Tend to be Gay? (Sod 'em)

From the BBC: The Vatican has published long-awaited guidelines which reaffirm that active homosexuals and "supporters of gay culture" may not become priests. But it treats homosexuality as a "tendency", not an orientation, and says those who have overcome it can begin training to take holy orders.

More Vatican news therefore. After the eradication of "limbo" we are now seeing a rewording of the Vatican policy on homosexuality. The Vatican refers to homosexuality as a "tendency" - you tend to be gay - which can be overcome. Under the new guidelines in fact, a person may be ordained a deacon after three years have passed since he "overcomes a transitory problem". Although sexual apostates would be allowed to proceed towards priesthood the document still reserves harsh words for the homosexual "sinner".

"If a candidate practises homosexuality, or presents deep-seated homosexual tendencies, his spiritual director as well as his confessor have the duty to dissuade him in conscience from proceeding towards ordination(...) Such persons in fact find themselves in a situation that presents a grave obstacle to a correct relationship with men and women." But the paper also stresses the Church's deep respect for homosexuals, who, it says, should by no means be discriminated against.

Canon law experts note that the new guidelines were not issued in forma specifica, meaning the Pope has not officially invested it with his personal authority, according to the National Catholic Reporter. That might mean there is room for further interpretation or revision in the future.

The times, they are a-changing. Slowly. very slowly. The last word, surely, must go to Chubby Checker....

Every limbo boy and girl

All around the limbo world

Gonna do the limbo rock

All around the limbo clock

Jack be limbo, Jack be quick

Jack go unda limbo stick

All around the limbo clock

Hey, let's do the limbo rock

Limbo lower now

Limbo lower now

How low can you go

First you spread your limbo feet

Then you move to limbo beat

Limbo ankolimboneee,

Bend back like a limbo tree

Jack be limbo, Jack be quick

Jack go unda limbo stick

All around the limbo clock

Hey, let's do the limbo rock

la la la etc (instead of instrumental break)

Get yourself a limbo girl

Give that chic a limbo whirl

There's a limbo moon above

You will fall in limbo love

Jack be limbo, Jack be quick

Jack go unda limbo stick

All around the limbo clock

Hey, let's do the limbo rock
Don't move that limbo bar

You'll be a limbo star

How low can you go?

Illustration: Sodom