Vatican, Polish Bishop Respond Quickly After Priest “Comes Out” as Gay

Last updated on: October 3, 2015 at 8:13 pm by Kathy Schiffer

Vatican, Polish Bishop Respond Quickly After Priest “Comes Out” as Gay 2015-10-03T20:13:41-05:00 Kathy Schiffer

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

You probably saw the news today: A Polish priest serving as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome came out as gay. More than that, Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa expressed happiness and pride at being a “gay priest,” and reported that he has a boyfriend with whom he enjoys a close relationship.

Father Charamsa, who has lived in Rome for 17 years, also serves as assistant secretary of the International Theological Commission and teaches theology at two of Rome’s Pontifical universities, the Gregorian and the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.

The priest, with his boyfriend at his side, held a press conference today, on the eve of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, in order to pressure the Synod Fathers to revisit the Church’s longstanding teaching with regard to the immorality of homosexual unions. “My decision of ‘coming out,'” he said,“is a very personal decision in the homophobic world of the Catholic Church.” He noted that “every homosexual person is a son of God” (which is true), but then added that “This [the homosexual lifestyle] is the will of God for our life” (which is not true).

A QUICK RESPONSE FROM THE VATICAN

As soon as news of the priest’s homosexual “coming out” announcement came to light, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi issued a statement. The Vatican statement said:

“Regarding the statements and interviews released by Msgr. Kryzstof Charamsa, it must be considered — notwithstanding the respect warranted to the events and personal situations and reflections on the issue — the choice to make such a pointed statement on the vigil of the Synod’s opening seems very serious and irresponsible, since it seeks to impose on the Synodal assembly undue media pressure.”

Certainly, Msgr. Charamsa will not be able to continue performing his previous duties at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Universities, whereas other aspects of his situation are under the competence of his diocesan ordinary.”

Father Charamsa was immediately fired from his position at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was also immediately removed from his teaching responsibilities at the Pontifical Universities.

POLISH BISHOP RESPONDS, AS WELL

And now, the Bishop of Pelplin, located in the ecclesiastical province of Gdańsk, has issued a statement. Through his spokesperson Fr. Ireneusz Smaglinski, the bishop issued a canonical admonition, the first step toward suspension of Fr. Charasma’s priestly faculties. If the priest does not renounce his earlier statement, we can expect that he will be removed from priestly ministry.

The statement which was released this afternoon in Poland reads:

Statement on Father Krzysztof Charamsa:

In connection with the communique issued by the Holy See Press Office concerning the declaration of Fr. Krzysztof Charamsa and his statements to the media contrary to the Scriptures and teachings of the Catholic Church, whereas according to the norms of the Code of Canon Law, Fr. Krzysztof Charamsa has been admonished by the Reverend Bishop of Pelplin to return to the way of Christ’s priesthood.

At the same time the Bishop of Pelplin asks all priests and the faithful to pray for this intention.

Signed,

Fr. Ireneusz Smagliński, spokesman for the Bishop of Pelpli

* * * * *

The rapid response of both the Vatican and the diocesan bishop point to a fact which has been all but disregarded in mainstream media, as pundits speculate regarding the likely result of the Synod. That fact is this:

The Church is the visible body of Christ on earth. Its timeless teachings do not change, but are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

As the Synod Fathers begin their work, pray for them. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide them toward all truth. But really, have faith, resting in the confidence that God is in control.

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Father Krzysztof Charamsa

Previous Post

October 3, 2015

Happening Now: Join in the Prayer Vigil for the Synod

Next Post

October 3, 2015 Pope Francis' Address to Faithful at the Prayer Vigil for the Synod

