Broken vows

Regarding "A Gay Priest Speaks Out" (January 28): I was a priest for many years, and many of my good friends are priests. I am well aware of the existence of a "gay subculture" in the clergy. I have no problem with gay priests--as long as they are faithful to their vow of celibacy. My challenge to "Gerard Thomas" and other celibate gay priests is this: will you stand up to your brother priests who are gay and who are not celibate?

I am now a happily married man, committed to a monogamous relationship. I decry infidelity and adultery. I make that fact known, and I do not, to the best of my knowledge, associate with anyone who practices such vices. Thomas and other good priests should also refrain from associating with any persons who break their vows.

PAUL CURRAN

St. Louis, Mo.

THE AUTHOR REPLIES:

Of course gay priests should be celibate, as should their straight counterparts. Whether or not one believes that celibacy should remain a requirement for priest-hood in the future, it is a requirement now, and every priest needs to take that commitment seriously. The promise of celibacy, and the vow of chastity for religious men and women, is a solemn promise made both to God and to the larger community, and can also serve as a way of loving many people both deeply and freely. And, frankly, the last thing anyone needs after the sexual-abuse scandals is any priest (straight or gay) living a duplicitous or secret life. Finally, yes, I do challenge those very few priests I know (straight or gay) who are not living celibately. But as for not "associating" with these men, I would rather follow the counsel of Jesus, who came not so much to avoid sinners as to love them. Shutting out from out lives anyone engaged in what we consider immoral behavior is the opposite of what Jesus did. Otherwise, Zacchaeus would never have come down from that tree to discover his salvation from a compassionate God (Lk. 19:1-10).

(REV.) GERARD THOMAS

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