BALTIMORE, Maryland, NOV. 14, 2006 (Zenit.org).- U.S. bishops at their fall meeting approved new guidelines on pastoral outreach to homosexuals, while affirming the Church's position that same-sex relationships are "disordered."
The statement, "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination," upholds the Church's opposition to same-sex "marriage" and adoption by homosexual couples.
The bishops, however, held that children of homosexual Catholics can undergo baptism and receive other sacraments in most cases if they are being raised in the faith.
On Monday, the bishops voted unanimously to release $335,000 of the $1 million they earmarked last year for research on the causes and context of sexual abuse by clergy.
The money will underwrite the first three segments of the research, which is being undertaken by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, at the City University of New York.
Last November the bishops accepted a proposal from John Jay for the study of the Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Children and Young People by Catholic Clergy in the United States, as called for by the bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
The entire study is scheduled for completion in 2009.
ZE06111426 - 2006-11-14
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-18180?l=english
Guidelines OK'd on Outreach to Homosexuals
© Innovative Media, Inc.
Reprinting ZENIT's articles requires written permission from the editor.
 |
Send this to a friend |  |
Comment on this article |
 |
Printer-friendly format |  |
PDF format |
 |
Home |
