The Vatican's new guidelines allow gay men to become Catholic priests, provided they remain celibate. This shift, approved by Italian bishops, marks a departure from previous teachings. However, women remain excluded, and it remains unclear whether other countries will adopt the same policy.
In a significant shift in Catholic Church policy, the Vatican's new guidelines suggest that gay men can now pursue the priesthood, but only under the condition of celibacy.
Approved by Italian bishops, these guidelines allow openly gay men to enter seminaries, provided they refrain from engaging in sexual activity, a rule already applicable to heterosexual priests. While homosexual tendencies are acknowledged, the guidelines emphasize that a candidate's personality should be considered holistically during the evaluation process.
This change marks a departure from previous teachings that deemed homosexual behavior "intrinsically disordered" and prohibited men with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" from entering the priesthood. However, the new policy is yet to be seen in other countries, and women, regardless of their sexual orientation, remain excluded from the priesthood.
Pope Francis, who has previously expressed more inclusive views towards the LGBTQ+ community, notably stating that being homosexual is not a crime, has faced criticism for his stance. Despite his past comments on blessing same-sex couples, the topic of gay men entering the priesthood has remained contentious within the Church.
This shift in policy has sparked debate, with some applauding the move towards inclusivity, while others question its alignment with traditional Catholic teachings.
