or the fetus has the "right" to the womb is simple as far as I'm concerned. The womb is in the woman's body, and it therefore belongs to her. If she wishes to give it over to a growing fetus, she may do so. No one will stop her. Certainly not me. Her body, her choice, and I will defend her choice, whatever that is.<br /><br />By the way...something I forgot to add above...the word for my own religion is not "revealed" but "occult." Hidden. Until you find it for yourself.<br /><br />And before I completely forget my manners...LINA, thank you!Janus Bellatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05467165902363025714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-74504817873924342072010-02-05T20:32:59.312-05:002010-02-05T20:32:59.312-05:00I think I'm going to enjoy this very much.
Tw...I think I'm going to enjoy this very much.<br /><br />Two things, before I reply to your comments to me: 1) terminology <i>is</i> important, but even more important is that we each understand how the other interprets the meaning of specific words and phrases, something I have had little luck with elsewhere; but your replies give me hope that it can happen; and, 2) I speak only for myself and my own observations/experiences. Other Witches will very likely give you completely different answers, and that is as it should be -- none of us thinks or feels exactly like anyone else. There's a saying: "Ask three Witches the same question and you will get five <i>different</i> answers."<br /><br />With that in mind, the concept of "revealed" religion does not apply to any kind of Paganism. You are correct in thinking that "revealed" means "written down." And while lots of people write about their particular take on things, none of it is ever applied across the board as "truth." And none of us ever attempt to lay claim to "truth" on behalf of anyone else.<br /><br />I personally have a lot of trouble with the terms, "faith" and "belief." To me, they mean the acceptance of someone else's "authoritative" words without question. I don't know how to do that, and the doing of it -- even if I could -- makes no sense to me, so I try not to use them. I do not quarrel that others should not believe or have faith. But I have none, and I am content that it is so. What I do have works for me, and that is the only thing that is important.<br /><br />And while some Witches and Pagans might agree with you that wisdom exists outside ourselves, those in my own Order mostly do not -- one of our precepts is that we create our <i>own</i> realities. This is a difficult concept for most people to grasp. And that's okay. It just means we think a lot about what that phrase means to us. And in that vein, we have members who <i>follow</i> and <i>adopt</i> Navaho and other Amerind philosophies, several who follow Bushido, some who favor Buddhist thinking, some Jedi, some Pastafarians, some Mosaic, and lots of others. We even have agnostics and atheists in the classical sense of those words.<br /><br />It is not important to us that we have a "creation story." We have no arguement with those who do. We just don't see how it's important to us. There are some pretty entertaining stories out there, but for the most part, that's all they are -- stories.<br /><br />And no, none of us in inclined to allow ourselves to be sermonized at. Interpretations of what may have gone before is a very individual thing, and if one of us dared to suggest he had all the answers, and he knew the "truth" of it all, he'd soon find himself inundated with arguments. And nothing would change. Why bang your head against a brick wall if the only thing you're accomplishing is changing the color of the brick with your own blood?<br /><br />And with that, I think I'm going to separate these comments from the next ones. I don't know how much space your comments program allows...Janus Bellatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05467165902363025714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-17317810482602124792010-02-05T16:26:33.478-05:002010-02-05T16:26:33.478-05:00Lady Janus: After having taken some time to reflec...Lady Janus: After having taken some time to reflect upon your last excellent post, I'd like to offer the following points.<br /><br />1. You say that your religion is not "revealed". By this I think you mean that it does not possess any texts of "scripture" as Christians do. <br /><br />Yet I would argue that your faith is very much a revealed religion as well. The fact that you do not have priests who mediate or teach simply means that you leave it to each adherent to "do their own homework". But what is this homework? Is it not to discern, discover, unveil the wisdom that you perceive in nature, creation and within themselves? Your faith is thus revealed to them inasmuch as they are seeking a wisdom that exists outside of themselves, within the very fabric of creation. This is no different than what Christians (and Jews) or any religious community tries to do: to find and respect the fingerprints of God in creation, history and the human heart. <br /><br />Not having priests means that you do not have to suffer through poorly constructed sermons as many Christians do as their clergy try so imperfectly to express this divine truth, but it is surely as much an exercise in trying to understand a message imprinted within us and creation.<br /><br />2. It is an uncontestable fact that the arrival of Europeans into North America, armed with guns and bibles are responsible for the virtual genocide of the native cultures that pre-existed its arrival. Yet, if history has taught us anything, it is that the cultures that we think of as being "native" or aboriginal in their own time committed similar offense to the cultures and people that pre-date their arrival. If we are going to apply the lessons of science to one faith to castigate its acts, then all must be open to the same. <br /><br />Is it possible that some of my ancestors where responsible for participating in the genocide of yours? Probably, just as your ancestors are guilty of the same towards others. <br /><br />Human history is little more than the stories of the expansion of a growing population engaged in an ongoing cycle of displacing others. None of us has unbloodied hands.<br /><br />3. As regards your stand on abortion: you state that for you, life does not exist until such time as a being is separated from its mother and the cord has been cut. Yet, a fetus attains the ability to be independently viable long before it is born. Further, the potentiality of that life undertakes human form even long before that point; thus I must believe that it is far more than just a collection of tissue cells.<br /><br />Seek out the movie, "A Silent Scream" which offers an ultrasound window into the dismemberment of a child in the womb. Watch how the "fetus" tries to move away from the instruments that are ripping it apart limb from limbs to be evacuated from the womb. See if after watching that, you still hold the view that it is not an innocent life but simple human tissue. It changed my view entirely on the subject of abortion when I watched it prior to my life as a priest. It changed my perspective on whether this is a question of a woman's right to control her own body, or the right to life of a child that began within her womb.<br /><br />Thank you for this excellent post. I intend for this space to be a place where such intelligent discussions can take place and your contributions are very much welcomed.<br /><br />Fr. TimFr. Tim Moylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-87021347672152402232010-02-04T22:32:33.583-05:002010-02-04T22:32:33.583-05:00Hi Lady Janus.
