The Catholic Church signals potential change in stance on ordaining openly gay men while maintaining celibacy requirements.
New Seminary Guidelines Emphasize Holistic Evaluation
The Italian Bishops’ Conference released updated guidelines for priestly formation, hinting at a more inclusive approach toward openly gay candidates. The report, Guidelines and Norms for Seminaries, advises against focusing solely on a candidate’s sexual orientation, emphasizing a broader assessment of their personality and suitability.
Despite this shift, the guidelines reaffirm that all priests, regardless of orientation, must adhere to a vow of celibacy.
Evolving but Complex Relationship with LGBTQ Community
The Catholic Church has long maintained that homosexual people deserve dignity and respect, yet it considers homosexual acts “intrinsically disordered.” Officially, men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” or those promoting “gay culture” are barred from ordination.
Pope Francis has adopted a more progressive tone, declaring in January 2023 that “being homosexual isn’t a crime.” He later approved blessings for same-sex couples while upholding the Church’s definition of marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman.
Controversy Over Papal Remarks
Despite his more inclusive stance, Pope Francis has faced criticism for controversial language. In May 2023, he referred to “frociaggine” in seminaries, a term translating to the homophobic slur “faggotry.”
These new guidelines reflect a potential shift in the Church’s approach but highlight ongoing tensions between traditional doctrine and modern calls for inclusivity.