Vatican shifts stance: Italian seminaries open to celibate gays
The Vatican has approved new guidelines for Italian bishops, allowing homosexual individuals to enter the seminary on the condition that they refrain from sexual relations. The document was posted on the website of the Italian episcopate.
This marks a significant change in the Church's approach. Previously, Benedict XVI explicitly prohibited the admission of individuals with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" to the seminary.
This position was confirmed by Pope Francis in 2018 during a meeting with Italian bishops, where he instructed them to "vet carefully applicants to the priesthood and reject anyone they suspected might be homosexual."
New guidelines in Italy
The new guidelines on the Italian episcopate's website state that seminary leaders should consider the sexual orientation of candidates for the priesthood but only as one aspect of their personality. They cannot admit individuals who "practice homosexuality" to the seminaries.
"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 document was approved by the bishops in November 2024 and is being introduced on a trial basis for three years.
Revolution in the Vatican's approach
This is a significant change in the Vatican's approach. Previously, at the beginning of his pontificate, Benedict XVI issued explicit instructions prohibiting such individuals from being admitted to seminaries; this was reaffirmed by Francis with an update in 2016. During a closed meeting with bishops, the Pope reportedly made derogatory comments about homosexual individuals, for which the Vatican later apologized.
On the other hand, it was Francis who allowed priests to bless homosexual couples in certain cases.
