Gay men in Italy can now become Roman Catholic priests, under new rules approved by the Vatican.
However, the guidelines bar men who have “deeply rooted homosexual tendencies” or support the “so-called gay culture” from becoming priests.
Thewill be in effect for a three year trial.
The Church will still maintain its official stance that homosexuality isand “contrary to the natural law”.
Here’s what you need to know.
Priests
The Vatican is the Roman Catholic Church’s governing body. It is responsible for overseeing the rules to enter the priesthood.
Only men are allowed to become priests.
To become Roman Catholic priests, men train at a ‘seminary’, and take a vow of celibacy prohibiting sex and marriage.
New rules
In November 2023, Italian bishops approved new guidelines for admitting priests to seminaries in the country.
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The Vatican adopted the new rules, which included a privision stating men can’t be rejected from becoming priests solely because they are gay.
The new rules were published over the weekend and have come into effect across Italian Churches for a three year trial.
The rules state that Italian seminaries shouldn’t treat homosexuality as “discernment alone”, meaning it can’t be the sole reason to reject someone from becoming a priest.
However, the guidelines prohibit any man who has “deeply rooted homosexual tendencies” and supporters of the “so-called gay culture” from training to enter the priesthood.
It also clearly references the vow of celibacy.
Pope Francis
The new rules come months after Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church,
The Vatican issued a rare apology on behalf of the pontiff after the incident, saying he “never intended to offend or to express himself in homophobic terms.”
In 2013, when asked about gay priests, Pope Francis said: “Who am I to judge?”
He has also approved non-marital blessings for same-sex couples.