I enjoy reading your posts. The...Hi Lady Janus.<br /> <br /> I enjoy reading your posts. They are so informative and enlightening.<br /> Sincerely,<br /> LinaLinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-69220681104598009182010-02-04T21:48:18.995-05:002010-02-04T21:48:18.995-05:00Lady Janus: You are most welcome here anytime. I ...Lady Janus: You are most welcome here anytime. I am also honored to be included in your reading list.<br /><br />I will respond to your last post here tomorrow. I'll take tonight to reflect upon what you offered and respond tomorrow (Friday).<br /><br />Fr. TimFr. Tim Moylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-28698995177572273222010-02-04T20:20:20.877-05:002010-02-04T20:20:20.877-05:00Fr. Tim, thank you so much for offering your thoug...Fr. Tim, thank you so much for offering your thoughtful philosophies! I shall accept your gift, and hope that you will accept mine, in return. Without wax. We shall disagree, and perhaps we shall tussle over details, but if we can be honest with each other without hostilities, perhaps we can learn much and help set an example for some of your other commenters... <br /><br /><i>"I note in your biography that you are a follower of the Wiccan tradition. Your convictions as a witch are every much as "revealed" as are the Abrahamic traditions."</i><br /><br />Actually not. Not "Wiccan" in the original sense of that word (although yes, I am a Witch -- it's the Catholic/Christian comparison thing again). And definitely not "revealed" in the religious sense of <i>that</i> word! "Revealed" religions require a priest class to "translate" and "explain" what is acceptable to adherents of that tradition/sect. Mine requires that every follower do his own homework and decide for himself what his religion means to him. We encourage individuality and personal responsibilty. Revealed religions encourage conformity and suppression of individual will to the benefit of the group. You march with military precision. I dance and herd cats.<br /><br />Your second enumerated point aroused a historical memory of a people whose land was stolen and whose culture and religions were dispensed with summarily by invaders from another world. My ancestors are Indian, Father. My family was nearly wiped out, possibly by your ancestors. Our religion and language was eradicated, our culture suppressed, and our citizenship was denied. I don't necessarily want to bring this up as an argument, especially an emotional one, but don't you find it just a bit ironic that, as a descendant of those who were conquerors and despoilers, you are now in a position of pleading not to have your own culture and religion conquered and despoiled? <br /><br />And I take your comments on terminology very much to heart (we very much agree that words matter, as I have been trying to say on other blogs). It is the wrangling over meanings of words that often gets in the way of meaningful dialogue. For example, it appears that you (and some others) see a fetus as "an innocent life." I do not see it as a life until it has been born and the umbilical cord has been cut, separating it from its host's body and forcing/enabling it to function on its own. Therefore, for me, an abortion does not "kill." It simply removes tissue from a uterus -- a body part that belongs to the woman whose body it is, not to society at large. <br /><br />I'd like to keep visiting and commenting, if you don't mind. And with your permission, I'd like to add your blog to my sidebar's reading list.Janus Bellatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05467165902363025714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-48529331299864531152010-02-04T18:27:16.391-05:002010-02-04T18:27:16.391-05:00sanwin-
I'm not outlaw, whoever that is.sanwin-<br /><br />I'm not outlaw, whoever that is.reddoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823251385710299262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-79381881264657497712010-02-04T15:22:27.190-05:002010-02-04T15:22:27.190-05:00Northern Exposure.
