In a document released this week, the
Vatican reiterated that gay men cannot be priests.
Titled The Gift of the Priestly
Vocation, the document covers many aspects of the priesthood.
It states that “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 people, the document says, are “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.”
The Vatican in 2005 issued a similar
pronouncement.
Francis DeBernardo, executive director
of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for LGBT rights in the Catholic
Church, told Religion
News that Pope Francis “has a lot of explaining to do by
approving the newest Vatican instruction.”
“Francis' famous 'Who am I to judge?'
statement in 2013 was made in response to a question about gay men in
the priesthood. That response indicated very plainly that he did not
have a problem with a gay priest's sexual orientation,” he added.
DeBernardo called on the pope to
retract the document.