15. Can I join a religious
community if I am LGBT?
Of primary concern is your ability
to live a celibate life in a healthy,
joyful, productive way. Religious
communities want incoming members to be mature and what psychologists call “sexually integrated.”
Most communities desire that their
members accept and embrace their
sexual identity and orientation as
a foundation for living the vow of
chastity.
16. Can I still be a priest, sister,
or brother if I have personal
debts?
Usually dioceses and religious
congregations require applicants
to resolve any personal debts or li-
abilities before entering a formation
program. Many, however, will make
exceptions for student loans and
will have specific policies regarding
a plan for fair and just payment. If
someone has a history of excessive
spending and accumulated personal
debts, especially credit card-related,
the person is usually asked to con-
sider seriously his or her ability to
live a life of simplicity inherent to a
religious vocation.
17. Why do some of you wear
religious clothes while others
don’t?
Those of us who wear habits or
clerical collars do so for various
reasons. One is that religious dress
is a sign that may be instantly recognized as a symbol of faith in God
and commitment to Christianity.
Another frequent rationale is that
religious clothing is simple dress
and therefore a way to live out the
vow of poverty. A sister, brother,
or priest who wears religious garb
may own a few changes of clothing
and be free of the expense of a more
contemporary wardrobe.
Some of us wear street clothes,
preferring to make our lifestyle,
rather than our clothing, our main
outward sign of faith. Some of us
feel religious clothing creates a
barrier between ourselves and others. Furthermore, those who have
discontinued wearing habits often
say the original reason for them was
to wear the dress of the common
people, and street clothes are now
the common people’s dress. =
RELATED ARTICLE:
VocationNetwork.org, “Why I’m giving
religious life a try.”
Learn more about #024 at VocationNetwork.org
CSSJ
www.cssjlife.org
Join Our Mission!
Sisters of Saint Joseph
... a d e si retoLOVEGODand NEIGHBORwithoutdistinctio n . . .b e c o m e m ore...serve m ore...lo v e m ore...
