Reader comments from www.advocate.com.

In the November 22 issued, we asked:

Is the Vatican's crackdown on gay priests in the United States a direct result of recent advances in LGBT equality?

Reader comments from www.advocate.com

* "It has always been in the works. That hatemongering new pope has been planning this for years. Oh, he'll blame the abuse problems on the gay priests, but we all know better. Sure, the Vatican is threatened by any advance in LGBT equality, but hey, we're here, we're queer, so he better get used to it!"

* "No, because according to the Vatican and the Catholic Church, we don't even exist. The recent crackdowns are nothing but the usual homophobia and perpetual church agenda."

* "Bay equality is the outside enemy that helps mobilize the religious base once again, and the Vatican is taking advantage of the opportunity and using gay priests as scapegoats."

* "We've become more visible. They have to reckon with us, either by acknowledging our equality or by launching an organized effort to deny our equality."

* "I don't think it's a direct result. I think the 'crackdown' is evidence of a great deal of misunderstanding, denial, and dysfunction inside the church hierarchy related to sexuality in general and to homosexuality in particular."

yes       60%
unsure     7%
no        33%

Note: Table made from pie chart.