New guidelines from the Italian Bishops’ Conference, approved by the Vatican, allow young homosexual men to train as Catholic priests in Italy, but with restrictions.
The document states that while homosexual men can attend seminaries, they must not practice homosexuality, have deeply rooted homosexual tendencies, or support “gay culture.”
The guidelines emphasize celibacy and chastity as central to priesthood training. Pope Francis has encouraged a more inclusive Church but still upholds the Church’s teaching that same-sex acts are “intrinsically disordered.”
Recently, he sparked controversy by using an offensive gay slur while expressing opposition to gay men entering seminaries.
