Questions about homosexuality already part of U.S. seminary process

Published: 2005-12-20

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Years before the Vatican's recent document putting restrictions on homosexuals entering seminaries, U.S. seminary candidates were being openly questioned about their sexual orientation. Within the past 20 years, such questioning has become a growing part of efforts to determine the suitability of candidates who want to enter a seminary. Psychological screeners for seminaries interviewed by Catholic News Service were quick to note, however, that the aim is not to single out people because of their sexual orientation but to determine if a candidate is psychologically and sexually mature enough to make a commitment to the celibate priesthood. Screeners said that it is impossible to do this without discussing a candidate's sexual activity, preferences and dating history. They added that the sexual history is only a part of the psychological profiling that is done to judge the candidate.

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