Brody's Notes... Pope Benedict XVI: Homosexual Acts- Are "Disordered"

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano Pope Benedict XVI holds a copy of the book "Light of the World'', a series of papal interviews with freelance German journalist Peter Seewald, left, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010.


By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) NOV 26 | Freelance German journalist and writer Peter Seewald, author of the new book-length interview with Pope Benedict XVI published Tuesday, writes that Benedict said homosexual acts are "disordered" and homosexuality itself is "incompatible" with the priesthood. Seewald interviewed the Pope over a period of several days at the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo,  near Rome.

Seewald compiled those conversations into his new book, "Light of the Word: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times." Seewald has previously published two books on then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, "The Salt of the Earth," and "God and the World."

During an interview with German magazine Der Spielgel, Seewald was asked:

What issues do you directly address with the Pope in the book "Light of the World?"

Seewald: The book in general deals with the crisis in the Church, with his pontificate, as well as with the dramatic problems of society. It also addresses the sexual abuse scandal, how this pontificate is directly confronting it and what this will lead to. It addresses how reform in the Church will take place, what the Church’s stance is towards Islam and how this crisis is affecting us today.

In an excerpt from the book published Tuesday, Seewald asked whether the Catholic church's teaching that homosexuals deserve respect isn't contradicted by its position that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered."

Benedict answered: "No. It is one thing to say that they are human beings with their problems and their joys, that as human beings they deserve respect, even though they have this inclination, and must not be discriminated against because of it. At the same time, though, sexuality has an intrinsic meaning and direction, which is not homosexual," he said. "The meaning and direction of sexuality is to bring about the union of man and woman and, in this way, to give humanity posterity, children, a future." 

The pope said the Catholic church needs to hold firm on this point, "even if it is not pleasing to our age." He went on to remark that it was still an open question whether homosexual inclinations are innate or arise early in life. In any case, he said, if these are strong inclinations, it represents "a great trial" for the homosexual. 

"But this does not mean that homosexuality thereby becomes morally right. Rather, it remains contrary to the essence of what God originally willed," Benedict states 

Seewald asked Benedict, stating that since homosexuality exists in monasteries and among the clergy, even if not acted out,  wasn't that incompatible with church doctrine?

In response the pope stated:

"Well, that is just one of the miseries of the church. And the persons who are affected must at least try not to express this inclination actively. Homosexuality is incompatible with the priestly vocation. Otherwise, celibacy itself would lose its meaning as a renunciation. It would be extremely dangerous if celibacy became a sort of pretext for bringing people into the priesthood who don't want to get married anyway," the pope said. 

He then cited a 2005 Vatican document that drew a sharp line against priestly ordination of homosexuals. He said the document emphasized that homosexual candidates cannot become priests because their sexual orientation interferes with "the proper sense of paternity" that belongs to the priesthood. The pope said it was important to select priestly candidates very carefully, "to head off a situation where the celibacy of priests would practically end up being identified with the tendency to homosexuality."