Roman Catholic seminaries will allow gay men to train as priests. Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) made the announcement on January 19, 2024.
In the new guidelines, CEI said gays will be allowed to become priests, but they must adhere to Catholic doctrine that holds that non-practising homosexuals are not sinners.
Therefore, CEI explained that those admitted to the priesthood must observe celibacy and refrain from promoting gay culture as per the doctrine.
The CIE approved the document in November 2024, and it was published with Vatican authorization. It will be effective for a three-year trial period.
Therefore, there will not be a barrier to homosexuals as such but to those who practice homosexual acts.
“To be admitted to the seminary, one must show from the beginning ‘an orientation towards celibate life’, the CEI guide said.
Catholic Church Will Not Train Men Practicing Homosexual
However, the document states that the Church “cannot admit to the Seminary or Holy Orders individuals who practice homosexuality, display deeply rooted homosexual tendencies, or advocate for the so-called gay culture.
“The aforementioned persons find themselves, in fact, in a situation that seriously hinders correct relationships with men and women,” it states.
According to CIE, when reference is made to homosexual tendencies it is appropriate not to reduce discernment to this aspect alone.
The Conference said the objective of the formation of the candidate for the priesthood in the affective-sexual sphere is the ability to accept as a gift, to freely choose and to live responsibly in chastity in celibacy.
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Pope Francis Comment on LGBTQ
Pope Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, is known for adopting a more inclusive approach toward the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community.
“If somebody is homosexual and is trying to find the Lord and has good will, then who am I to gauge him?” Francis said weeks after taking over in 2013.
Also Read: Catholic Bishops Clarify Pope’s Stance on Same-Sex Marriage
Blessing of Same Sex Couples
In December 2023, he allowed priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis so long as they do not appear to endorse their marriage.
This marked a significant shift for the Vatican, which had declared just two years earlier, in a controversial 2021 decision, that God “cannot bless sin” in reference to same-sex couples.
However, he maintained that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman.
Francis also stressed that priests offering blessings to same-sex couples must “avoid any form of confusion or scandal” that might imply otherwise.
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