"Pure Gay Men Enter Catholic Seminary"... Vatican Issues Guidelines

New Guidelines Announced... Valid for a Three-Year Trial Period
"Cannot Enter if Engaging in Homosexual Acts or Having Strong Homosexual Tendencies"

The Vatican has approved new guidelines stating that celibate homosexual men who abstain from sexual relations can enter seminaries to receive Catholic priest education.

According to foreign media reports on the 12th, the Italian Bishops' Conference posted these Vatican guidelines on its website on the 9th (local time). The guidelines state that homosexual men can enter seminaries that train priests. Seminary officials are required to consider the sexual orientation of priest candidates, but only as one aspect of their human character. However, men who openly display homosexual tendencies must be excluded from priestly education.

Pope Francis. Yonhap News

The guidelines clearly state, "While the Church highly respects such individuals (homosexual men), those who engage in homosexual acts, exhibit strong homosexual tendencies, or support so-called 'gay culture' cannot be accepted into seminaries or the priesthood."

Until now, the Vatican has not explicitly prohibited homosexual men from entering the priesthood. However, the 2016 guidelines stated that seminaries could not admit men with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies." The Italian Bishops' Conference explained that the new guidelines have been approved by the Vatican. The new guidelines will be valid for a three-year trial period. The New York Times (NYT) predicted that bishops' conferences in some countries where homosexuality is taboo are unlikely to accept these guidelines.

Pope Francis, regarded as the most progressive pope in history, has shown an inclusive attitude toward sexual minorities (LGBTQ) several times since his inauguration in 2013 and has officially approved blessings for same-sex couples. However, last year, he became embroiled in controversy over homophobic remarks after reportedly using the derogatory term "frociaggine" to refer to homosexual men during a private meeting with the Italian bishops.

At that time, the Italian media outlet Corriere della Sera reported that the Pope said, "A bishop came to me and said, 'There are too many frociaggine in the Vatican,'" and added, "Young men with homosexual tendencies are good friends, but I think it is better that they do not enter seminaries." As the controversy grew, the Vatican issued an unusual apology, explaining, "There was absolutely no intention to cause offense."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.