Inside Archbishop Buechlein . 5 Editorial . 4 Question Corner . 11 Sunday and Daily Readings . 11 Serving the ChurchCriterion in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com December 2, 2005 Vol. XLVI, No. 9 75¢ Vatican says men with ‘deep-seated homosexual tendencies’ can’ t be ordained VATICAN CITY (CNS)—A long- than eight years of internal discussion and Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of Indianapolis Archbishop Daniel M. awaited Vatican document said the Church debate. the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Buechlein said the instruction “sets clear cannot allow priestly ordination of men The document did not define what it said in a statement on Nov. 29 that the expectations for and reduces ambiguity who are active homosexuals, who have meant by “deep-seated” homosexual ten- instruction showed a “Christian realism” about who may be admitted to holy “deep-seated” homosexual tendencies or dencies, but contrasted them with the “tran- about what is expected in candidates for orders.” who support the “gay culture.” sitory” problems of adolescence. the priesthood when it comes to their “I was pleased to see that the document Such people have serious problems Such transitory tendencies must be “affective maturity.” allows for some discretion to be exercised relating properly to men and women and clearly overcome at least three years before Bishop Skylstad urged bishops and by those close to the situation who would present a risk of “negative consequences” ordination as a deacon, it said. It did not major superiors to have a “prayerful and best know the individuals seeking ordina- that should not be underestimated, the doc- explain what was meant by “overcome” or honest” discussion of the new norms with tion. In the United States, this instruction ument said. how that could be determined. their priests and seminarians. He also made will serve as a useful supplement to the The Vatican published the nine-page The document was leaked to the Italian a point underlined by several other bishops: recently revised Program of Priestly instruction from the Congregation for press earlier in November. that many homosexually inclined men are, Formation, which was approved by the Catholic Education on Nov. 29 after more In the United States, Bishop William S. in fact, good priests. See DOCUMENT, page 2 Indiana Supreme Court upholds Photo by Sean Gallagher Photo by waiting period for abortion By Mary Ann Wyand Pro-life supporters are celebrating the Indiana Supreme Court’s Nov. 23 ruling upholding the legality of informed consent and an 18-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion in the Hoosier state. The state court’s 4-1 decision over- turned a decade-long challenge to a 1995 Indiana law that requires women to receive in-person counseling about the medical risks of abortion and alternative choices available to them then wait 18 hours before undergoing the surgical procedure that terminates pregnancy. The informed consent law introduced by State Sen. R. Michael Young (R-Indi- anapolis) was passed by the Indiana Legislature 10 years ago then was vetoed by former Democratic Gov. Evan Bayh. Legislators overrode the governor’s veto, but implementation of the law was delayed Kristine Cohn, U.S. Department of Education regional representative, speaks to the students, faculty, staff and parents of Immaculate Heart of Mary by a series of appeals from abortion School in Indianapolis during a Nov. 28 ceremony in which she presented the school’s 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School of Excellence providers on the state and national levels. award. Immaculate Heart of Mary School is one of five archdiocesan schools to receive the national award this year. The Clinic for Women in Indianapolis and other abortion providers have opposed the law since its passage on the U.S. Department of Education representative praises grounds that the waiting period violates women’s right to privacy and creates a archdiocese’s Blue Ribbon schools for their excellence hardship by requiring two trips to an abortion clinic. By Brandon A. Evans accompanied by Annette “Mickey” St. Michael School in Greenfield Pro-life supporters argued that women Lentz, executive director of Catholic edu- “how proud we are of you.” have the right to be told what happens to Kristine Cohn, U.S. Department of cation and faith formation for the arch- Cohn spoke to the students about See ABORTION, page 16 Education regional representative, vis- diocese. the importance of an education—citing ited some of the archdiocese’s five 2005 The schools held assemblies, offered Benjamin Franklin to tell them that No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon prayers, played music and accepted an whatever a person learns is their trea- Schools of Excellence this week to con- official recognition plaque from Cohn. sure to keep forever; a good education gratulate the teachers and students on The high-energy events are a highlight is something that can never be taken their commitment