Certainly talking about the existence of Gay Priests in an open and honest fashion can only lead to truth, and therefore a healthier faith community. Certainly many of those who have raised objections against gay priests have learned something about God’s love from a priest who has a same sex orientation.

The Church has been well served by gay priests for centuries. Who can cast the first stone when it comes to gay priests? Like their brother heterosexual priests, gay priests have lived and are living holy lives, human lives, and celibate lives. It is time to open the conversation about that, and replace stereotype with fact. Certainly the spiritual task is to be prayerfully present to the truth, no matter how uncomfortable that truth may be. We need to be adult with this conversation, and recognize gay priests, like straight priests are human beings.

Presently there are gay celibate priests ministering in our parishes, schools, hospitals, high schools, colleges, retreat houses, soup kitchens, and nursing homes. Why than are our bishops afraid of addressing this topic openly and honestly? The Rainbow Sash Movement believes this happens for the following reasons:

Fear and hatred of gays and lesbians,

Assumption that being a gay priest that one is by definition sexually active,

Assumption that being a gay priest means one is a pedophile or ephebophile,

Fear that discussing the existence of gay priests will drive away straight seminarians, leading to a gay dominance among clergy,

Fear that if a gay priest is held up as a positive role model, it might undermine the teachings of the Catholic Church,

Fear that any discussion of gay priests would scandalize the faithful,

Fear that discussion of gay priests would invite negative media attention,

Fear that knowledge of the number of gay men in the priesthood would make the Vatican use this as an opportunity to discipline the American church or take punitive action against any who broach the topic.

Why gay priests are afraid to speak openly? Often Bishops refuse to allow gay priests to communicate the knowledge of their sexual orientation to anyone. How can we have a conversation about this issue when we hide from it as a Church?

To find out more about the Rainbow Sash Movement, and to join the Rainbow Sash Movement in Cathedrals and Parishes across the Nation on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2005 by wearing the Rainbow Sash please visit our web site at www.RainbowSashMovement.Com.