Plus, though I don’t particularly like defending the Catholic church, they don’t refuse membership to homosexuals or revoke the membership of couples who use birth control.
Even the claim that “[l]eadership positions are reserved to unmarried males” isn’t entirely correct, if ordinary priesthood is counted as a “leadership position.” Latin Rite Catholic priests indeed have to be celibate, but there are other Catholic rites that permit married men to become priests, and married priests of other Christian denominations who convert to Catholicism can be accepted without having to renounce either their priesthood or marriage (see here) for more detail). On the other hand, even in Eastern Catholic churches, bishops have to be celibate (just like among the Eastern Orthodox). An interesting question is what would happen if a married Anglican bishop converted to Catholicism; I don’t think this has ever happened, but it seems like it will soon.
Jack:
Even the claim that “[l]eadership positions are reserved to unmarried males” isn’t entirely correct, if ordinary priesthood is counted as a “leadership position.” Latin Rite Catholic priests indeed have to be celibate, but there are other Catholic rites that permit married men to become priests, and married priests of other Christian denominations who convert to Catholicism can be accepted without having to renounce either their priesthood or marriage (see here) for more detail). On the other hand, even in Eastern Catholic churches, bishops have to be celibate (just like among the Eastern Orthodox). An interesting question is what would happen if a married Anglican bishop converted to Catholicism; I don’t think this has ever happened, but it seems like it will soon.