Ex-priest predicts exodus of gay clergy from Catholic Church

He left the Catholic priesthood in 1998, he said, because he was tired of shielding his identity as a gay man from a church that condemns homosexuality.

The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo, now an Episcopal priest in the Newark diocese, said he believes Tuesday’s Vatican edict banning most gay men from entering the seminary also will force many priests from the clergy.

Gargiulo, who said he remains friends with dozens of gay Catholic priests from his days in the Archdiocese of Newark, predicted the ruling will heighten tensions within the church even though it doesn’t apply to current priests.

“It will push many of them away,” Gargiulo said of the document, which was leaked to news outlets and widely distributed before the official release Tuesday. “The Vatican ... says that homosexuality is intrinsically disordered, and how many times can you be told that before you start to say, Hey, maybe I should go somewhere else.’”

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/living/religion/13312099.htm

Wow! I sure didn't see that coming! :sarcasm:

...but the title "ex-priest" is completely wrong. Ordination to the priesthood, like appointment to the Supreme Court ;-) , is a lifetime position. Even if you're "defrocked," that simply means that you are forbidden from serving as a priest in that denomination. You remain a priest, permanently.

In Fr. Gargiulo's case, he simply switched denominational affiliation, from being a Roman Catholic priest to an Episcopal one.

My big question is: where will said gay clergy go? My suspicion is that, should they attempt to affiliate with a more sympathetic denomination, such as the more-gay-friendly dioceses of the Episcopal Church, they would essentially double or triple the number of priests already there.

he is a priest in the episcopal church.

Isn't government disordered? Isn't life disordered?

As the High Priestess of Psychobabble, I'm offended Just kidding; I have a Masters in Psychology, and am a retired social worker. My friends used to say I was the best at 'laying the psych words on thick.'

And, as the Vice President of our local PFLAG and pro-gay-rights individual, I'm deeply offended, of course.

Me? I hope that many well-qualified, talented priests leave in protest and go over to the Episcopal church; it would send a message.