The full ambivalence of Pope Francis’ pastoral approach to the issue of homosexuality has come into view, first during his television interview with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, and now with the news that he told the Italian bishops’ conference that gay men should not be allowed to enter the seminary. Is this the same pope who, early Read more
Pope Francis has apologised for what has been taken as a vulgar, homophobic slur. He “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologises to those who felt offended” says Holy See press office chief Matteo Bruni. The remarks are at odds with the pope’s track record to date. He has Read more
A new book claims 80 percent of Vatican priests are gay – although not necessarily sexually active – and details how they adhere to an unspoken code of the “closet”. “Inside the Closet” will be released in eight languages across 20 countries next Wednesday – the same day as the Vatican conference on sexual abuse Read more
It is not surprising that Catholics are furious about the latest sex abuse crisis. It began, most recently, with accusations of abuse and harassment against the former cardinal-archbishop of Washington, D.C., Theodore McCarrick deepened with the Pennsylvania grand jury report detailing 70 years of abuse in the Commonwealth and, intensified with the former Vatican nuncio Read more
The Catholic Church is being rocked — again — by high-level sexual abuse scandals, with allegations in recent weeks surfacing in Chile, Honduras and the District, home to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a once-super-popular cleric who is facing accusations by five males of harassment or abuse. And again, people say they are shocked and outraged, which Read more
Forty gay priests and seminarians are implicated in a 1,200-page document claiming they used a male escort. The escort Francesco Mangiacapra gave the documents to Cardinal Cresenzio Sepe of Naples, who passed it on to the Vatican. The document is said to contain social media conversations and photos showing priests and seminarians are actively interested in Read more
Married gay priest Fr Bernard Lynch says he’s still ordained and Church is wrong in its attitudes to gay people. In an interview on Irish-channel Clare FM’s Morning Focus, Fr Lynch said the message of God is to love and to love one another. He said the Catholic Church “does terrible damage and it is Read more
The gay priest ban will continue. The Vatican has updated and reaffirmed its 2005 policy that “persons with homosexual tendencies” cannot be admitted to Catholic seminaries. Spiritual directors “must ‘dissuade’ gay candidates from pursuing ordination”. Pope Francis approved the current policy. It is included in a newly updated document The Gift of the Priestly Vocation Read more
Former Ireland president Mary McAleese, says the Catholic Church has been in denial over homosexuality for decades. That so many priests are gay, “isn’t so much the elephant in the room but a herd of elephants. “I don’t like my church’s attitude to gay people. I don’t like ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’. If Read more
The Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint against the Anglican Church over its decision to deny a gay man entry to the priesthood. The tribunal had been considering whether Geno Sisneros, of Auckland, was discriminated against when his application to train as a priest was turned down. Continue reading