Pope Francis has affirmed the 2005 instruction which excludes homosexuals from priesthood. I’ve always regarded that Instruction as cynical, hypocritical and dishonest, but apparently we have to take it seriously. And so let’s get on with it. We should be able to exclude every gay bishop, priest and deacon from ministry within two years. By December 31, 2018, every bishop, deacon and priest in the world should be required to obtain a Certificate of Heterosexuality. The Certificate would be issued after a comprehensive examination by competent psychiatric and psychological experts. Every cleric who has faculties must be required to obtain the certificate, even married deacons and priests. (We know how sneaky the gays can be.)
I propose an over/under pool for the number of American bishops who would still be in office on Jan. 1, 2019. Set the point at 50; I’ll take the under. No good could come of this, of course, but at least the so-called culture-warrior bishops would be gone.