to learning. of the year for Lentz. away once received. The Blue Ribbon schools are Whenever there are challenges for “An investment in knowledge Holy Family School in New Albany, those who work in education administra- always pays off,” Cohn said. “Here at St. Michael School in Greenfield, and tion, she said, the best thing they can do St. Michael School, you have invested Immaculate Heart of Mary School, is spend a little bit of time at a school well. St. Simon the Apostle School and assembly. “You are one of only 11 schools in St. Thomas Aquinas School, all in “Then you realize what you do and the state” to be honored as a Blue Indianapolis. why you do it,” Lentz said. Ribbon School of Excellence, she said, Cohn is visiting some of the public The special events also let the students which means that all those involved and private schools in her region— celebrate their school’s achievement. with the school have “taken a leader- which is made up of Indiana, Illinois, Lentz said that even the young chil- ship role to do what is right.” Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and dren who don’t understand what a Blue Cohn said there are four things that Minnesota—that received the national Ribbon award is know that an assembly make up a good school: a committed award. The schools were officially with music and special guests isn’t orga- community, excellent teachers, notified in late September that they nized for just any reason. involved parents and great students. had been named Blue Ribbon Schools “[The students] see themselves as part St. Michael School, she said, just of Excellence. of a larger picture, a larger community,” like the other Blue Ribbon schools, is She visited the Indianapolis-area Lentz said. now a role model—and other schools Catholic schools on Nov. 28, and was She told the students gathered at See SCHOOLS, page 8 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, December 2, 2005 acts are closed to the transmission of life, it said. DOCUMENT they are contrary to natural law.” “Nevertheless, such tendencies must be continued from page 1 The Vatican document was signed by clearly overcome at least three years before Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of ordination to the diaconate,” it said. CNS photo from Reuters U.S. bishops last June,” the archbishop the education congregation, which prepared Ordination as a deacon precedes priestly said. the instruction for use by bishops, religious ordination by at least six months. Archbishop Buechlein said the expecta- superiors and seminary rectors around the In an interview with Vatican Radio on tions presented in the instruction have been world. Nov. 29, Cardinal Grocholewski said “tran- in effect in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis The instruction, dated Nov. 4, was sitory” homosexual problems might include for at least 13 years. approved on Aug. 31 by Pope Benedict episodes of youthful curiosity, accidental “My interpretation of what the instruc- XVI, but not in forma specifica. That means acts related to a state of drunkenness, tion terms a man with ‘deep-seated homo- the document carries the authority of the behavior by someone in prison for many sexual tendencies’ would be someone education congregation and does not have years, or acts committed in order to “please whose homosexual orientation is his pri- precedence over the existing Code of someone in order to obtain favors.” mary and preoccupying sense of identity,” Canon Law, an informed Vatican source “In such cases, these acts do not origi- Archbishop Buechlein said. said. nate from a deep-seated tendency but from The archbishop also noted that the In a letter accompanying the document, other transitory circumstances,” he said. instruction from the Vatican reminds us the Vatican made it clear that the instruc- The instruction emphasized that the final tha “homosexuals are not to be unjustly tion does not challenge the validity of pre- judgment on ordination of candidates for discriminated against and that they are to vious ordinations of priests with homosex- the priesthood fell to bishops and to major be treated with respect, compassion and ual tendencies, Vatican sources said. superiors of religious orders. The bishop or sensitivity. However, since homosexual The Vatican also communicated to bish- major superior must arrive at a “morally ops and seminary officials that homosexu- certain judgment” on the candidate’s quali- als are not to be appointed as rectors or ties, it said. educators in seminaries. “In the case of a serious doubt in this Readers may “This is a logical consequence of the regard, he must not admit him to ordina- instruction, that those involved in forma- tion,” it said. share their tion of seminarians should have a personal The document also said seminary spiri- situation in conformity with the norms,” a tual directors have an important task in dis- Priests in Rome wait near the Vatican’s press Vatican official told Catholic News cerning the suitability of priesthood candi- office on Nov.