The guidelines emphasise that sexual orientation should not be the sole factor in evaluating a candidate’s suitability for the priesthood.
“If a candidate remains chaste, his sexual orientation should not disqualify him from entering the priesthood,” the Vatican document stated.
Seminary directors are encouraged to consider homosexuality as just one part of a candidate’s personality and to assess it within the context of their overall character and vocation.
The guidelines mark a significant clarification on an issue that has sparked debate within the Catholic Church for decades.
They reaffirm the Church’s position that celibacy remains a non-negotiable requirement for all priests but move towards a more inclusive perspective by addressing the treatment of gay candidates.
The Vatican’s decision follows years of criticism over its handling of LGBTQ+ issues, including remarks made by Pope Francis at a May 2024 conference.
During the meeting, the Pope firmly rejected the idea of allowing gay men into the Church, stating that seminaries were already “too full of frociaggine,” a derogatory Italian term roughly translated as “gay behaviour.”
According to the New York Times, Rev. James Martin, a prominent advocate for a more inclusive Church, said, “This is the first time I’ve seen a Vatican-approved document suggest that the discernment of whether a gay man may enter the seminary cannot be based solely on his sexual orientation.”
