The Vatican recently approved some guidelines for Italian seminaries allowing gay men to participate in training
The Vatican has approved new guidelines for Italian seminaries allowing gay men to enter the priestly formation process as long as they abstain from sexual relations. This change marks an adjustment in the Catholic Church’s policies regarding future priests.
Although the Vatican has never explicitly banned gay men from entering the priesthood, a 2016 instruction stated that seminaries could not admit candidates with “deeply rooted homosexual tendencies.”
The new guidelines, released on the Italian Bishops’ Conference website on January 9, suggest that a candidate’s sexual preferences should be considered, but only as a part of their personality. “When referring to homosexual tendencies in the formation process, it is also opportune not to reduce discernment just to this aspect, but to understand its meaning within the entire framework of the young person’s personality”, state the new guidelines.
Document approval
The document was approved by the Italian bishops in November and comes into force for a trial period of three years. The change occurs under the papacy of Franciscowhich has demonstrated a more welcoming stance towards the LGBTQ+ community, allowing priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis.
However, the admission of gay men to the priesthood remains a sensitive topic, with many gay priests fearful of discussing their sexuality. In 2016, the Pope Francisco also ratified an instruction that updated a decision to Benedict XVI on the subject.
Source: Maxima
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