I don't know.
Has the Con...Northern Exposure.<br /><br />I don't know.<br /><br />Has the Conservative Party actively proposed a pro-abortion policy ?Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10467645479270655089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-86315741993416161672010-02-04T14:07:48.293-05:002010-02-04T14:07:48.293-05:00Let's assume that what Fr. Tim has written abo...Let's assume that what Fr. Tim has written about the Liberal Party is true. Could someone please explain how the Conservative Party is any better?Northern Exposurenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-31711141148213332342010-02-04T13:44:19.790-05:002010-02-04T13:44:19.790-05:00Great post Fr.
Count Iggy will apparently stoop t...Great post Fr.<br /><br />Count Iggy will apparently stoop to any level in order to get elected. First childcare and now this rubbish.<br /><br />Hopefully a large enough number of Catholics will now abandon the Liberal Party and give the Conservatives the majority they deserve.<br /><br />And finally Reddog, is that you Outlaw ?Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10467645479270655089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-30331394527430601322010-02-04T13:34:13.192-05:002010-02-04T13:34:13.192-05:00Excellent post Lina! I cannot disagree with anythi...Excellent post Lina! I cannot disagree with anything you wrote! I'm just immensely grateful that my dog is enough for me.<br /><br />Fr. TimFr. Tim Moylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-83548449227170353152010-02-04T13:27:13.194-05:002010-02-04T13:27:13.194-05:00Fr. Tim I am commenting on what you said to Reddog...Fr. Tim I am commenting on what you said to Reddog: <br /> “…..JP II implemented a policy banning openly gay men from becoming priests (although if a priest is faithfully celibate, what does it really matter what his orientation? No one has successfully answered that question for me yet).”<br /><br /> I will try to answer that question even though it will not be successful.<br /><br /> God is the only one that knows for sure a priest is gay and is able to be faithful to his vocation to the priesthood. It doesn’t matter to me a priest’s sexual orientation because it is really none of my business. You be surprise how many people know some priest and other clergy that are gay. They don’t talk about it, they do not care as long he keeps himself from getting into trouble like getting caught in a scandal.<br /><br /> Let’s just say for an example: you Father Tim have this gay orientation (I’m not saying you are gay) and nobody knows except some family members or speaking as a mother she would be glad you are in a safe place and thanking God for taking care of you and all the ones you are shepherding and leading to the Lord. <br /> As long as your parishioners do not know you are gay, it will not bother them. It is like out of sight and out of mind. Nevertheless, if somehow you are found out to be gay, you will soon see how different you will be perceived by religious people, your parishioners and other folks. They may wonder can you be trusted with children. Many people still think all gay men must be pedophiles even though that is NOT true. All those clergy scandals have got them nervous with those large pay outs to victims. Do not forget the secret pay outs that are yet to be reveal or never will be revealed because of all those cover-ups and privacy laws. Then there is the Catechism of the Holy Roman Catholic Church what it says about Homosexuality? <br /> <br /> Someone like me may ask you, why did you hide this gay orientation from your spiritual adviser at the time of your formation? Did you keep this secret because if you told the truth to your spiritual adviser about being gay, your ordination to the priesthood for you would be a big NO way plus no employment within the Church, sorry? In your own mind Father, you knew full well you can be a faithful celibate priest and lead a happy productive life yet you are rejected to the priesthood because you have been found out you are gay or your spiritual adviser thinks you are gay or for whatever reason the Holy Spirit has led him to believe to think you are not a good candidate for the priesthood. <br /> Remember Father,‘the benefit of the doubt must be given to the Church’.<br /><br /> But on the other hand, if you told your spiritual adviser you can be a faithfully celibate (heterosexual/straight) priest there would be no problem for you to proceeding to the priesthood. It is not complicated as having the label homosexual attach to your name in my opinion.<br /><br /> It’s the politics of the Church. Why are there so many gay men that are priest? It doesn’t matter to me as long as they adhere to the Holy Roman Catholic Church's teachings and it is business as usual in carrying out their vocation faithfully.<br /> <br /> It is that policy, ‘banning openly gay men from becoming priests’ that helps some men to lie to themselves about their gay orientation and to their spiritual adviser. I am sure there are numerous reasons for saying I am not gay Father. The deep denial, the inner ego that is at work and it wants to survive, it wants to be wanted and it wants to be accepted, it wants to do their part contributing for the good of all humanity.<br /><br /> I pray for all priests. Especially, for those priests that are struggling with their celibacy issues. Straight or gay!<br /><br /> True, celibacy is a gift, yet sometimes having a dog Father Tim is just not enough for some priests. <br /><br /> Blessings to you Fr. Tim,<br />LinaLinanoreply@blogger.com