Krzysztof Charamsa

Krzysztof Charamsa
Orders
Ordination 1997
Personal details
Birth name Krzysztof Charamsa
Born (1972-08-05) 5 August 1972
Nationality Polish
Denomination Catholic (Roman Rite)
Profession teacher

Krzysztof Olaf Charamsa (Polish pronunciation: [ˈkʂɨʂtɔf xaˈramsa]; born 5 August 1972) is a Polish theologian and suspended priest who was assistant secretary of the International Theological Commission of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Education and career

Born in Gdynia, Charamsa was ordained to the priesthood in 1997. He studied theology and philosophy from 1991 to 1993 in Pelplin in Poland and from 1993 to 1997 at the theological faculty of the University of Lugano in Switzerland. In 2002 he obtained a doctorate at the Pontifical Gregorian University. From 2004 he was teaching theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum and from 2009 at the Pontifical Gregorian University. From 2003 until 2015 he worked as a senior add at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith within the Vatican.[1] He has an important theological work published and was widely believed to be theologically conservative during his Vatican years.

Annoucement of homosexuality

Krzysztof Charamsa coming-out in Rome

In October 2015, on the day before the second round of the Synod on the Family, Charamsa stated publicly in Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that he is gay and has a consensual partner.[2] known only as Eduard.[3] Further Charamsa told a Guardian reporter that he hopes to marry his partner. A day before his coming-out in Rome, Charamsa has been part of an exclusive interview for Polish documentary movie "Article 18".[4] Polish media commented on his interview a great deal.[5][6]

I understand many people who say ‘we don’t need the institution of marriage. Our love is free’. I am not in this part of society. For me, [marriage] is part of the dynamic of love and I thank God that I live in a century where it’s possible, thanks to the homosexual movement and thanks to many homosexual martyrs.[7]

In his resignation letter to Pope Francis he thanked Francis for some of his words and gestures towards gay people. However, he criticised the Catholic Church for being "frequently violently homophobic" and "insensitive, unfair and brutal" towards people that are gay. This is despite the fact that he claimed there are significant numbers of gay men at all levels within the Church - including the cardinalate. He called for all statements from the Holy See that are offensive and violent against gay people to be withdrawn; citing Benedict XVI's signature of the 2005 document that forbids men with deep-rooted homosexual tendencies from becoming priests as particularly "diabolical".[8]

Charamsa wrote an open letter to Pope Francis accusing the Church of making life hell for millions of gay Catholics. Charamsa hopes Francis will understand the torment gay priests suffer.[9] Charamsa criticised the Bishop's Synod for restating stereotypes about gay people. He wants the Church to allow same-sex marriage for all Catholics and revise its teachings about gays. He said,

If the Church can’t make a serious, scientific reflection on homosexuality and include it in its teachings, even the Holy Father’s openings and warm words on gays are empty.[10]

Charamsa supports gay rights, approves of gay marriage and also supports mercy towards women who had abortions. Charamsa claims that priests with secure incomes and no family pressures cannot understand the pressures driving poor women to abortions.[7]

Dismissal

The Vatican immediately dismissed him from his post in the Holy See for having broken his vow of celibacy. He has been suspended under Canon 1333 forbidding him to carry out any sacraments and wear any clerical clothing.[11][12]

Writings

References

External links

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