Surprisingly, some of the same things they do in life.
They wail and grind their teeth. (Matthew 24: 51)
They scoff, they mock, they wag their heads, like ravening and roaring lions. (Psalm 22: 8, 14)
I’m told it is not a very hospitable place.
In the form of a question.
Several people have commented on a couple of my posts dealing with the Church’s regulations regarding the ordination of homosexuals, while some have emailed me asking questions such as these:
“Why would God call a gay man to the priesthood, only to be rejected by the Church who tells him no?” Or, “What about gay men who are already ordained - how can they be priests if the Church says no?”
Very interesting.
Of course the answers to these questions are way beyond my competence. (I only have opinions.) However, concerning the subject of the sacrament of Holy Orders as it applies to gay men, a friend sent me this:
Simply because a homosexual person is ordained, it doesn’t necessarily mean the“ordination is a guarantee of a Divine call. Ordination does not require some divine confirmation of a call before the Bishop can extend a laying on of hands, it requires only a male, and the correct form of the sacrament. Even if one is forbidden by law, ordination is one of those sacraments that works ex opere operato* (by the fact of it being worked), just like the Eucharist. So, just because one is a priest does not mean he has been called. Why are these gay men priests? I don’t know. Is it possible some with tendenceis that aren’t deeply rooted are in fact called? Sure. Is it absolutely the case? Certainly not.” (Thanks Dr. Phil!)
Makes sense to me. (And no sister - it doesn’t work for you because you are not a male. Women are not admitted to the seminary nor can they be ordained priests.)
*1128 This is the meaning of the Church’s affirmation49 that the sacraments act ex opere operato (literally: “by the very fact of the action’s being performed”), i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for all. It follows that “the sacrament is not wrought by the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient, but by the power of God.”50 From the moment that a sacrament is celebrated in accordance with the intention of the Church, the power of Christ and his Spirit acts in and through it, independently of the personal holiness of the minister. Nevertheless, the fruits of the sacraments also depend on the disposition of the one who receives them. - CCC
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