goldbet Gay men can train as priests but don’t flaunt it – Italy Church
Pope Francis (R) looks at artists performing for the African circus “CircAfrica” during the weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on January 8, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
ROME, Italy — Young homosexual men can train to become Catholic priests in Italy but not if they “support the so-called gay culture,” according to new Church guidelines approved by the Vatican.
While stressing the need for celibacy, the guidelines from the Italian Bishops’ Conference — posted online on Thursday — open the door for gay men to attend seminaries, or divinity schools that train young men to become priests.
casino online paypal Article continues after this advertisementBut they came with a caveat — that those who flaunt their homosexuality should be barred.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION A surreal finish to Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial GLOBALNATION Ukraine says questioning POWs it claims are North Koreans GLOBALNATION PH to open 4 foreign missions in N. America, Asia Pacific in 2025A section of the 68-page guidelines was specifically directed at “persons with homosexual tendencies who approach seminaries, or who discover such a situation during their training.”
“The Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary and to Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture,” read the document.
Article continues after this advertisementThe goal of training priests-to-be is “the ability to accept as a gift, to freely choose and live chastity in celibacy.”
Article continues after this advertisementThe new guidelines have been approved by the Vatican, the bishops’ conference said in an accompanying statement.
Article continues after this advertisementPope Francis, 88, has throughout his papacy encouraged a more inclusive Church, including for LGBTQ Catholics, even though official church doctrine still states that same-sex acts are “intrinsically disordered.”
In 2013, just weeks after taking office, Francis famously said “if someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?”
Article continues after this advertisementIn June, however, the pope used a vulgar gay slur in a closed-door meeting with the Italian bishops, according to two Italian newspapers, setting off a minor firestorm.
The pope had expressed his opposition to gay men entering seminaries, saying there was already too much “frociaggine” in the schools — using an offensive Roman term that translated as “faggotry.”
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