February 13, 2025

Athens News

News in English from Greece

The Catholic Church allowed openly gay people to become priests, but under one condition (video)


The Vatican allowed gays to become priests if they remained celibate*.

Relevant recommendations transmits Reuters, approved by the Italian Bishops' Conference. According to the new rules, a potential priest's sexual preferences should be taken into account “as one aspect of his personality.”

The condition of celibacy remains; the requirement applies to all candidates for priesthood. According to the Italian bishops, the document was approved back in November 2024. Instructions entered into force for a three-year “trial period”.

It is worth noting that in the past the Vatican has not explicitly prohibited homosexuals from becoming priests. However, a 2016 manual stated that seminaries could not admit men “with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.”

*Celibacy – from the Latin word “unmarried” – is not the same as abstinence. In the precise sense of the word, this is a state when a person goes without sex his whole life. Abstinence may be temporary. It is also possible to abstain from sex while in a relationship.

Previously, the Pope supported same-sex civil unions:



Source link

Verified by MonsterInsights