Italy allows gay men to become priests in new guideline

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

The new guidelines issued by Italian bishops mark a departure from the 2016 instruction that discouraged candidates with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” from entering the priesthood.

The new directives encourage seminary directors to evaluate a candidate’s sexual orientation as just one part of their overall personality.

“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 guidelines state.

The Vatican has not explicitly banned gay men from the priesthood in the past, but the 2016 instruction had effectively created a barrier.

Pope Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, has previously supported blessings for same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis and has been viewed by some as having taken a more welcoming approach toward the LGBTQ+ community.

However, the question of admitting gay men into the priesthood has remained a sensitive and taboo topic.

While the new guidelines apply specifically to Italy, it remains unclear whether they will influence policies in other countries.