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Survey of AIDS Infection among Priests Shocks U.S. Catholics


From PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>
Date 09 Feb 2000 20:11:23

9-February-2000 
00064 
 
    Survey of AIDS Infection among Priests Shocks U.S. Catholics 
 
    Death rate among priests higher than national average, poll finds 
 
    by Cheryl Heckler-Feltz 
    Ecumenical News International 
 
NEW YORK - A survey of Roman Catholic priests by a newspaper, the "Kansas 
City Star," has stunned many American Catholics with its finding that 
priests are dying of AIDS at a much higher rate than the average U.S. 
population. 
 
    The survey results - implying that a significant number of priests are 
gay and not celibate - have prompted anger by some Catholics at "wayward 
clergy," while others are pleading with the church and its members to be 
more tolerant about the sexual orientation of those who serve the church. 
 
    The Star posted the random, confidential survey to 3,000 priests late 
last year, and 801 -  or 27 percent - responded.  The results showed that: 
 
    * Seven respondents - about 1 in 114 - said they either had HIV or AIDS 
or might have but had not been tested.  This would translate into about 400 
priests nation-wide.  In the general U.S. population, the average is 
between 1 in 300 and 1 in 420, according to the Center for Disease Control 
in Atlanta, Georgia.  (The National Catholic AIDS Network, established in 
1989 to minister to those who suffer from HIV/AIDS, supports the survey's 
projected estimate.) 
 
    * Six of 10 respondents said they knew at least one priest who had died 
of an AIDS-related illness. 
 
    * One-third of those surveyed knew a priest currently living with AIDS. 
 
    * Three-quarters of those responding described themselves as 
heterosexual, 15 per cent said they were homosexual and 5 percent bisexual. 
The remainder declined to categorize themselves.  By contrast, in the 
general population an estimated 5 to 10 percent are homosexual. 
 
    * Two-thirds of the respondents said that sexuality either was not 
addressed at all or not addressed enough in their theological training. 
 
    The survey also asked priests to describe the church's response in 
ministering to priests with HIV or AIDS.  Sixty-five per cent said the 
church had been caring and compassionate. Twelve percent said the church 
took care of only the priests' basic needs.  Two per cent said the church 
ignored priests, and another two percent said the church was judgemental 
and uncaring. 
 
    According to the Star's survey, 14 per cent of respondents said 
changing church doctrine on homosexuality would be extremely effective. 
However, more than half the respondents said changing the doctrine would 
not be effective at all. 
 
    Fifteen per cent said that eliminating the church's celibacy 
requirement would be extremely effective.  More than half, however, said 
eliminating celibacy would not be at all effective. 
 
    In releasing its survey results, the "Kansas City Star" also featured 
an article about Thom Savage, a popular Jesuit and college president, who 
died in May 1999 of an AIDS-related illness. 
 
    "In 1988, when he was chosen to lead Rockhurst College at age 41, 
Savage was the nation's youngest Jesuit college president," Star reporter 
Judy L. Thomas wrote.  "Over the next eight years, he became a highly 
respected community leader."  Savage kept his illness a secret even from 
his own family until just weeks before his death. 
 
    "As Savage's death illustrates, a priest with AIDS is still a matter so 
sensitive that it has yet to be fully addressed by the church, by priests' 
families - or even by the priests themselves," Thomas wrote.  When Savage 
died, Rockhurst College released a statement saying he had died of severe 
respiratory problems.  The death certificate, however, said his death was 
linked to AIDS. 
 
    Neither the Vatican nor the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 
Washington D.C. has commented on the survey. 
 
    But Thomas Gumbleton, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit 
told the "Kansas City Star" that the situation was "depressing.  The 
bishops just won't face the fact that there's a problem and that they 
should be doing something." 
 
    Tom Roberts, managing editor of a leading religious newspaper, the 
"National Catholic Reporter," based in Kansas City, told ENI: "The church 
knows there is a significant gay population among the clergy.  Most of them 
are wonderful ministers.  The church also knows some are sexually active. 
It refuses to engage in any significant discussion about sexuality.  It 
labels gays, and then stands in wonder when people are fascinated by 
reports of priests with AIDS." 

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