As part of the recently announced rules, the Italian Bishops Conference (CIE) has authorized LGBT persons to serve as priests.
Gay men are allowed to enroll at Roman Catholic seminaries under these new regulations, as long as they pledge to live celibate lives.
The 2016 Vatican decree that dissuaded individuals with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” from pursuing the priesthood has been repealed by this latest adjustment in the rules, which allows gay men to enroll in seminaries.
Although the Vatican has not previously explicitly prohibited gay men from serving as priests, this action represents a shift in the Church’s attitude toward inclusivity.
“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 say.
