Pope apologizes for using vulgar term about gay men in discussion on ban for gay priests

Pope Francis said sorry for using a bad word about gay men to support the Catholic Church's rule against gay priests. The Vatican spokesperson, Matteo Bruni, admitted that people got upset about what Francis said to Italian bishops on May 20. He used the bad word to say that gay men can't become priests. Bruni mentioned that Francis knows about the reports and always says there's space for everyone in the Catholic Church, including LGBTQ+ people. But Bruni didn't say that Francis didn't say it. The LGBTQ+ community often faces comments from Vatican officials, including the pope, that seem careless. Francis was talking to Italian bishops who recently approved a new plan for training seminarians in Italy. The plan, not yet published for review by the Holy See, tries to make a little room for gay priests by focusing on celibacy as the main requirement for all priests, whether gay or straight. The Vatican's ban on gay priests was first stated in a 2005 document and repeated in 2016, saying the church can't accept men who are gay or support gay culture into seminaries or as priests. Richard Sipe, a psychotherapist and former monk, estimated in the early 2000s that about 30% of U.S. clergy were gay. Another priest, Donald Cozzens, said the number was even higher, suggesting that many straight men left the priesthood to marry, making it more common for gay men to become priests. Pope Francis often talks casually and jokes using slang, even using bad language in private. Sometimes, he has upset LGBTQ+ people, like when he said homosexuality is a sin, not a crime. The head of a group, Francis DeBernardo, questioned what the pope said and the ban on gay priests, asking for a clearer statement on Francis' views about gay priests who serve the church every day.