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Vatican acts after Polish priest reveals homosexuality | Vatican acts after Polish priest reveals homosexuality |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A senior priest at the Vatican has revealed he is gay, on the eve of a major meeting that will define the Catholic Church's teaching on family. | A senior priest at the Vatican has revealed he is gay, on the eve of a major meeting that will define the Catholic Church's teaching on family. |
Poland-born Krysztof Charamsa, 43, said he wanted to challenge the Church's "backwards" attitude to homosexuality. | Poland-born Krysztof Charamsa, 43, said he wanted to challenge the Church's "backwards" attitude to homosexuality. |
Msgr Charamsa said he was in a relationship and was "happy and proud" of his identity. | |
The Vatican called his actions "very serious and irresponsible" and stripped him of doctrinal responsibilities. | The Vatican called his actions "very serious and irresponsible" and stripped him of doctrinal responsibilities. |
'Media pressure' | 'Media pressure' |
Msgr Charamsa's statement came as bishops arrived in Rome for a synod that will discuss homosexuality, among other issues. | |
In an interview with the Corriere Della Sera, Msgr Charamsa, said: "It's time the Church opened its eyes and realised that offering gay believers total abstinence from a life of love is inhuman. | |
"I also know that I will have to give up the ministry," he added, but said he felt he had a duty towards sexual minorities to come out. | "I also know that I will have to give up the ministry," he added, but said he felt he had a duty towards sexual minorities to come out. |
He has been a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - which is tasked with defending Church doctrine - since 2003. | He has been a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - which is tasked with defending Church doctrine - since 2003. |
The Vatican said he would no longer be able to be a member of the body, while his future as a priest would be decided by a local bishop. | The Vatican said he would no longer be able to be a member of the body, while his future as a priest would be decided by a local bishop. |
In a statement it said: "The decision to make such a pointed statement on the eve of the opening of the synod appears very serious and irresponsible, since it aims to subject the synod assembly to undue media pressure." | In a statement it said: "The decision to make such a pointed statement on the eve of the opening of the synod appears very serious and irresponsible, since it aims to subject the synod assembly to undue media pressure." |