Gay men may now pursue priesthood in the Catholic Church under new Vatican guidelines, provided they adhere to the Church’s celibacy requirement.
In a notable shift, guidelines approved by Italian bishops permit openly gay men to enter seminaries and train to become priests. However, like their heterosexual counterparts, they must commit to a life of celibacy.
The guidelines state: “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.”
It remains unclear whether these guidelines will be adopted in other countries. Historically, Church teachings have labeled homosexual acts as “intrinsically disordered.”
A 2016 instruction further stated that men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” could not become priests. However, the new guidelines suggest that a candidate’s sexual orientation should be considered as part of their overall personality during the application process.
Euronews reports the guidelines emphasize: “When referring to homosexual tendencies, it’s also appropriate not to reduce discernment only to this aspect, but, as for every candidate, to grasp its meaning in the global framework of the young person’s personality.”
Despite this development, women—regardless of their sexuality—remain barred from becoming priests. Additionally, only men are eligible to become Popes.
Pope Francis has faced criticism for adopting a more inclusive stance toward the LGBTQ+ community.
He has publicly stated, “Being a homosexual is not a crime,” and has instructed priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis. However, the issue of admitting gay men into the priesthood has largely remained a contentious and taboo topic.
