Pope Backs Guidelines On Gay Priest Candidates

The Vatican has approved new guidelines from Italian bishops that allow gay men to enter seminaries, as long as they refrain from sexual activity in the seminaries and when they become priests.

This change marks a surprising shift in how the Catholic Church views potential future priests. While the Vatican had never outright banned gay men from becoming priests, a 2016 instruction had stated that seminaries should not accept men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies.”

The new guidelines were posted quietly on the Italian bishops’ conference website on Thursday. They suggest that seminary directors should consider a candidate’s sexual orientation, but only as one part of their overall character. The guidelines emphasize that when discussing homosexuality during the formation process, it’s important to view it in the context of the person’s entire personality.

The document was approved by the Italian bishops in November. It also includes a note from the Vatican’s clergy office, confirming that the guidelines will be in effect for a three-year trial period.

Pope Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, has been recognized for his more inclusive stance towards the LGBTQ community. He has even allowed priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis. However, the issue of gay men entering the priesthood has remained a sensitive and controversial topic. Many gay priests feel uneasy about discussing their sexuality openly.

In 2016, Pope Francis approved an instruction that echoed a similar document from Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. This instruction called for careful evaluation of seminary candidates and strongly urged that priests who engage in sexual relationships should leave the priesthood.

Last year, Pope Francis reportedly used a derogatory term when talking about homosexuality in seminaries during a private meeting. Following this, the Vatican issued a rare apology on the pope’s behalf.

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