Vatican City – The Vatican has approved new guidelines from Italian bishops permitting gay men to enter seminaries, provided they abstain from sexual activity.
This marks a notable shift in the Catholic Church’s approach to the admission of homosexual individuals into the priesthood.
The guidelines, published quietly on the Italian bishops’ conference website on Thursday, state that seminary directors should evaluate a candidate’s sexual orientation as part of a broader assessment of their personality.
“When referring to homosexual tendencies in the formation process, it is also appropriate not to reduce the discernment to this aspect alone, but … to understand its meaning within the whole framework of the young person’s personality,” the document states.
The Italian bishops confirmed they approved the guidelines in November, with the Vatican’s clergy office endorsing the measures for an initial three-year trial period.
This development contrasts with a 2016 Vatican instruction approved by Pope Francis, which barred men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” from entering seminaries. That directive was itself a reiteration of a 2005 document issued under Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, has been recognised for adopting a more inclusive stance toward the LGBTQ community, including allowing priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis.
Despite these efforts, homosexuality within the priesthood remains a contentious issue, with many gay priests reluctant to disclose their sexuality due to fear of backlash.
The Pope has emphasised the importance of rigorous screening for seminarian candidates and has previously urged priests involved in sexual relationships to leave the priesthood.
In 2022, Francis faced criticism after reportedly using a derogatory term for gay people during a closed-door discussion about homosexuality in seminaries, prompting an official apology from the Vatican.
This latest move reflects ongoing efforts by the Church to address complex issues surrounding sexuality and vocation while maintaining its doctrinal teachings.
The trial implementation period will likely influence future global policies on the matter.
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