Celibacy 'turning priesthood gay'

Friday October 7th 2005

Heterosexual men put off taking the vow, claims new book by outspoken cleric

COMPULSORY celibacy could be turning the priesthood into an increasingly gay profession, it has been claimed.

The rule may be discouraging heterosexual men from becoming priests according to a new book by outspoken cleric, Fr Tony Flannery.

In the book, he emphasises his differences with the Catholic Church's strict teaching on homosexual acts, but says that the apparently high number of gay men among younger priests is nonetheless a matter for concern.

Fr Flannery asks whether the prevalence of gay men is "further evidence of a dysfunctional Church" that could be solved by allowing married priests.

He believes that taking a vow of celibacy in today's society can cause a man's masculinity to be called into question, and this is one of the factors keeping heterosexuals away from the priesthood.

Fr Flannery says that while it is impossible to know for sure how many homosexuals are in the priesthood in Ireland, anecdotal evidence suggests that the percentage among younger priests is higher than among older priests.

He writes: "As I travel the country on mission work many priests of my age group...raise with me their concerns that a great many of the younger priests seem to be homosexual."

He believes there is a perception in the Church "that our seminaries...have a substantial number of students of homosexual orientation."

Fr Flannery's comment, which is carried in his latest book, 'Keeping the Faith: Church of Rome or Church of Christ?', comes as the Vatican gives serious consideration to a document that will reportedly ban seminaries from accepting homosexual candidates.

Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has also entered the fray.

He has said that a person should not be automatically disbarred from the priesthood simply because he is gay. Fr Flannery acknowledges that discussing this issue can mean being labelled a 'homophobe', but he states: "If the percentage of gays in the priesthood is far higher than the population average, as is the general perception, then I believe we have a situation that needs to be looked at."

He asks: "Is it compulsory celibacy that is discouraging heterosexual men from becoming priests?"

Speaking to The Irish Independent yesterday Fr Flannery, a Redemptorist, said that when he joined his order in 1964, the priesthood was full of "rugged, sports-playing types", but this "type has now almost vanished".

He said that 40 years ago celibacy had much more status than it does today and a person's manhood was not called into question if he decided to become a priest.

"This isn't necessarily the case now", he added.

He said that it "stood to reason" that if married men were allowed into the priesthood, it would attract more heterosexual men.

However, he also stated that this alone wouldn't solve the problem.

He believes that many of the ministerial functions of priests need to be shared with lay people.

David Quinn
Religious Correspondent

? Irish Independent