The Vatican has approved the ordination of gay men as priests, provided they commit to celibacy.
In a notable shift in Catholic Church practice, Italian bishops have introduced new guidelines allowing gay men to join seminaries, as reported by Sky News.
Although the Vatican never explicitly banned gay men from the priesthood, a 2016 directive barred those with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” from being ordained. Under the new guidelines, seminary directors are advised to consider a candidate’s sexual orientation as one part of their overall character evaluation.
“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 guidelines say.
It is unclear if these new guidelines will be implemented in other countries.
Since his papacy began in 2013, Pope Francis has been viewed by some as taking a more inclusive approach toward the LGBTQ+ community, including allowing priests to bless same-sex couples in certain situations. However, the ordination of gay men has largely remained a sensitive and rarely addressed issue.
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