Reaction to the Vatican’s long-awaited document about homosexuals in the priesthood, has been met with confusion by some ISU faculty, while clergy members said the document reaffirms the stance the Catholic church has held for decades.

The document, released Tuesday, states the church “cannot admit to the seminary or to holy order those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture.'” It also states that those with “transitory problems” could be ordained if they have overcome them for three years.

There is no wording provided in the document, however, that defines “deep-seated” homosexual tendencies or what constitutes as “transitory problems.”

“The one that is the vaguest is the whole notion of the deep-seated homosexual tendency,” said John Donaghy, lecturer in philosophy and religious studies. “That’s going to be something that will have to be talked out.”

Warren Blumenfeld, assistant professor for curriculum and instruction, said the document was unclear.

“Unfortunately, this policy is more confusing than it is clarifying,” Blumenfeld said.

The Rev. Everett Hemann, pastor for St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 2210 Lincoln Way said the document restates the position the church has held for the last several decades. The church has a responsibility to minister to homosexuals and make them feel welcome as members of the church, Hemann said.

“As I read it, it says, ‘Yes, a gay man can be ordained,’ and in response to those people who have been questioning it, they can be ordained validly,” he said.

Although some might view the document as an attempt to keep gays out, Hemann said he suspects it to the be the exact opposite.

“It’s to squelch those who are saying gays cannot be ordained,” he said.

He said what is meant by transitory, according to psychologists, are people who do some kind of homosexual experimentation and are working out their identity. What psychologists call true homosexuals are those whose first or primary sexual desire is a member of the same sex, he said. When people are rather forced into a same-sex environment, like prison or the military, there might be some acting out that is transitory because they were not capable of having their object of sexual desire, Hemann said.

John Faughn, coordinator for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student services, said the document may turn people away from the Catholic church.

“They are going to turn away members, not only members of the community, but families of those who are members of the community and allies,” Faughn said.

“Acceptance brings in more members, hate causes people to leave.”

Blumenfeld voiced concern that the word “transitory” stereotypes homosexuality as a phase.

“By saying transitory, they’re playing into the stereotype that it’s just a stage they’re going through,” he said.

“That’s where the word transitory is stemming from, the stereotype of a stage. It’s the myth in this society that [homosexuality] is just a stage you’re going through. We’re all told that when we’re growing up.”

Hemann said the document is not in response to the sexual abuse cases that have plagued the Catholic church over the past few years because the document is not dealing with pedophilia.

“Pedophiles tend not to be homosexual,” Hemann said.

“But there have been all kinds of people who have been saying if we just did away with the homosexuals that we’re ordaining then we wouldn’t have this problem of pedophilia. That’s really not based in fact.”

He said pedophiliacs in the priesthood face harsh consequences.

The church has a zero tolerance policy regarding pedophilia, he said.

If any allegations arose, the priest would immediately be removed and, if an investigation finds the allegations are true, the priest would never be able to minister again, Hemann said.

Hemann said the matter is whether sexually mature people who feel relatively secure in their sexual identity can relate to both men and women, he said.

The document points out that there might be homosexual men who might have difficulty relating to men, he said. Heterosexuals, Hemann said, can have the same problems relating to women.

Blumenfeld said homosexuals understand relationships between men and women.

“I think relationships and understanding of relationships transcends sexual orientation,” said Blumenfeld, who will be teaching a new experimental gender studies class next semester – Women’s Studies 205X: Introduction to Queer Studies.

“We understand heterosexual relationships. We see it every day. We get heterosexuality real well,” he said.