VATICAN ALLOWS GAY MEN TO BECOME PRIESTS IF THEY REMAIN CELIBATE

The Vatican has approved new guidelines permitting gay men to enter seminaries and become priests, provided they remain celibate. 

The updated policy, endorsed by Italian bishops, represents a softening of the 2016 instruction that discouraged men with ‘deep-seated homosexual tendencies’ from pursuing the priesthood. 

While the Church had not explicitly banned gay men from becoming priests, the earlier stance created significant barriers. The new guidelines advise seminary directors to consider a candidate’s sexual orientation as part of their broader personality rather than focusing solely on it. “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 document states. 

Pope Francis, known for his more inclusive approach since becoming pontiff in 2013, has shown increasing openness towards the LGBTQ+ community. This includes permitting priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis, signalling a gradual shift in the Church’s engagement with issues of sexuality.