Catholic Bishops Are So Understanding

American Catholic bishops on Tuesday called on gays to live a life of celibacy, but still referred to homosexuality as "disordered". They also encouraged gay Catholics to remain in the closet, both spiritually and sexually, by only telling a close circle of family and clergy of their homosexuality. -story

The bright note?

They declined to endorse reparative therapy, claiming there was no evidence it was effective. Instead, they called on homosexual Catholics to seek therapy that would help them lead a life of celibacy.

They still oppose gay couples adopting, but do encourage children of gay parents to be baptized.

At their anuual meeting, they also called on Catholics, especially those of child-bearing years, to shun birth control methods.

"The goal is not negative to stop people from doing things," George said. "The goal is positive—to give themselves entirely to Christ and to do that lovingly. So the goal is to empty yourself of yourself and hold nothing back, including your own fertility, and embrace human life and sacrifice yourself for the sake of something greater."

Perhaps the real motive against contraception - produce more babies because we're losing too many Catholics rejecting our shallow, and sometimes backwards, way of thinking? I'd like to see the New Way Ministries (a break-away Catholic religion who accepts homosexuality) issue their own paper, one encouraging condom use among homosexuals and celibacy for heterosexual Catholics, especially thos of child-bearing years.