The Vatican today formally released instructions that block active gay men from the priesthood, a long-anticipated document that has opened a divisive debate over how it will be applied and whether it will have a healing or detrimental effect on the &to=http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/363/16304_Bible.html' target=_blank>Roman Catholic Church.
Church conservatives applauded the document for taking a strong stance against what many see as an immoral "gay subculture" within seminaries and church life, and for establishing clearer restrictions on who is suitable to become a priest.
Liberals said they feared that the rules would be used to keep qualified men out of a depleted priesthood because of their sexual identity, even when celibate.
This is the first major instruction to be issued by &to=http://english.pravda.ru/world/2005/11/17/67849.html' target=_blank>Pope Benedict XVI, and the fact that it focused on homosexuality reflected the German pontiff's concern over morals he sees eroded by Western secular culture, reports Los Angeles Times.
Noting that the Church traditionally considers homosexual acts as "grave sins" because they are "intrinsically immoral and contrary to natural law", the Instruction reiterates the Church's ban on gays wishing to become priests.
"In light of such teachings ... it is necessary to state clearly 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 &to=http://english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/399/12940_.html' target=_blank>homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture'".
The document states that "unjust discrimination" towards gays "should be avoided" while Church officials note that the priesthood is a gift, not a right.
The document, which does not apply to already ordained priests, makes an exception in the case of men who whose homosexual tendencies are "the expression of a transitory problem" and states that such people may become priests if such tendencies are "clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate" - the last step before becoming a priest.
It does not explain how the "transitory problem" may be overcome or how a candidate can prove that he no longer has homosexual tendencies, but notes that it would be "gravely dishonest for a candidate to hide his own homosexuality", informs Expatica.
O.Ch.
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