…homosexuality intrinsically disordered -Catholism
The new guidelines released by the Italian Bishops’ Conference last week have given greenlight to the possibility of ordaining Catholic priesthood candidates who are gays.
Although, the conference’s new guidelines for the training of priests didn’t recommend openly that men who have overtly disclosed their gay status shouldn’t be barred from the priesthood, but it significantly did give a hint at the possibility.
According to a report captioned “Guidelines and norms for seminaries”, quoted by sections of the media globally, “When referring to homosexual tendencies, it’s also appropriate not to reduce discernment only to this aspect, but, as for every candidate, to grasp its meaning in the global framework of the young person’s personality”.
The Conference however, also went ahead to add that any gay priests must never have sex, as has always been the accepted norm for heterosexual priests.
As taught by the Catholic Church, our paper gathered, the homosexual individuals must be treated with dignity and respect, but in a somewhat contradiction, homosexual activities are “intrinsically disordered”.
The teachings also hold that men who “practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture” cannot be ordained as priests.
It is also the practice that all women remain barred from the Catholic priesthood, irrespective of their sexuality.
It would be recalled that in January 2023, Pope Francis had told the Associated Press during an interview that “being homosexual isn’t a crime”, a statement that drew the irk of many Catholic adherents across the non-gay prompting communities.
Also in 2023, Pope Francis had approved “blessings” for same-sex couples, insisting contradictorily that marriage could only be between a man and a woman.
But whilst Francis has been more supportive of the LGBTQ rights than any other pope, he has also used derogatory language about gay men.
In May the Pope said gay men should not be allowed to enter the priesthood as according to him, there was “frociaggine” in some of the seminaries.
Most pundits and commentators have condemned the new directive, describing it as a clear departure from biblical teachings and principles.
Some commentators have accused the Catholic look leadership of “unduly conforming to the world” against the biblical doctrines.
