The Vatican has given the inexperienced mild for homosexual males to change into monks – so long as they continue to be celibate.
In an surprising adjustment to apply within the Catholic Church, the brand new tips from Italian bishops will permit homosexual males to enter seminaries.
Though the Vatican had not explicitly prohibited homosexual males from getting into the priesthood previously, an instruction from 2016 barred males who’ve “deep-seated homosexual tendencies”.
The brand new tips, permitted by Italian bishops, say seminary administrators ought to contemplate a priestly candidate’s sexual preferences, however solely as one facet of their persona.
“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 rules say.
It isn’t clear if the brand new tips can be mirrored in different nations.
Pope Francis, who has been pontiff since 2013, has been seen by some as having taken a extra welcoming method in the direction of the LGBTQ+ group.
This has included permitting monks to bless same-sex {couples} on a case-by-case foundation – however the admittance of homosexual males into the priesthood has remained a taboo topic.
Pope Francis beforehand referred to as for cautious screening of seminarian candidates, and has previously sharply warned monks who pursue sexual relationships to depart the priesthood.
