Vatican restricts gays in Catholic priesthood

In the first major ruling of Pope Benedict's reign, the Catholic Church yesterday imposed restrictions on homosexuals becoming priests, saying only men who had overcome "transitory" gay tendencies could be ordained.

The ruling came in a long-awaited eight-page Vatican document that has already sparked controversy after widespread leaks in the past few weeks.

Its strict line on the place of gays in the clergy has won praise from conservatives and condemnation from liberals, and set off heated debate in other churches by confronting an issue that has divided Christian congregations worldwide.

The document says practising homosexuals should be barred from entering the priesthood along with men with "deep-seated" homosexual tendencies and those who support gay culture.

The urgency of the document has been highlighted by a sexual scandal in the US three years ago, involving mostly abuse of teenage boys by priests. Gay groups accuse the Church of using homosexuals as scapegoats for the abuse scandals.

The "instruction" by the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education makes a distinction between deep-seated homosexual tendencies and "the expression of a transitory problem".

It says homosexual tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before admission to the deaconate, a position one step short of the priesthood. The document, released some seven months after Pope Benedict was elected, reinforces standing policy that many in the Church believe has not been properly enforced.

It does not affect men who are already priests but only those entering seminaries to prepare for the priesthood. The paper also calls on the faithful to show respect for homosexuals.

"Deep-seated homosexual tendencies, which are found in a number of men and women, are also objectively disordered and, for those same people, often constitute a trial," it says, repeating a phrase that has angered gays in the past. Such persons must be accepted with respect and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided," it adds.