Vatican reaffirms opposition to gay priests

The Vatican has reiterated that gay people should be prevented from entering into a seminary, as their sexuality “gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women”.

In updated guidelines for those entering the priesthood entitled ‘The Gift of the Priestly Vocation’, it says of those with “homosexual tendencies”: “The Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture’.

“Such persons, in fact find themselves in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women. One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.”