The Catholic Church has made a groundbreaking move, allowing gay men to enter the priesthood under the condition of celibacy.

The updated guidelines, approved by Italian bishops, mark a departure from previous Vatican stances that barred men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” from becoming priests.

According to the document, “it is appropriate not to reduce discernment to this aspect alone but to understand its meaning within the whole framework of the young person’s personality.”

Pope Francis, often seen as a more progressive leader of the Catholic Church, has previously signaled openness toward the LGBTQ+ community.

His leadership has included allowing priests to bless same-sex couples in certain circumstances.

However, the topic of gay men entering the priesthood has remained a sensitive and controversial issue until now.

GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE

PRESS RELEASE

Bishop Ukwuoma, a gentle, humble man of God recognised at home, says Uzodimma

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has described the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev (Dr.) Augustine Tochukwu Ukwuoma as a humble man of God who is completely gentle and recognised both at his home and outside.

The Governor gave the description, Sunday, in his remarks at the end of Church Service to celebrate the 40th priestly ordination of the bishop, at St. Patrick Parish, Ebenese Amucha in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State.

Governor Uzodimma expressed delight being part of the ceremony and described the celebration as “a day of victory of light over darkness.”

He enjoined leaders in the society to be guided by the needs of their people, regretting that corruption has taken over the rationality of most of them.

He congratulated the Bishop, and his Parents, for giving the Church “a prophet who is recognised in his own home,” saying, “Bishop you have done well.”

Governor Uzodimma challenged Orlu zone to differentiate between politics and Church, insisting that the insecurity in Imo State is largely fueled by people who are equally members of the Church.

“Those who destroy private and public property in the State are known to us because they are members of our communities. They are also Church members.”

The Governor therefore advocated collaboration between the Church and Government to combat crime in the society, noting that “moral decadence has gone down so badly.”

Inviting all to join hands to protect Government, Church and private property
in our environment, Governor Uzodimma promised to look into the demands of the Parish Council that Government should handover schools in their community to the Church.

In his appreciation, Bishop Ukwuoma thanked all who honoured his invitation, especially Governor Uzodimma, whom he said has been of immense support, through special love, to him, his ministry and the Diocese of Orlu.

In their address, the Parish Council had expressed gratitude to God for their son, Bishop Ukwuoma, and thanked the Governor for all his support to him.

They requested the Governor to approve the handover of public schools in their community to the Mission for improved morals and security.

Earlier in his homily, Rev Fr. Anthony Osuji highlighted the significance of the epiphany in the Christendom and asked all the faithful to continue to live the Jesus Christ way.

Bishop Ukwuoma was assisted in celebrating the mass by the Catholic Bishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Fr. Anselem Omorem, and many others.

The Church Service was attended by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru and the husband, Chukwuma, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, members of the Imo State expanded Executive Council and many other personalities.

Highlights of the Mass were the confirmation of some Catholic faithful of the Diocese, administration of sacrament of the Holy Communion, and issuance of Certificates to the newly confirmed.

Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor
January 5, 2025.

Pope Francis announced that a 59-year-old Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, would serve as prefect for one of the most important offices in the Vatican.

Sister Brambilla will oversee every religious order — from the Jesuits and Franciscans to smaller newer movements — in an office known as the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Pope Francis reformed the Holy See’s founding constitution, allowing laypeople, including women, to head a dicastery and become prefects. He also asserted that the Catholic Church should be more sympathetic toward members of the LGBTQ+ community.

However, the pontiff has also upheld the ban on female priests and dampened hopes of women being ordained as deacons.

Although women have been named number two in certain Vatican offices, Sister Brambilla’s appointment marks the first time that a woman serves as prefect of a dicastery or congregation within the Holy See Curia, the central governing organ of the Catholic Church.

Given that a prefect must be able to celebrate Mass and perform sacramental functions — which can only be done by men — Pope Francis simultaneously named Salesian Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime as a co-leader, or “pro-prefect” of Sister Brambilla’s religious order.

A member of the Consolata Missionaries religious order, Sister Brambilla will succeed the retiring Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, who is 77 years old.

A nurse, Sister Brambilla worked as a missionary in Mozambique and led her Consolata order as superior from 2011 to 2023, when Pope Francis made her secretary of the religious orders department.

An evolving position for women in the Catholic women

Catholic women do much of the church’s work in schools and hospitals, as well as working to pass down faith to future generations. However, many complain of second-class status in an institution that reserves the priesthood for men.

During Pope Francis’ papacy, the number of women in leadership positions rose from 19.3% in 2013 to 23.4% today, according to statistics reported by Vatican News. In the Curia alone, the percentage of women is 26%.

Among other women holding leadership positions is Sister Raffaella Petrini, the first-ever female secretary general of the Vatican City, responsible for the territory’s health care system, police force and Vatican museums.

Sister Alessandra Smerilli from the development office is another woman serving as an undersecretary, while several other women have been appointed to similar positions, such as French nun Sister Nathalie Becquart in the Synod of Bishops’ Office.