Theologian Calls Italian Policy Admitting Gay Seminarians “Revolutionary.” Others, Not So Much.

Amidst contrasting narratives over Italy’s new seminary guidelines for gay candidates, German theologian Markus Krienke is hailing  the document as “revolutionary.” 

Earlier this month, Italian bishops released new directives concerning seminary candidates which stated that discernment of a seminary candidate should not be based on sexuality (or “homosexual tendencies”) alone and that–just as for heterosexual candidates–”an orientation toward celibate life” is what will be required of gay candidates. For theologian Markus Krienke, this is a potentially groundbreaking change. “This is more revolutionary in the Church than those who want to claim that nothing has actually happened,” he stated, as reported via Google Translate in Katholisch.de.

According to Katholisch.de:

“Krienke stressed that the interpretation that gay men could now be admitted to Italian seminaries was ‘highly tendentious’ but possible. ‘I would say that homosexually inclined people can now be openly admitted to Italian seminaries,’ stressed the theologian. The Italian Bishops’ Conference had found a way to be open about this issue without contradicting doctrinal statements. ‘Because keeping quiet about this issue generally causes great damage to the sexual orientation of candidates for the priesthood.’ “

Many observers welcomed the new guidelines as demonstrating openness to gay men entering the seminary and therefore the priesthood, yet others were quick to deny such interpretations of the guidelines. Bishop Stefano Manetti of Fiesole, Italy, president of the bishops’ commission for the clergy and consecrated life, offered such a denial, arguing that the new guidelines reiterate the “norms of the magisterium,” including that those with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies cannot be admitted to seminaries.” 

Bishop Manetti refers specifically to paragraph 44 of the new document, which repeats what is established in the the 2016 document entitled“The Gift of the Priestly Vocation: Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis.” The paragraph states, in part:

“…in relation to persons with homosexual tendencies who seek admission to seminary, or discover such a situation in the course of formation, consistent with her own magisterium, the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called ‘gay culture.’”

Commentator Stefan Mückl, a canon lawyer, points to this section as indicative of the fact that there has been no substantial change to seminary policy. Some LGBTQ+ Catholics have similarly voiced skepticism around the recent document’s implications.Rainer Teuber, spokesperson for the German LGBTQ+ Catholic initiative “OutInChurch” argued, “Ultimately everything remains the same.”

Yet others, like Krienke, insist upon the significance of the new guidelines. The changes in the policies are significant enough for him to conclude: “I would say that homosexual people can now be openly accepted in Italian seminaries.” The new guidelines, he argues, make it so that one’s sexual orientation can “be brought into openness,” no longer a matter of shame or concealment. Having to hide one’s sexuality can be incredibly harmful, and Krienke points out that the new guidelines will allow for all seminarians to more healthily integrate their sexuality and avoid the damaging effects of hiding or trying to suppress part of who they are.

In a separate post on Katholisch.de, Benedikt Heider pointed out a problem with the Italian bishops’ language when discussing homosexuality:

“It is striking that the Italian bishops, despite the fundamental reception of human science expertise, continue to use the doctrinal language of ‘homosexual tendencies’. This implies – together with the idea of ​​”overcoming” – that sexual orientation is a tendency and thus something that can change. This narrative is perceived as burdensome by affected seminarians and clergy. It can put pressure on those affected to continue to hide part of their identity.”

The same article reports that the Italian bishops’ policy will likely soon be spreading to Germany:

“The chairman of the German Regents Conference and head of the Fulda priest training, Dirk Gärtner, praised this approach in an interview with KNA at the beginning of January: The published version of the Italian training regulations incorporates new findings from social research and the human sciences.’ This is also currently being worked on in Germany, said Gärtner. He announced a new training regulation for Germany based on similar criteria.”

Jesuit priest Father James Martin had a similar reaction, pointing out that the text calls for changes in discernment and accompaniment of seminary candidates. His own translation of a portion of the text, posted on X, reads:

“In the training process, when reference is made to homosexual tendencies, it is also appropriate not to reduce discernment only to this aspect but, as for every candidate, to grasp its meaning in the overall picture of the young person’s personality, so that, by getting to know each other and integrating the objectives inherent to the human and presbyteral vocation, reaches a general harmony.”

Martin commented: “This is the first time I’ve seen in a Vatican-approved document the suggestion that discernment about whether a gay man may enter the seminary cannot simply be determined by his sexual orientation,” he stated. “My reading of this — and it is only my reading — is that if a gay man is able to lead a healthy chaste and celibate life, he may be considered for admission to the seminary. So, as I see it, this is something of a step forward.”

New Ways Ministry’s Francis DeBernardo welcomed the document, seeing it as a substantial change, saying:

“This development is a big step forward. It clarifies previous ambiguous statements about gay seminary candidates, which viewed them with suspicion. This ambiguity caused lots of fear and discrimination in the church, way beyond the arena of seminary admissions.”

As for the current attempt to walk back the document, DeBernardo said, “I think some bishops and commentators, in Italy and abroad, are reluctant to acknowledge that they actually made a change in regard to their approach to gay people.”

–Phoebe Carstens, New Ways Ministry, January 27, 2025

New Ways Ministry is hosting a retreat for gay priests/brothers/deacons on March 24-27, 2025, near Hartford, Connecticut.  The retreat leader will be  Fr. Paul Morrissey, D. Min., an Augustinian friar priest who was one of the pioneers of gay ministry in the U.S. Catholic Church. He has authored many magazine articles and three books, including the forthcoming Why I Remain a Gay Catholic: A Spiritual-Sexual Journey (Paulist Press, June 2025). His webpage, TouchedbyGod.net, intends to foster a dialogue about the gift of sexuality.

For more information about the retreat, click here.