New US Seminary Guidelines Insist on Total Acceptance of Full Teaching on Sexuality
Document Shows Bishops Getting Serious About Sexual Abuse
By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, August 30, 2006

(LifeSiteNews.com) - Officially promulgated on August 4, a new 98-page Program of Priestly Formation has been issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) after being approved by the Vatican. Replacing the fourth edition of the norms guiding priestly formation in all seminaries published in 1992, the fifth edition has taken seriously the scandal of priestly sexual abuse. Speaking of a proper formation in sexuality, the document states, "As we have recently seen so dramatically in the Church, when such foundations are lacking in priests, the consequent suffering and scandals are devastating."

In the section on "Norms for the admission of candidates" to the priesthood, the Program states explicitly that "Any evidence of criminal sexual activity with a minor or an inclination toward such activity disqualifies the applicant from admission."

And in the very next clause the document addresses persons with homosexual tendencies. "With regard to the admission of candidates with same sex experiences and/or inclinations, the guidelines provided by the Holy See must be followed," says the document. the rest