The Vatican has reportedly approved new guidelines allowing gay men to enter seminaries and become priests, provided they commit to celibacy.
Issued by Italian bishops, these guidelines represent a shift from the 2016 instruction, which discouraged individuals with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” from pursuing the priesthood.
The updated directives encourage seminary directors to consider a candidate’s sexual orientation as one aspect of their broader 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 guidelines state.
The Vatican has not explicitly banned gay men from the priesthood in the past, but the 2016 instruction had effectively created a barrier.
Pope Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, has previously supported blessings for same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis and has been viewed by some as having taken a more welcoming approach toward the LGBTQ+ community.
However, the question of admitting gay men into the priesthood has remained a sensitive and taboo topic.
While the new guidelines apply specifically to Italy, it remains unclear whether they will influence policies in other countries.
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