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Gay men can train as priests but must be celibate, say Italian bishops (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 5 days ago by Aussieiuszko@aussie.zone to c/world@quokk.au
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Pope Francis was forced to apologise in May last year for using an offensive slur during a discussion with bishops about admitting gay men into seminaries.

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[-] ArgentRaven@lemmy.world 54 points 5 days ago

This has always been the way. If you're super Catholic and really believe that stuff, realizing you're gay means you aren't going to have a bunch of kids with a wife and feel fulfilled. It's a "challenge from God" and you decide the only acceptable course of action is to assume you can be celibate for the next 80 years and make your family proud.

Then oops! You're so repressed you diddle kids.

The movie "Doubt" covers this pretty well.

Source: was raised Catholic and knew two very religious closeted gay men that became priests. I don't want to suggest that being gay is wrong or that gay men are more likely to diddle kids, but I am suggesting that sexual repression causes sexual problems, Catholicism is stupid for enforcing celibacy past the 1700s, and all religion is a lie. Fite me irl, bro.

[-] ryven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 5 days ago

Is celibacy really that difficult? I've never had sex and I don't feel like it's particularly a problem... once in a while it's frustrating, but lots of things about life are occasionally frustrating. I actually think if I felt like I had a good reason, instead of "I just don't feel like meeting people," it would be less frustrating, because I could tell myself I was doing it for God or whatever instead of just being a recluse.

[-] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 21 points 5 days ago

It's less of the celibate part and more of the "repress who you are" part

[-] lurch@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 days ago

Disclaimer: I'm not celibate.

I think, the real difficulties emerge when presented with opportunity. This is why some people, who didn't think they would, cheat on their partners and some actually regret it. It can take a lot of willpower to refuse to have sex, because it's genetically ingrained in most people. Every single one of their thousands of ancestors had sex for them to exist today.

[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 7 points 5 days ago

Eh, celibacy is one of those things that's as difficult as the nature of the person makes it.

I'd be fucking miserable being celibate. The only time in my life I have been, it was brushed because of significant health issues, and it was still difficult, though not as bad as it could be.

But I know people that are fine not only never having sex, but not even masturbating. It just isn't something they care about.

But, when the reason you're celibate is because you're forced to bury your sexuality gay, straight, bi, or otherwise, that's not just frustrating. Doesn't matter if you have a good motivation, the fact that it isn't really a choice grinds people down. It's an external thing that says no fucky-fucky for you.

[-] JakenVeina@lemm.ee 7 points 5 days ago

Sounds like you're a bit on the ace spectrum. Nothing wrong with that, but yes, most people find celibacy difficult.

For this topic, I think there's an extra layer on top of that where it's not just celibacy, it's an active denial of your sexuality, to an extent.

[-] BlemboTheThird@lemmy.ca 3 points 5 days ago

Yeah but I'd bet you probably still masturbate on the reg without feeling intense shame

[-] EtherWhack@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

From recollection, some branches have no opinion on if you wank it or not. They're more concerned with intercourse.

[-] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 20 points 5 days ago

So ...... no changes then.

[-] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 19 points 5 days ago

gay men:

[-] towerful@programming.dev 14 points 5 days ago

I thought celibacy was required of priests. After googling, I think I'm wrong. Then I googled some more, and apparently it's against the bible& celibacy is required.
So I don't trust Google.

Regardless, this requirement is ridiculous.

[-] JakenVeina@lemm.ee 17 points 5 days ago

Most christian denominations don't require celibacy, but Catholicism, which is headed by the Pope, does.

[-] gramie@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 days ago

Unless you are a married Anglican priest who converts to Catholicism. They are allowed to remain married and presumably have sex while continuing their priestly functions.

[-] galaskorz@discuss.online 7 points 5 days ago

There are a lot of exceptions and exclusions and traditions regarding celibacy in religion. And like most things in religion, there’s not always a firm definition that cannot be interpreted differently.

Also, sometimes the religious authority gets off the phone with god and makes some new rules.

[-] cdf12345@lemm.ee 2 points 5 days ago

I thought only the president of the church of Latter Day Saints had that direct hotline number.

[-] galaskorz@discuss.online 2 points 4 days ago

He just has a golden phone.

[-] tacosanonymous@lemm.ee 10 points 5 days ago

So, the "Poophole loophole" doesn’t work if it’s two dudes. That's discrimination and seems pretty on par for the worst religious organization on Earth.

[-] BigBenis@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

"Because my invisible friend says homosexuality is not allowed!"

[-] kerrigan778@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Sure, just like all the pedo priests who remain celibate.

[-] Bonesince1997@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

Who wants all these rules, made by bigots. Yeah, go join that...

[-] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

They need scapegoats

[-] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 1 points 4 days ago

Gay men...train priests.

I want to see that train. Got a vid?

[-] damnedfurry@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

The rarely seen combo of stereotyping gay men as promiscuous, and not knowing the difference between nouns and verbs, resulting in a top contender for all-time worst attempt at equivocation-based humor.

[-] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 2 points 4 days ago

Why do you assume a train is promiscuous?

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 1 points 5 days ago

Uhh ... pretty sure all priests are already supposed to be celibate, why are you mentioning this?

[-] Stalinwolf@lemmy.ca -1 points 5 days ago

Just a bunch of holy boys getting together up at the seminary. 💦

this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2025
116 points (98.3% liked)

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