The Age writes:

"Deep-seated homosexual tendencies" and "uncertain sexual identity" are listed in the document along with "excessive rigidity of character" and "strong affective dependencies" as traits that might make a candidate unsuitable for the priesthood.

The document, made public by the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, stipulates that psychological testing must always have the candidate's "previous, explicit, informed, and free consent."

The authors warn that "in all too many cases psychological defects, sometimes of a pathological kind, reveal themselves only after ordination to the priesthood. Detecting defects earlier would help avoid many tragic experiences."

They added: "Those who today ask admittance to the seminary reflect in a more or less accentuated way the unease of an emerging mentality characterised by consumerism, instability in family and social relationships, moral relativism, erroneous visions of sexuality... and a systematic negation of values, especially by the media."

Last update: 10-31-2008 00:04