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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Vatican acts after Polish priest reveals homosexuality | Vatican acts after Polish priest reveals homosexuality |
| (about 5 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 Krzysztof Charamsa said he wanted to challenge the Church's "backwards" attitude to homosexuality. | |
| Msgr Charamsa, 43, 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Analysis: BBC's David Willey in Rome | Analysis: BBC's David Willey in Rome |
| There's the text and then there's the subtext. The official subject under discussion at the crucial three-week meeting of cardinals and bishops from around the world beginning at the Vatican on Sunday, chaired by Pope Francis, is how to ensure Catholic families heed Church teaching. | There's the text and then there's the subtext. The official subject under discussion at the crucial three-week meeting of cardinals and bishops from around the world beginning at the Vatican on Sunday, chaired by Pope Francis, is how to ensure Catholic families heed Church teaching. |
| The ban on contraception, for example, is now honoured more in its breach than in its observance. | The ban on contraception, for example, is now honoured more in its breach than in its observance. |
| But the sudden revelation by a Polish Monsignore that he is gay, has a Catalan lover, and is apparently a member of a long-rumoured but never formally acknowledged "gay lobby" at the heart of the Catholic Church, risks skewing the smooth running of a long-anticipated event. | But the sudden revelation by a Polish Monsignore that he is gay, has a Catalan lover, and is apparently a member of a long-rumoured but never formally acknowledged "gay lobby" at the heart of the Catholic Church, risks skewing the smooth running of a long-anticipated event. |
| The subtext is whether the Church should relax its traditional hostility to same-sex partnerships and marriages in an age when even the Pope retorts: "Who am I to judge?" | The subtext is whether the Church should relax its traditional hostility to same-sex partnerships and marriages in an age when even the Pope retorts: "Who am I to judge?" |
| Even though the gay Monsignore has not yet sent his letter of resignation to Pope Francis, the timing of his decision has raised a media storm that is unlikely to subside quickly. | Even though the gay Monsignore has not yet sent his letter of resignation to Pope Francis, the timing of his decision has raised a media storm that is unlikely to subside quickly. |
| And a book is in the offing which may reveal further details of his 12 years of hidden life inside the Holy See. | And a book is in the offing which may reveal further details of his 12 years of hidden life inside the Holy See. |
| "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." |