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #Synod14 Abortion Abstinence Abuse Addiction Adoption Advent Adventure Advertising Aging Agnosticism All Saints Day All Souls Day Amish Anathema Angels Anglican Animals Annulment Annunciation Apocalypse Apologetics Apostles Apostleship of the Sea Apparitions Archangels Archbishop Cordileone Archbishop Dolan Archbishop Vigneron Archeology Architecture Art Art Buchwald Ash Wednesday Assisted Suicide Astronauts Atheism Athletes Babies Baptism Beatification Beauty Bible Biochemistry Bioethics Birds Bishop Lori Bishops Blasphemy Books Canon Law Canonization Capital Punishment Cardinal Burke Cardinal Dolan Cardinal George Caritas Catechesis Catechism of the Catholic Church Catholic Catholic Education Catholic Higher Education Catholic Social Teaching Celibacy Cemeteries Character Charity Chastity Cheapskate Christian Unity Christmas Churches Civil Rights Cloning Comedy Communion of Saints Community Kitchens Confession Confirmation Conscience Consequences Consistory Constitution Contraception Conversion Cooking Councils of the Church Creativity Criminal Justice Cristero War Crucifixion Crystal Cathedral Culture Death Death and Dying Death Penalty Department of Health and Human Services Diaconate Dictatorship of Relativism Dignity Disability Discrimination Dissidence Divorce Doctors of the Church Early Church Fathers Easter Economics Ecumenism Education Encyclicals Environmentalism Episcopal Church Eucharist Euthanasia Evangelism Evangelists Evangelization Evolution Excuses Facebook Faith Families Family Fashion Fasting Fatherhood Federal Government Feminism Fiction Film First Amendment First Communion For Greater Glory Forgiveness Free Speech Friends Friendship Gender Discrimination Germany Gnosticism Good Friday Government Grace Greed Gregorian Calendar Happiness Health Heaven Heresy History Holidays Holiness Hollywood Holy Land Holy Saturday Holy Spirit Holy Week Holy Year Home Sweet Home Homosexuality Hope Humanism Humility Humor Imagination Immaculate Conception Immigration Impulsivity In Vitro Fertilization Incarnation Indulgences Infallibility Internet Islam Italy Jerusalem Jesus Judaism Justice Kathleen Sebelius Labor Movement LCWR Lent Life Literature Liturgy Lourdes Love Magi Marketing Marriage Martyrdom Martyrs Mary Mass Media Medical Ethics Mexico Michigan Miracles Missionaries Modernism Modesty Monks Monothelitism Motherhood Movies Mushrooms Music Muslim Mystery Mysticism Mythology Nativity Natural Law Nature New Evangelization New Media New Year New Year's Resolutions Nostalgia Obscenity Occult Old Testament Origen Orthodox Orvieto Pallium Papacy Parenting Patience Patriarch Bartholomew Patriotism Peace Peace and Justice Penitence Pentecost People Persecution Philosophy Poetry Political activism Political Correctness Politics Polls Pop Culture Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis Pope John Paul II Pope John XXIII Pope Paul VI Pope St. Pius X Pope Urban VII Population Prayer Preaching Prejudice Pride Priesthood Pro-Life Protestantism Psychology Purgatory Queenship of Mary Racism Rape Real Presence Reconciliation Reformation Relics Religious Religious Liberty Reliquary Renewal Reproductive Technology Resurrection Rights Romance Rome Royalty Sacraments Sacred Heart Saints Satanism Science Science Fiction Scripture Seal of Confession Secularism Seniors September 11 Seventy Times Seven Sexuality Sharks Sin Smoking Social Communications Social Justice Social Networking Social Sciences Space Exploration Spirituality Sports St. Luke St. Patrick's Day St. Paul St. Peter St. Teresa of Avila Stations of the Cross Steve Jobs Superstition Supreme Court Symbolism Synod Technology Teen Rebellion Television Terrorism Thankfulness Thanksgiving Theology Think This, Not That Tobit Toilets Toys Tradition Traditions Transplants Travel Trinity Twitter U.S. Air Force Uncategorized United Nations USCCB Valentine Vatican Vatican Archives Vatican Blogfest Virtue Vocations Where We Pray White Heart Women World Day of Social Communications World Meeting of Families World News World Youth Day Worship Writing Year of Consecrated Life Year of Faith Year of Mercy Youth

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the main symbol of Christianity?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The cross Rainbow Olive branch Lion