The Vatican has announced new guidelines for gay men hoping to become priests, a switch from previously held beliefs expressed by Pope Francis that gay men were not fit for priesthood.
In a press release from the Italian Bishops Conference, the Vatican made it clear that it’s fine for those studying for priesthood – or seminarians – to be gay so long as they don’t act gay, engage in sexual relations, or support the “gay lifestyle.”
The document emphasizes the importance of celibacy. “The objective of the training for priesthood in the emotional-sexual sphere is the ability [to] welcome chastity in celibacy as a gift, to freely choose and to responsibly live it.”
The guidelines announced by the Italian Bishops Conference (CIE) mark a change from views previously expressed by Pope Francis that gay men serving in the priesthood risked leading a double life.
“Chastity is freedom from possession in all areas of life. Only when a love is chaste is it truly love. Love that wants to possess, in the end always becomes dangerous, imprisons, suffocates, makes unhappy,” the document says.
During his papal term, Pope Francis has been making strides toward greater LGBTQ+ tolerance and acceptance in the Catholic church with various changes being made over the past year to attain a more “pastoral” approach. Late last year, Pope Francis approved the blessings of same-sex marriage across the Roman Catholic global denomination and denounced Uganda’s draconian “Kill the Gays” law.
A rush of backlash from conservative parishes around the world followed the Pope’s decision to bless same-sex marriages. Despite this, Pope Francis maintains that he made the right choice, and warned those who disagree with it that their ‘hypocrisy’ is showing,” according to Pink News.
Last year the United Methodist Church reversed their ban on practicing gay clergy as well.
