unfit for priestly service

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Oct 05, 2005

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin is not mincing words about the proposed Vatican statement on homosexual seminarians. In plain, simple language, he told The Tablet: "You don't write off a candidate for the priesthood simply because he is a gay man."

You might think that Archbishop Martin is desperate. After all, he ordained zero new priests this year-- the first year in the history of the Dublin diocese that no priests were ordained.

But No. The instructors who train candidates for the Dublin priesthood are rigorous enough on some issues.

The Irish seminary at Maynooth (which is, these days, the only functioning seminary all of Ireland) recently threatened to suspend 5 young men-- 6.7% of the entire student body-- for a particular form of misconduct.

What was the transgression for which this punishment was threatened? What would cause you to write off a candidate for the priesthood?

Brace yourself. Cover the eyes of the children. OK, ready?

They were kneeling for Communion!