Goodbye, Straight Men: Homosexuality in U.S. Seminaries

I would very much like to believe that the homosexual problem in the Church is over, that Michael Rose's 2002 exposé Goodbye, Good Men, caused major reform. But did it? I'm not so sure.

When you see men like Robert McElroy, who covered up for a notorious clerical sex abuser, appointed to a plum see like Washington, D.C. you know the elephant is still in the room. How many D.C. seminarians will be recruited who are, shall I say, light in the loafers? The priesthood can be a cushy job. Remember Bishop Michael Bransfield of Wheeling, WV, my husband's home town, who lived like a king. His behavior was no secret, but he enjoyed wining and dining himself for thirteen years on the faithful's dime. It was so bad I did a series with an anonymous priest, Nabi, who detailed the scandals. [See a recent local story from the Weirton Daily Times, Ex-Bishop Michael Bransfield’s ‘creepy’ behavior detailed.] How many bishops like Bransfield still rule dioceses in the U.S.? Many I fear.

Nabi Sayeth: Where Did It All Begin?

Nabi Sayeth: After the sting to the heart and mind caused by the release of the sexual abuse report by the Pennsylvania grand jury, thoughtful people of faith are asking a most important question: How did it get this way?

This question is a most important one because it would seem that if we could get at the root cause of such a sickening scandal that perhaps faithful Catholics could attack the problem there and uproot the problem at its source.

My Friends, look no further than the candidates for seminary and the seminaries to which they are sent.