By Barbara Ellington, Senior Gleaner Writer
SEVENTY-FIVE-year-old the Rev. Michael Kelly was born in Tullamore, Ireland and it is not surprising that he became a Jesuit priest, considering his homeland is known for its strong spiritual connections. Two of his six siblings are also in the holy order - and having embarked
on a path of service to God, he has dedicated his life to educational training.
Resident in Zambia for over 50 years, Rev. Kelly who is now retired was recently in Jamaica to receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of the West Indies, for his work in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In an interview with The Gleaner, he shared his views on gay marriage, the sex abuse scandal that rocked the religious community and celibacy.
THE GLEANER: That whole business of celibacy seems highly overrated given the number of times we hear of sexual scandals involving priests, explain how you cope with it.
KELLY: The scriptures say there are some who are eunuchs because they have been made eunuchs by human beings, some choose to be and some have it thrust upon them. It has been easy for me because I pray daily for strength and you can't miss something you never had.
THE GLEANER: In his two books 'Angela's Ashes' and the sequel 'Tis', Irish author Frank McCourt paints a graphic picture of the almost painful memories of growing up Catholic and the rigid treatment of the priests at school and the strict upbringing of the poor little Irish lads, I would think anyone growing up under such tyranny, would want to escape from rather than embrace the church fully, yet three members of your family are priests, do you regret taking this path?
KELLY: You can't escape from your mother, not fully, you live in accordance with the values she taught you. You see celibacy from outside but we see it from inside.
THE GLEANER: Having been raised a devout Catholic, did you rise through the ranks from altar boy to priest?
KELLY: I went straight into the Jesuits after school
THE GLEANER: Was yours a response to a divine call?
KELLY: No, I was interacting with and impressed with the priests as a young boy. But my first contact was at the butcher's shop one day with my mother and she pointed out a piece she'd like because it looked good but the butcher said she could not have it because it was for the Jesuits. That was the first time I heard the word (Jesuit).
THE GLEANER: So you entered the order for the meat?
KELLY: No, they had a house of training nearby and I became impressed by their universality. They were not confined to one area, they did well everywhere and my brother was an engineer and he gave that up and became a Jesuit. It's not a divine call, you look at yourself and your future and how you would like to fulfil yourself in life and that was a possible way to do so.
THE GLEANER: So why not go into ministerial work,- you confined yourself to education. And, what was your reaction to the big scandal with the priests and their molestation of boys and girls in the church? How did that make you feel and what was your response knowing that all these years you have had close contact with young people too?
KELLY: I was saddened that they abused the trust of children and that it was tarnishing all of us. I was saddened that the authorities in the church did not seem to make an adequate response to it; they waffled along a great deal. It's human to make mistakes. But it happens with AIDS too, the correct response is not being taken in most instances, so because it was something that affected our ideals, it affected us deeply.
THE GLEANER: What then is your response to the other big issue under debate now and that is gays in the work and service of Anglican and other churches?. Can they be true servants and followers yet practise something deemed sinful by Christians?
KELLY: This disease AIDS is forcing us to examine the whole issue of sexual orientation and because of it, we are recognising (possibly for the first time), that there is a high percentage of men and women whose sexual orientation is towards the same sex.
Recognition does not mean sanctioning practice. It means we have to re-examine our approaches and philosophies, so they can live fully satisfactory human lives to the best of their ability. Does that mean I sanction gay marriages? No, I don't know enough about it, I would have to do more research.
I know there are certain guidelines about the family structure and I come from a stable family background and 'normal' lifestyle. I don't mean others are abnormal, I mean customary relationships.
THE GLEANER: These issues have made us so politically correct, 20 years ago no one would hesitate
to say heterosexuals are normal and homosexuals are abnormal, but these days we have become so careful about terminologies and labels.
KELLY: We have to be because terminologies express the way we think and we must think correctly,
my language must be inclusive.
THE GLEANER: So, you haven't come to a conclusion as to whether gay marriages should be accommodated/legalised or whether gay priests should be allowed in the church or is there such a thing as a gay priest? Can you be gay and a servant of God (as Christians have come to understand the meaning of the word)?
KELLY: Of course they can.
THE GLEANER: So you would not consider being gay a sin?
KELLY: No, but being a
practising homosexual, having sexual activity with someone of the same sex, I would consider a sin.
THE GLEANER:
Fine line, Rev. Kelly
KELLY: Yes but a very important line. Having an attraction to somebody, and giving expression to it, I don't see as necessarily a problem, but I don't have a problem with a gay priest provided he's not a practising homosexual.
THE GLEANER: In normal
relationships, when you are
physically attracted to someone,
you fall in love, the sex act follows
as a natural progression of the
long-term attraction, not in platonic but intimate friendships, so if that happens between two people of the same sex, isn't it wrong?
KELLY: I don't think it is, if it's friendship only. But once sex comes in, it's wrong, that's where I draw the line. But as a priest or anyone in
service who knows of someone's
orientation in that way, but who
is able to live responsibly and
understand that they can't go further with a certain direction; there is
nothing to suggest they can't be
generous, inspiring and helpful and there is room in the world for them.
We have categorised them too early and assumed that if there is a bond between two men or women, it will express itself sexually, and I don't think so.
THE GLEANER: So you don't think anything should prevent a gay person from becoming a priest?
KELLY: The individual has to make that decision and the receiving /ordaining authority has to make
the decision that in this person's
circumstances, he is of such quality that it will not develop into a sexual situation. If that's the case, why can't he be accepted as a priest like the
heterosexual who remains celibate.
THE GLEANER: In all your
years as a Jesuit did you have any regrets re the choice of celibacy
and other vows?
KELLY: No regrets, I have been grateful to be able to go this route
THE GLEANER: So, where do you see your work now and what else would you like to achieve?
KELLY: At my age, a quick
route to the grave (he laughs), I
want to keep going till I drop and continue my work on booklets
related to HIV/AIDS education, in collaboration with other professionals.
THE GLEANER: Do you want
to be buried in Africa?
KELLY: Yes, no question about it,
my brother is there too.
