Can A Gay Person Become A Monk Or A Nun?

[maeveangel]

My cousin is a homosexual who wants to become a religious brother. What should I tell him?

[Jaime]

People who have homosexual tendencies are called to holiness just like people with heterosexual tendencies. The Church's stance for entering the priesthood is that if a man professes to have attractions to other men, they must demonstrate that they have been chaste for at least two years before being able to discern their vocation. However if someone demonstrates what the Church refers to as "deep seated homosexual tendencies" they would not be given the sacrament.

While becoming a brother or sister is not a sacrament, I would presume that the Church's stance would be similar. However it would also depend on the order that your cousin is planning on joining. They would have a say in the matter as well. There are a great variety of orders within the Church. Each has dedicated their society to different aspects of holiness. So the question becomes far more complex.

I would advise your cousin to seriously look at which particular order he feels called to and to find a spiritual director within that order to help him discern what God is calling him to do. A frank and honest discussion would be of great benefit to him. I've known several monks and brothers of different orders that love their vocation. But part of that vocation has been accepting what the Church teaches and submitting to the authority of Holy Mother Church and their particular Order.


If anyone does not feel capable of addressing their own personal struggles towards holiness, I don't think they would find any joy in religious life.