CDF official dismissed after announcing homosexual relationship

October 05, 2015

An official of the Congregation of the Doctrine for the Faith was dismissed from his staff and teaching positions after he announced he was involved in a homosexual relationship.

Though described by some news agencies as a “senior official,” Msgr. Krzystof Charamsa has served since 2011 as adjunct secretary of the International Theological Commission, which assists the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in addressing doctrinal questions. The 43-year-old priest of the Diocese of Pelplin, Poland, has worked for the Congregation since 2003.

The priest also taught classes at the Pontifical Gregory University and the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.

“With regard to the declarations and interview given by Msgr. Krzystof Charamsa it should be observed that, notwithstanding the respect due to the events and personal situations, and reflections on the issue, 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,” Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office, said in an October 3 statement.

“Msgr. Charamsa will certainly be unable to continue to carry out his previous work in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the pontifical universities, while the other aspects of his situation shall remain the competence of his diocesan Ordinary,” he added.

In announcing his homosexual relationship, Msgr. Charamsa told Corriere della Sera that

the Bible says nothing on the subject of homosexuality. It instead speaks of acts that I would call “homogenital.” Even heterosexual people may perform such acts, as happens in many prisons, but in that case they are acting against their nature and therefore committing a sin. When a gay person engages in those same acts, they are instead expressing their nature. The biblical sodomite has nothing to do with two gays that love each other in modern-day Italy and want to marry. I am unable to find a single passage, even in St Paul, that may be seen as referring to homosexual persons asking to be respected as such, since at the time the concept was unknown.

The priest also asserted that a 2005 curial document barring the ordination of men with deep-seated homosexual tendencies “was a shock. It didn't used to be like this.” However, previous curial documents, issued in 1961, 1974, 1990, and 2002, warned against the ordination or acceptance into religious life of persons with homosexual inclinations.

 

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Further information:

• Dichiarazione del Direttore della Sala Stampa, P. Lombardi, a proposito delle dichiarazioni di mons. Charamsa (Holy See Press Office)
• Vatican Theologian Confesses: «I’m Happy to Be Gay and I Have a Partner» (Corriere della Sera)