Boys in the Vatican

As in "Boys In the Band"

Unfortunately, what the suspension of Monsignor Tommaso Stenico, Capo Ufficio in the Congregation for the Clergy and Professor at the Pontifical Lateranian University seems to have confirmed is the presence of a sub-culture of homosexual priests at the Vatican. Of course, homosexuals are everywhere, as they like to say, in business, politics, arts and media, and as most of us know, in the clergy. Yet most of us like to believe they are few in number and not in positions of power.

Critics of the modern episcopate and the process by which men are appointed bishops, appear to have their suspicions confirmed by the recent suspension of this priest who outed himself on Italian National television. It segues nicely with many of the conspiracy theories which blame Vatican II for much of what ails the Church in the years since the Council - despite the fact that this is not a new problem in the history of the Church. Perhaps there is some basis for these concerns today, especially in light of the recent scandals which involve bishops covering up for crimes committed by homosexual priests. After all, bishops are appointed by Rome.

It has happened before...

Rorate Caeli has a post concerning the most recent events in Rome, with links to a couple of other cases last year. One involving a high ranking Monsignor cruising the notorious gay area near the Borghese Gardens. The Vatican, as well as the Monsignor denied any disordered conduct. In the same year, three Vatican priests were dismissed for engaging in Internet gay pornography in a Cardinal's office. Thus the recent episode does not seem to be so 'isolated' in kind, especially since I believe three other priests were on the same TV program as the ill-fated Monsignor Stenico this past month. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but the Stenico incident happened this month, which observes October 11th as International Coming Out Day.

I should note, in Monsignor Stenico's 'defense', the priest has denied all the charges and insists that he had been set up. He stated, as a psychoanalyst he was doing research work on gay behavior. His efforts were directed towards a better understanding of the culture, which, by a fault of a few people - among them priests - is doing so much harm to the Church. (Read the report here.)

Faierie tales can come true...

Yes. Yes. Yes. And Larry Craig was just trying to pick up a piece of toilet paper from a dirty public restroom floor when he was caught reaching beneath the partitions, signalling the guy next door. It reminds me of a story I once heard of a guy who had been seen leaving a notorious gay cruising area in a public park one day. When asked what he was doing there, he explained to his Catholic friends who happened to drive by, that he had been handing out rosaries and leaflets, hoping to convert the homosexuals who frequented the park. Maybe. In Stenico's case, we will have to see what the Vatican's investigation turns up, admittedly, none of us know the whole story.

Throughout history there have been homosexuals in the clergy and in the Vatican. Every center of power attracts these people who are easily seduced by prestige, influence, glamour, ostentatious display, pleasure, luxury and riches - the Church is not exempt. However, if there is a homosexual problem in the Church, especially when it influences the nomination and selection of bishops, then this is very serious stuff which directly affects "faith and morals".

I wonder if it is not time for some sweeping reforms, or perhaps a new Council of Trent?