The Face of “Gay” Clericalism

Actively homosexual priests have gotten off scot-free in the wake of the priestly sex scandals, with the exception of pederasts (who constitute the vast majority of priestly pedophilia cases).

But in at least one diocese, Altooona-Johnstown (Penn.), homosexual priests are apparently feeling some pressure.

Twenty-six priests of that Diocese have secretly formed the Priests Federation of Altoona-Johnstown. They issued a press release (May 15) wherein they note that they are “sworn to complete secrecy to avert the very real threat of retaliation by our diocesan bishop.”

We got the press release over the Internet, and it was titled “Gay Priests of Diocese A-J in Revolt; Demand Bishop Conceal Molesters, Sue Catholic Activists.” Surely that was not the title of the original press release, but that these 26 priests are “gay” or at least “gay-friendly” — or a mixture of the two — is quite obvious from the release.

The release says: “Whereas our bishop insists on publicly defending lawsuits against this diocese and thus increasing the threat that more names of our priests be exposed in the media, we demand that our bishop cease and desist his public defense of any and all lawsuits concerning alleged priestly misconduct and instead settle these cases out of court so as to protect the reputation and well being of those priests so named and others that may be revealed in the course of any trial. Whereas our bishop threatens and harasses homosexual priests into fearing for their office, we demand that our bishop cease and desist any and all harassment of homosexual clergy and instead work to protect the reputation and well being of clergy of all sexual orientations.” As with Msgr. Campion (see the above New Oxford Note), you notice the great — the excessive and ridiculous — concern with protecting the “reputation” of suspect priests.