‘Catholic Document on Priests and “Gay Culture”‘

In your article on the new Vatican document on candidates for the priesthood, the Reverend Charles Curran interprets the document to mean homosexuals can be ordained as long as they are celibate [“Catholic Document on Priests and ‘Gay Culture’ Stirs a Debate,” Meghan Clyne, Page 1, November 23, 2005].

The document does not say that. It does say that individuals who have had homosexual tendencies of a transitory nature, as in a not-yet completed adolescence, have to show that these tendencies have been clearly overcome for at least three years before ordination to the diaconate.

For the tendencies to be overcome means that the homosexual tendencies were in fact transitory and are gone. It does not mean simply remaining celibate.

Moreover in footnote No.10, the May 16, 2002, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments letter (www.adoremus.org/Notitiae-Ordination.html) is cited as authoritative. This letter says that a homosexual person, or one with a homosexual tendency, should not be ordained.

FR. LEONARD F. VILLA
Yonkers, N.Y.

‘Ferrer Appeals to Supporters’

“Ferrer Appeals to Supporters to Help Pay Off Campaign Debt” reminded me why the former president of the Bronx, Fernando Ferrer, should look in the mirror to understand why he lost so badly and ended up with such a huge financial campaign deficit [Jill Gardiner, New York, November 29, 2005].

Mayor Bloomberg won a second term, overcoming a 5-to-1 Democratic enrollment edge. Perhaps he forgot the results from the September mayoral primary. Out of 2,600,000 registered Democrats, Mr. Ferrer only received 7%, or 182,273 votes. Eighty-five percent, or 2,142,141 out of 2,600,000 Democrats, voted for “None of the Above” by staying home.

The small remaining balance was divided by his three major opponents. This was not a resounding mandate to carry the Democratic Party banner into the general election.

A former governor, Mario Cuomo, Senators Schumer and Clinton, President Clinton, Attorney General Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Silver, along with the New York County and state Democratic chairman, Herman (“Denny”) Farrell, each have a Rolodex with thousands of campaign contributors.

All of these veteran politicians knew many people who would have had no problem contributing the maximum $2,750 allowed. Imagine if they had worked the phones soliciting donations from their own regular campaign donors for Mr. Ferrer.

Had they all each hosted an event with 1,000 of their closest supporters contributing $2,750 each, Mr. Ferrer could have easily raised $16.5 million.

Unfortunately for Mr. Ferrer, his so-called friends had other priorities. Mr. Cuomo is raising funds for his son Andrew Cuomo’s 2006 attorney general race. Mr. Schumer, as for the Democratic National Senate Campaign, is working to regain control of the Senate in 2006 and for his own 2010 re-election.

Mrs. Clinton has her 2006 reelection and presidential dreams for 2008. Mr. Clinton wants whatever Mrs. Clinton desires. Mr. Spitzer has his 2006 governor’s race. Mr. Silver hopes to expand his iron grip on the State Assembly. Mr. Farrell has other local and statewide Democratic campaigns to support. They all talked the talk but failed to walk the walk for Mr. Ferrer.

All 13 Democratic New York City Congress members, including Charles Rangel and Jerrold Nadler, have gerrymandered districts. Neither Messrs. Rangel, and Nadler, nor any of their colleagues, raised any significant funds for Mr. Ferrer. They could have easily found 100 supporters to kick in $1,000 each.

Virtually all 25 Democratic State Senators and 59 Assembly members also have gerrymandered districts that guarantee reelection for life. They seldom face a real Republican opponent. Any of them could easily find 100 supporters to kick in $100 each.

Too bad that virtually all of Mr. Ferrer’s so-called friends had “fish hooks” when it came to tapping into their own financial base.

Numerous Democratic City Council members, borough presidents, State Assembly members, State Senators and other public officials openly abandoned Mr. Ferrer’s sinking ship and came out publicly for Mr. Bloomberg.

Many other Democratic elected officials, while endorsing Mr. Ferrer on paper, stayed home. They didn’t lift a finger for any get-out-the-vote efforts.

LAWRENCE PENNER
Great Neck, N.Y.

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