A provisional document published by the Italian Bishops’ Conference and approved by the Vatican cautiously opens the door for the ordination of openly gay men to the priesthood, while maintaining the requirement of chastity.

Candidates for the seminary should not be disqualified based on sexual orientation, according to new church guidelines in Italy.

"In the formative process, 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,

Gay men can now become Catholic priests – but only if they don’t have sex, a new Vatican guideline suggests. In a surprise U-turn, the Vatican has signalled that openly gay men can now train to become priests.

New guidelines for the Catholic Church in Italy have been approved by the Vatican that oppose the rejection of a seminary candidate because he is gay, provided the applicant stays celibate. The policy doesn't change the church's stance on homosexuality but says it's just one aspect that should be taken into consideration for admission,