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Vatican Slams Gay Priest Article
The Vicariate of Rome says a recent article about gay priests defames the clergy and portrays a false view of the priesthood.
The article, titled 'The Sly Nights of Gay Priests', was published July 23 in the conservative Italian magazine, Panorama.
The vicariate responded with a communiqué in which it denounced the article as "creating scandal," "defaming all priests," and "discrediting the Church."
"The facts that are reported," the communiqué stated, "cannot but cause sorrow and disquiet in the ecclesial community of Rome, which knows well its priests."
These priests, it added, are "not of a 'double life,' but of a 'single life,' that is happy and joyous, consistent with their vocation, given to God and to the service of the people, committed to live and witness to the Gospel and a model of morality for everyone."
Those who do live this double life "have not understood what the 'Catholic priesthood' is and should not have become priests," the vicariate asserted.
"They know that no one is forcing them to remain priests, reaping only the benefits," it pointed out. "Consistency would demand that they come out into the open."
The communiqué concluded, "We do not wish them ill but we cannot permit that their conduct should taint the honorableness of all the others."
Since the article was published, Panorma has posted video footage on youtube of the gay priests.