The Italian Church marks a gesture of openness by authorizing the possibility of ordaining homosexual men, provided that they respect the commitment of chastity. This approach was ratified by a provisional document approved by the Vatican.
Homosexuality should not be an obstacle to priestly ordination in Italy. The Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) has just adopted a document approved by the Vatican which opens the door to the priesthood to openly homosexual men.
While emphasizing the importance of celibacy, these new rules therefore partially open the door of seminars to gays, unless they make their homosexuality a standard, effectively condemning them to hide their sexual orientation.
“Concerning people with homosexual tendencies who turn to the seminary or discover such a situation during their formation (…) the Church, while deeply respecting the people in question, cannot admit to the seminary or in priesthood those who practice homosexuality, exhibit deeply rooted homosexual tendencies, or support so-called gay culture,” the 68-page document states.
Signal fort
For Father Joël Pralong, author of a book on homosexuality in relation to the Church, this is a strong signal: “It is a way of breaking the taboo and hypocrisy, because We know very well that within the Church, there are priests with a heterosexual orientation, but also homosexual ones. And they are good priests who he calls, it depends on who he calls. not working of any sexuality.”
The Swiss Bishops’ Conference is not commenting on the decision taken by its Italian counterpart. But it specifies that the question of the homosexuality of a priest is not an issue and that it does not constitute a criterion for exclusion from ordination, as long as the requirement of chastity is respected.
But for queer associations in Switzerland, officially recognizing it would be an important step.
-“The symbol would indeed be very strong. And I truly think that Christians and Catholics in Switzerland are extremely open on the issue, more than one might imagine,” underlines Judith Matter, co-president of QueerVs.
Evolution of the institution
The fact remains that this decision by the Italian episcopate is a sign that the institution is evolving and that homosexuality is no longer only considered a sin.
“When we say that homosexuality is a sin, we have to be careful. What does that mean? Heterosexuality is also a sin if we harm others. The important thing is is the person who shatters any caricature.”
By opening its door to homosexual priests, the Italian Church considers that spiritual maturity and the vow of chastity take precedence over sexual orientation.
>> Details from Bernard Litzler, former director of Cath-Info media, in the 7:30 p.m.
Cedric Jordan/fgn
