COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – A priest at St. John’s University is resigning from his leadership position in response to newly clarified restrictions against admitting homosexuals into the Catholic priesthood.<\/p>\n
The Rev. Bob Pierson, in an e-mail Wednesday to administrators and students at St. John’s and nearby College of St. Benedict, said, "Because I can no longer honestly represent, explain and defend the church’s teaching on homosexuality, I feel I must resign." Pierson said he would resign effective Jan. 15.<\/p>\n
Pope Benedict XVI is running the most brilliant inquisition in Church history. No need for trials, inquiries, or other messy procedures. Those who are at odds with Church teaching are just resigning. They are just vanishing one by one on their own cognizance. Nobody expects the vanish inquisition.<\/p>\n
Being that this case seems to be one more as part of a trend I just can’t help wondering just what in the world the new Vatican document has changed in the slightest? The constant teaching of the Church and every magisterial document on the subject saying the same thing just how did a document affecting seminaries become the final straw?<\/p>\n
Pierson, the Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry, said in the e-mail that he is gay and celibate. He said there were several elements in the Vatican document that he did not accept as true, including the assertion that homosexuals are "objectively disordered."<\/p>\n