Pope apologizes after being quoted using vulgar term about gay men

Pope Francis apologized Tuesday after he was quoted using a vulgar and derogatory term about gay men to reaffirm the Catholic Church’s ban on gay priests. The Vatican ban was articulated in a 2005 document from the Congregation for Catholic Education, and later repeated in a subsequent document in 2016, which said the church cannot admit to seminaries or ordain men who “practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture.” The position has long been criticized as homophobic and hypocritical for an institution that certainly counts gay priests in its ranks. Francis strongly reaffirmed the Vatican ban on gay priests in his May 20 meeting with the Italian bishops, the Italian media reported, after initial reporting from gossip site Dagospia. “Without a clarification, his words will be interpreted as a blanket ban on accepting any gay man to a seminary,” DeBernardo said in a release, asking for a clearer statement on Francis’ views about gay priests “so many of whom faithfully serve the people of God each day.” Winfield writes for the Associated Press.