Quote of the Day

. . . I remain puzzled and disheartened by what seems to be a massive disconnect between the reality of a high proportion of clerics who are gay and the public, demeaning, negative policies and actions regarding gays within the Catholic church. What kind of pressures and controls can help explain this resounding silence among the clergy on an issue that strikes so close to home – and what will it take to overcome this stance in the future?

One can only surmise whether the positive statements made by bishops about gays in [David] Gibson's [recent Religion News Service] article are, in fact, due to input by clerics who are gay. Whatever the case, it is a very hopeful sign for the church at large. Because once a bishop agrees that "God accepts and loves gays," it is a modest additional step to add "as they are." From there, all else is possible. Let the conversation continue.

– James Ewens
"In Search of the Gay Clerical Voice in Vatican Statements About Gays"
CORPUS Newsletter
May/June 2014

Related Off-site Links:
In Rare Public Split, Catholic Bishops Differ Sharply on Anti-Gay Laws – David Gibson (Religion News Service, February 13, 2014).
Catholics and Same-Sex Relationships: A Pathway to Doctrinal Change? – Terence Weldon (Queering the Church, February 14, 2014).
Homosexual Relationships: Another Look – Bill Hunt (The Progressive Catholic Voice, September 8, 2012).
Notre Dame, Catholic University, Welcomes Gay Athletes in New Campaign – David Gibson (Religion News Service via HuffPost Gay Voices, May 8, 2014).
"Spiritual Paternity": Why Homosexual Men Cannot be Ordained Catholic Priests – Paula Ruddy (The Progressive Catholic Voice, January 14, 2009).
Homosexual Priests and Spiritual Paternity – Ed Kohler (The Progressive Catholic Voice, January 26, 2009).
GayCatholicPriests.org – News and Information About Gay Catholic Clergy Worldwide.

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Homosexuality and the Priesthood
Gay Men in the Vatican Are Giving the Rest of Us a Bad Name
Why I Take Hope in Pope Francis' Statement on Gay Priests
Vatican Stance on Gay Priests Signals Urgent Need for Renewal and Reform