Vatican extends welcome to gay priests
The Vatican has announced that homosexuals can join the priesthood as long as they remain celibate and do not promote “gay culture.” Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
A new directive from the Holy See dictates that homosexuals who wish to enter the priesthood must do so while remaining in the closet.
The Vatican has given approval for gay men to become priests as long as they adhere to celibacy and do not promote “gay culture," according to a directive released by the Italian Bishops Conference on Thursday.
This document, agreed upon by the CIE in November, was authorized by the Vatican and is set to be in effect for a trial period of three years.
It specifies that “persons with homosexual tendencies” who want to join the clergy must commit to celibacy, similar to their heterosexual counterparts. However, it also asserts that the Church “cannot admit to the Seminary and to Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture." The document states, “The aforementioned persons find themselves, in fact, in a situation that seriously hinders correct relationships with men and women.”
While the new guidelines offer a potential pathway for gay men into the priesthood, they do not diverge from the language of a 2016 order issued by Pope Francis, which prohibits men who “practice homosexuality, [and] show deeply rooted homosexual tendencies” from becoming priests.
Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has made a number of somewhat contradictory statements regarding homosexuality. When asked that year if he supported gay men joining the priesthood, he responded, “who am I to judge?” However, in 2018, he suggested that gay priests should avoid the Church, stating, “It’s better for them to leave the ministry or the consecrated life rather than to live a double life.”
Last year, the pontiff issued an apology after mentioning in an interview that there is too much “frociaggine” occurring in seminaries.
Although the Pope has not contradicted the catechism of the Catholic Church, which holds that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered,” he has made some concessions to the LGBT community, including a ruling in December 2023 that allows priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Vatican has given approval for gay men to become priests as long as they adhere to celibacy and do not promote “gay culture," according to a directive released by the Italian Bishops Conference on Thursday.
This document, agreed upon by the CIE in November, was authorized by the Vatican and is set to be in effect for a trial period of three years.
It specifies that “persons with homosexual tendencies” who want to join the clergy must commit to celibacy, similar to their heterosexual counterparts. However, it also asserts that the Church “cannot admit to the Seminary and to Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture." The document states, “The aforementioned persons find themselves, in fact, in a situation that seriously hinders correct relationships with men and women.”
While the new guidelines offer a potential pathway for gay men into the priesthood, they do not diverge from the language of a 2016 order issued by Pope Francis, which prohibits men who “practice homosexuality, [and] show deeply rooted homosexual tendencies” from becoming priests.
Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has made a number of somewhat contradictory statements regarding homosexuality. When asked that year if he supported gay men joining the priesthood, he responded, “who am I to judge?” However, in 2018, he suggested that gay priests should avoid the Church, stating, “It’s better for them to leave the ministry or the consecrated life rather than to live a double life.”
Last year, the pontiff issued an apology after mentioning in an interview that there is too much “frociaggine” occurring in seminaries.
Although the Pope has not contradicted the catechism of the Catholic Church, which holds that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered,” he has made some concessions to the LGBT community, including a ruling in December 2023 that allows priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
