The Catholic Church has reaffirmed its long-standing position prohibiting homosexual men from joining the priesthood, with Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow dismissing recent media reports as misleading.
Speaking to Kommersant on Monday, Archbishop Pezzi addressed confusion surrounding updated guidelines for priestly formation released by the Italian Bishops Conference (CIE) earlier this month. The directive, which emphasized evaluating a candidate’s sexual preferences as part of their overall personality, had been interpreted by some media outlets, including Reuters, as signaling a shift in the Vatican’s stance on ordaining gay men.
However, Pezzi firmly rejected such interpretations, stating, “First and foremost, it must be clearly stated that the information repeated by numerous news agencies following Reuters is not accurate.” He clarified that the Church’s position on homosexuality and Holy Orders remains unchanged.
The guidelines, published by the CIE on January 9, addressed homosexuality under Point 44, directing seminary directors to assess a candidate’s sexual preferences as just one element of their personality. Some media reports construed this as an indication of a relaxation in Church policies.
Archbishop Pezzi, however, stressed that the amendments do not represent any departure from traditional teachings. “The Church cannot admit to the seminary and to Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture,” he said, citing the document directly.
He argued that the media’s portrayal of the guidelines had created a false narrative, leading to the erroneous conclusion that the Church’s teachings had fundamentally changed. Instead, the guidelines reinforce the Church’s established doctrine, which regards homosexual acts as “a grave form of depravity” according to the Catholic catechism.
The Catholic Church views “homosexual tendencies” as an example of human frailty that can be “healed through a return to God,” according to Pezzi. He emphasized the need to avoid unjust discrimination against individuals with such tendencies, framing them as no different from others who face sinful temptations in life.
While the Church maintains its teaching that homosexual acts are inherently sinful, Pezzi noted that people with same-sex attractions are to be treated with dignity and respect.
The controversy over the guidelines comes amidst years of seemingly contradictory statements by Pope Francis on homosexuality within the Church. In 2013, Francis made headlines by saying, “Who am I to judge?” in response to a question about gay men in the priesthood. However, in 2018, the Pope suggested that gay priests should step away from ministry, remarking, “It’s better for them to leave the ministry or the consecrated life than to live a double life.”
The latest clarification by Archbishop Pezzi underscores the Church’s commitment to its traditional teachings, even as debates over inclusivity and modern interpretations of doctrine continue within and outside the Catholic community.
