[Waragainstsleep]

So I was watching a Q&A on youtube with Dawkins and an Australia Bishop called George Pell and a something struck me:

When asked about gay marriage, Pell delivered what has become the standard diplomatic answer you get from Catholics (who aren't members of the US Republic party as they would obviously prefer that all gay people be lynched or shot) which was that being gay as in being attracted to members of the same sex was fine, and that this happens quite naturally among the population, but that the sinful part is acting on those attractions. In other words, gay people should either stay in the closet and sleep with members of the opposite sex exclusively, or remain celibate their entire lives.
He didn't spell it out that way, but he did say that human beings have the ability to suppress our sexual urges, so thats what I assume he meant. Now the other people I can immediately think of who are supposed to suppress their sexual urges and never get married are Priests, Nuns and Monks. So why hasn't the Catholic Church put two and two together and started actively recruiting gay people into the fold? Surely the most logical conclusion to draw if you find yourself naturally attracted to the same sex, is that god intended you to join the clergy?

We all know there are more than a few priests who have turned out to be gay already, so perhaps there is some internal understanding of this idea already. I just think a good PR blitz in this direction could bolster the ranks of the church and be very positive for generations of gay catholics to come.

[andi*pandi]

Perhaps I'm missing some irony in your statement, but that's the way it used to be. Perhaps there were no billboards or flyers, but it was known.

[Waragainstsleep]

I didn't know that. Oh well, pointless thread then.

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

Perhaps I'm missing some irony in your statement, but that's the way it used to be. Perhaps there were no billboards or flyers, but it was known.

Yeah, they all but openly recruit gays to the priesthood.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

That's.....that's a joke, right? Everyone's having a laugh?

[Shaddim]

Nope. I know of, and have met, quite a few gay RC priests. A long time friend of mine is gay and a bishop*. I don't see anything wrong with that.


*Cue the Flogging the Bishop joke.

[lpkmckenna]

The chaplain at my high school and a priest at my church were both clearly gay. They pinged my gaydar, and I have terrible gaydar.

[Waragainstsleep]

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton 

That's.....that's a joke, right? Everyone's having a laugh?

Glad I'm not the only who didn't know this.

[Chongo]

Sounds like Dawkins has been haningin' with Ramtha at the RSE