• Bishop Wilton D Gregory, president of the US conference of Catholic Bishops, admitted at a press conference in Rome on April 23 the existence of an ongoing struggle to ensure that the Catholic priesthood is not dominated by homosexual men.
   

•  In treating priests who have engaged in pedophilia and ephebophilia we have observed that these men almost without exception suffered from the denial of sin in their lives.

• In treating priests who have engaged in pedophilia and ephebophilia we have observed that these men almost without exception suffered from the denial of sin in their lives.
   

• This anger [among homosexual priests] … was often directed toward the Church, the Holy Father, and the religious authorities. Rejecting the Church’s teachings on sexual morality, these men for the most part adopted the utilitarian sexual ethic which the Holy Father [John Paul II] so brilliantly critiqued in his book, Love and Responsibility.
   

• They came to see their own pleasure as the highest end and used others – including adolescents and children – as sexual objects.
   

• They consistently refused to examine their consciences, to accept the Church’s teachings on moral issues as a guide for their personal actions, or regularly avail themselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
   

• These priests either refused to seek spiritual direction or choose a spiritual director or confessor who openly rebelled against Church teachings on sexuality. Tragically, these mistakes allow these men to justify their behaviors.
   

• The Bishops, individually and collectively, should develop screening protocols which will identify men who may pose a risk to others and who cannot live the chaste celibacy required of a priest.
   

• One of the major problems … is the enormous amount of misinformation about the nature, origins, and treatment of homosexuality/SSA.
   

• This is not accidental. For over 20 years, activists, intent on changing the laws on sexual orientation, have put forward a massive public relations campaign specifically designed to spread misinformation that will change the social acceptance of homosexuality.
   

• …  many people sincerely believe that scientific research has produced conclusive evidence that homosexuality is a genetically inherited condition, determined before birth, and cannot be changed.  In fact, no such evidence exists.
   

• Several studies have been promoted in the media as providing the “proof,” but when one reads these studies one discovers the authors do not even claim to have presented such proof.
   

• There is no verifiable evidence that same-sex attraction is genetically determined. … [while] there are numerous studies documenting change of sexual attraction pattern (see Homosexuality and Hope, available at www.cat.hmed.org)
   

•  [The] condition of extreme effeminacy is called gender identity disorder “GID”.
   

• The sooner these problems are addressed in therapy, the more hope there is for a full recovery.
   

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that homosexuality’s “psychological genesis remains largely unexplained” (#2357). This statement does not accurately reflect what is known about homosexuality. 
   

• Men and women experiencing same-sex attraction may rightly feel that they “have always felt different,” but that doesn’t mean they were born that way. Children are born either male or female.
   

• There has been a massive campaign to hide this information from the general public and for those who sincerely wish to be free from same-sex attraction.
   

• To those who wish to be free from same-sex attraction it can be said with confidence that God didn’t make them that way and He wants them to be free.
   

• There are other serious problems which need to be addressed. For example, sexual harassment exists in certain seminaries. Any Catholic institution which knowingly tolerates sexual harassment – heterosexual  homosexual – betrays the moral teaching of Christ and contributes to the suffering of others. It also risks incurring financial liability.
   

Recommendations Treatment for priests with SSA
 

• We observed many priests grow in holiness and happiness in their ministry as a result of the healing of their …  same-sex attractions.
   

• Our experiences over 25 years have convinced us of the direct link between rebellion and anger against the Church’s teaching and sexually promiscuous behaviors. … those who are sexually active dissent from the Church’s teaching on sexuality to justify their own actions.
   

• Finally, they [candidates for the priesthood] should be screened for homosexuality by their bishops or religious superiors prior to being considered …
   

• The previous attitude of “winking” at homosexuality in priests must end.
   

• Also, complaints by priests of aggressive homosexual behavior in rectories and religious communities should be addressed and no longer ignored.
   

Screening of Seminarians
 

• Simply asking a candidate if he is a heterosexual or homosexual, or if he is sexually interested in adolescents or children is not sufficient.
   

• Two different studies have found that the answers to a small number of questions about childhood and adolescent experiences included with the larger questionnaire allowed the clinical interview a to conclude, with 90% accuracy, whether the subject was a heterosexual or homosexual.
   

• The Church should not take the moral risk of allowing someone with SSA to enter the seminary. Also, a period of sexual abstinence for five years should be required of those with SSA prior to entering the seminary.
   

• It should be noted that many men with SSA will have problems besides the SSA which could make admission to the seminary inadvisable.
  
   

• It is essential that mental health professionals involved in any way with screening candidates for seminary, or with treating seminarians or priests, as well as the faculty at the seminaries, support the teaching of the Church on sexuality, particularly on homosexuality.
   

• In our experience, there are some dioceses and religious communities relying upon the work of mental health professionals who actively disagree with the Churches sexual morality.
   

Seminary/Formation Faculty
 

We wish to both acknowledge, and offer our most sincere gratitude to, ChurchMilitant, St. Michael’s Media, Mr. Michael Voris, and the Producers and Reporters for their courageous work on behalf of the Catholic Church and her Faithful.