Catholic ‘witch-hunt’

[Colr]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle1945860.ece

It's all going on these days!!

Patricia McKeever does not like to be photographed. She does not like people to know where she lives and prefers to communicate with the outside world by letter or e-mail.

But, from the security of her home, the 58-year-old former secondary school teacher has co-ordinated a relentless campaign to name and shame gay Roman Catholic priests.

Her newsletter , Catholic Truth, has so far confronted up to a dozen priests about their alleged homosexuality and has named at least four as being gay or allegedly associating with gay men.

It claims to have privately challenged several more priests after receiving information that they attended a gay bar in Glasgow and has also, it says, confronted a seminarian, a prospective seminarian and a Catholic school teacher.

It is currently preparing a “dossier” on a priest it accuses of inviting a homosexual support group into his church and expects to identify him in the newsletter’s next issue.

[egb_hibs]

peter tatchell would be proud.

[jimmyhibs]

ach well. it'll give the muslims a break.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

peter tatchell would be proud.

You agree with her or not?

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Colr

You agree with her or not?

no; she's a quack - like tatchell, who iirc did exactly the same with anglican clergy.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

no; she's a quack - like tatchell, who iirc did exactly the same with anglican clergy.

Maybe on a personal level but is she not being consistent with the teachings of the church. Surely there should not be gay priests if it is a mortal sin? Or do I misunderstand the teachings on this one?

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Colr

Maybe on a personal level but is she not being consistent with the teachings of the church. Surely there should not be gay priests if it is a mortal sin? Or do I misunderstand the teachings on this one?

it's not a sin to be gay. if they're engaged in rumpy pumpy that's a different matter. i don't know whether it's a felony or misdemeanour charge. but even so, naebody likes a grass do they?

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

it's not a sin to be gay. if they're engaged in rumpy pumpy that's a different matter. i don't know whether it's a felony or misdemeanour charge. but even so, naebody likes a grass do they?

Its not a sin to be gay but it is a sin to do anything about it? Is that what you are saying? Is that your view or the view of the church?

Would think she is on a hiding to nothing if the priests she is interested in have stuck to that line, no?

[egb_hibs]

Col, I've explained all this (the church's position) to you before as best as the limits of my knowledge allow (which is pretty limited). I'm sure your local catholic church will run classes which will provide all this info is you're as interested as you appear to be.

as for this wifey she sounds like a fanatic to me.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

Col, I've explained all this (the church's position) to you before as best as the limits of my knowledge allow (which is pretty limited).

maybe you could provide a link to your previous explanation, if my restatement of your position is not accurate.

I wonder if the church has put her right on her misunderstanding of scripture.

Presumably the priest in question where persuading the attendants at the bar and the support group to think but not to act on their urges. Should be quite easy for them to refute these charges.

Like I say, she seems to be on a hiding to nothing.

[pilrig70]

Why dont the Vatican let their priests have normal relationships with whoever they want - hetero or gay - like other normal people?

[cavalier]

Originally Posted by pilrig70

Why dont the Vatican let their priests have normal relationships with whoever they want - hetero or gay - like other normal people?

Think they stopped the marriage bit way back, not because of any morality issue, but because the preist was passing the job on to his son etc etc. Corruption and nepotism basically!(willing to be corrected on this mind!)


Outdated nowadays of course, but it does take the catholic church a few centurys tae catch up.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Colr

maybe you could provide a link to your previous explanation, if my restatement of your position is not accurate.

I wonder if the church has put her right on her misunderstanding of scripture.

Presumably the priest in question where persuading the attendants at the bar and the support group to think but not to act on their urges. Should be quite easy for them to refute these charges.

Like I say, she seems to be on a hiding to nothing.

lately your blinkers seem to be impeding your powers of comprehension.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

lately your blinkers seem to be impeding your powers of comprehension.

How so? If what you state is correct, the priests in question will have no problem dismissing her allegations.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Colr

How so? If what you state is correct, the priests in question will have no problem dismissing her allegations.

i don't know what your on about? really. read the whole thread back. i don't know what restatement of my position your on about. i've provided you with some facts as i understand them and that's it. i've no interest in this subject beyond that. go and find some catholic apologetics site. or even better - get out, stretch your legs, read about another subject...

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

i don't know what your on about? really. read the whole thread back. i don't know what restatement of my position your on about. i've provided you with some facts as i understand them and that's it. i've no interest in this subject beyond that. go and find some catholic apologetics site. or even better - get out, stretch your legs, read about another subject...

You said that it wasn't a sin to be gay just to act on those impulses. Therefore its OK for the priests to be gay as long as they don't act upon those impulses.

The woman concerned is raising concerns that certain priests have been hosting gay support groups and visiting gay bars. They would not have been commiting any sins by doing this and indeed if they were advising the gay support group not to act on their urges and remain celibate and providing similar advice to the other patrons of the bars in question, they would have not only been following but promoting the church's message.

It seems fairly simple for the church to put this woman right and nip it in the bud.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Colr

You said that it wasn't a sin to be gay just to act on those impulses. Therefore its OK for the priests to be gay as long as they don't act upon those impulses.

yes, and....?

The woman concerned is raising concerns that certain priests have been hosting gay support groups and visiting gay bars. They would not have been commiting any sins by doing this and indeed if they were advising the gay support group not to act on their urges and remain celibate and providing similar advice to the other patrons of the bars in question, they would have not only been following but promoting the church's message.

It seems fairly simple for the church to put this woman right and nip it in the bud.

they probably should have a word. but then in reality the church lacks the ominpotent control over it's members you seem to believe it has.

unfortunately, the woman will also be playing on real fears of the abuse scandals that have so damaged the church, which has hardened the line on gay clergy a bit (given that the overwhelming majority of victims are teenage boys)

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

yes, and....?

they probably should have a word. but then in reality the church lacks the ominpotent control over it's members you seem to believe it has.

unfortunately, the woman will also be playing on real fears of the abuse scandals that have so damaged the church, which has hardened the line on gay clergy a bit (given that the overwhelming majority of victims are teenage boys)

Well, they don't seem to be defending themselves too well here. Gives rise to the where there's smoke there's fire accusation (cue Donald Findlay for a smoke and catholicism joke!) especially give the background you point out.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Colr

Well, they don't seem to be defending themselves too well here. Gives rise to the where there's smoke there's fire accusation (cue Donald Findlay for a smoke and catholicism joke!) especially give the background you point out.

well maybe there is. after all, the american experience suggests gay priests have more trouble with celibacy than the straight ones.

plus, from what my gay friends recount, it's virtually impossible for a gay bloke not to score constantly. without the brakes that women are wont to apply, you can imagine the carnage.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

well maybe there is. after all, the american experience suggests gay priests have more trouble with celibacy than the straight ones.
.

Does it? You got a link to the evidence on that?

BTW. I understand that the woman in question does allege that these priests are actively gay but I don't know if she has evidence or is just speculating.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Colr

Does it? You got a link to the evidence on that?

i'm basing it on the fact that 90% plus victims of abuse were teenage lads, and henry informs me this is homosexuality not pedophilia.

it was covered in the guardian a while back, with remarkable sympathy given it was the guardian. mind you - oh there was a backlash!