VATICAN
Gay.com
Eric Johnston, Gay.com/PlanetOut.com Network
Tuesday 30 August, 2005
Pope Benedict XVI is said to be considering a controversial new policy of excluding gay men from becoming priests.
News of the possible policy change came from the Observer newspaper and sources close to the Vatican.
According to the report, the pope is currently reviewing a draft report produced by the Congregation for Catholic Education and Seminaries, which includes a recommendation that gay men should be excluded from entering seminaries where priests are trained. The policy would also raise questions about how to determine who is gay and who is not.
According to the Observer, the proposed document was drawn up in response to the sexual abuse scandal involving priests in the United States, which included allegations of sexual harassment of priests by their superiors.