Vatican guidelines create new controversy

Re “Vatican Issues Guidelines on Gay Priests,” Nov. 30

It’s unfortunate that the Vatican feels the need to scapegoat gay priests for its failure to protect children from sexual predators. Sadly, this misguided policy will only exacerbate the cause of the problem. Gay priests are not the child molesters. A gay person is someone who accepts the goodness and wholeness of consenting, adult same-sex attraction -- regardless of whether one is celibate or not. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church continues to create an atmosphere in the priesthood of such enormous and unrivaled sexual oppression that those prone to predatory sexual abuse of minors will either intensify their efforts or emotionally implode. Until the church creates a healthy and realistic policy for priesthood sexuality and sexual expression, we can expect to deal with more of the same unfortunate consequences we see in the church today.

ESTEBAN RAMIREZ

Los Angeles

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Though I have been a practicing Catholic since birth, I am not ashamed to say that I am disgusted with the Vatican report banning gay men from entering the seminary. Preventing perfectly capable candidates from entering the seminary is no way to solve the priest shortage that has been plaguing the church in recent years. If church officials were truly looking to solve this problem, they should allow gay men to serve as priests, eliminate the vow of celibacy and ordain women.

LUISA MONTES

Los Angeles

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Regarding the Vatican’s restriction blocking “actively gay men” from the priesthood, I have one question: Aren’t “actively straight men” blocked from the priesthood as well? A more honest policy would block the recruitment of “actively sexual men,” but then where would the church store its hypocrisy?

JIM MALLON

San Luis Obispo