Monsignor Krzystof Charamsa
(He just thinks he's gay.)
True story.
I'm a little surprised because I didn't think Polish priests could be gay. (I wonder if he had said he was same-sex-attracted things would have been different?) Turns out this priest also has a partner he fell in love with. That's hard to understand considering priests and religious are expected to live chaste, celibate lives. How do you say Mass while living a double life? That's got to be difficult. After reading more, turns out the priest understood he would have to leave the priesthood, but not before making a 'mess'. It appears he was hoping to influence the Church to change it's teaching on homosexuality. Possibly giving credence to several conspiracy theories of homosexuals exerting undo influence upon the Synod, not to mention the CDF.
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican dismissed a priest from his post in a Holy See office on Saturday after he told a newspaper he was gay and urged the Catholic Church to change its stance on homosexuality.
Monsignor Krzystof Charamsa was removed from his position at the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal arm where he had worked since 2003, a statement said.
Charamsa, 43, and a Polish theologian, announced he was gay and had a partner in a long interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper on Saturday.
He later held a news conference with his partner, a Spanish man, and gay activists at a Rome restaurant. They had planned a demonstration in front of the Vatican but changed the venue several hours before it was due to have started.
The Vatican said Charamsa's dismissal had nothing to do with his comments on his personal situation, which it said "merit respect".
But it said giving the interview and the planned demonstration was "grave and irresponsible" given their timing on the eve of a synod of bishops who will discuss family issues, including how to reach out to gays.
It said his actions would subject the synod, which Pope Francis is due to open on Sunday, to "undue media pressure".
The issue of homosexuality and the Church has dominated the aftermath of the pope's visit to the United States last week.
In Saturday's interview, Charamsa said his partner had helped him come to terms with his sexuality and knew he would have to give up the priesthood, although the Vatican statement made no reference to this outcome.
"It's time for the Church to open its eyes about gay Catholics and to understand that the solution it proposes to them -- total abstinence from a life of love -- is inhuman," he was quoted as saying.
The Catholic Church teaches that homosexuality is not a sin but that homosexual acts are. - Source
It's always something, huh?
I'm not really surprised, I guess. Although the timing appears to be a calculated move - to embarrass and to exert pressure upon the upcoming Synod? A somewhat underhanded attempt perhaps.
Obviously this sort of 'behavior' within the curia, or 'papal court', as well as chanceries, has existed for centuries. Doesn't make it easier though.
Another reminder why Little Therese prayed so much for priests.
. . .
They look like decent guys.
Post script: The Monsignor is in his mid-forties. His friend appears to be about the same age - there goes another theory, I suppose. So what happened? How did they meet? Did he go out to bars which cater to the same-sex-attracted? Did he have a circle of same-sex-attracted friends he was inordinately interested in? Was he suffering from SSA? Was he sexually abused as a kid? Did he get into porn? Were bathrobes required in seminary? Is he really into fashion, dance-trans, opulent lifestyle? So many questions - facetious and serious.
I hope and pray for their salvation. New guys to add to my prayer list.
*PSS: Central casting: Bradley Cooper and Ben Affleck should portray these guys if Barb Nicolosi and Act One ever get into film production. What?
I hope and pray for their salvation. New guys to add to my prayer list.
*PSS: Central casting: Bradley Cooper and Ben Affleck should portray these guys if Barb Nicolosi and Act One ever get into film production. What?
It makes me sad to see a wayward priest flaunt his lapse from his vows. There is more then a little narcacistic element here and an inordinate desire for attention and celebrity. The timing with the Synod set to open tomorrow is deliberate and will undermine whatever good comes out from it. Here is a man who has broken his vows and needs to now remove his Roman collar and be quiet. I suspect that there is more to this story that involves even more serious lapses in faith and morals. I recall a 60 minutes expose last year on the Vatican. They reported on an actively gay priest who after a night on the town got up and said Mass in the apartment for his co partiers. These men have to choose, but they do not in order to mock the Church and Lord they profess to serve. We need to avoid and ignore their scandalous behavior. God help them.
ReplyDeleteI saw the 60 Minutes piece too. This really does make me sad - I hope and pray for their salvation. It demonstrates how easy it is to fall away.
DeleteNo one expects the same-sex attraction inquisition.
ReplyDeleteThat's right Timothy, but we also do not expect the promotion of it by active clerical openly living it either.
DeleteTimothy - that's been well underway for quite sometime now. Are you new to Catholic blogs? ;)
DeleteUnfortunately, I'm not new to the Catholic blogs. I was just trying to make a Mony Python joke
DeleteIt worked Timothy - I appreciated it. I was playing with you. Thanks.
Deleteterry perhaps you should write the Monsignor and ask him gently how he arrived in such a wretchedly sinful state to be a source of scandal for all of us righteous faithful for all of our edification. My mother always told us to just pray for people we thought were on the road to perdition and r leave the rest to God as you so graciously do for me (for which im most grateful).
ReplyDeleteHi Martial! You haven't given up on me. Thanks.
DeleteYes, a huge elent of narcissism here. Get back to us in 10 years and tell us how this all sorked out for you.
ReplyDeleteI know - then in 15 years - if they are still together: Balding, fat, bored, depressed - wondering what they ever saw in each other, what could have been. That'll teach 'em... ;)
DeleteThe heading photo is beautiful and symbolic with its fog... of the Church-Actual. The cdf office is the old office of the inquisition. How many Kylie Minogue posters are there now? Can we have a video tour to be sure? We need after Francis a purely administrative Pope who doesn't write books, documents, encyclicals or talk but loves administration and whom no one likes at first...no one.
Delete