VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican on
Saturday dismissed a Polish priest from his
Holy See job after he came out as gay and
called for changes in Catholic teachings
against homosexual activity on the eve of a
major Church meeting on the family.
Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa, a theologian,
had worked at the Congregation of the
Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal
arm, since 2003, and taught theology at
pontifical universities in Rome, which have
also dismissed him.
Charamsa, 43, told Italy's Corriere della Sera
newspaper and Polish media that he was gay
and had a partner. The Church teaches that
homosexuality is not a sin but homosexual
activity is, and priests, whether heterosexual
or gay, take vows of celibacy.
Charasma followed up his media interviews
with a packed news conference with his
partner and gay activists at a Rome
restaurant. They had planned a demonstration
in front of the Vatican but changed the venue
several hours before it was due to have
started.
The Vatican said the dismissal had nothing to
do with Charasma's reflections on his
personal life, which it said "merit respect".
But it said his interviews and the planned
demonstration was "grave and irresponsible"
given their timing on the eve of a synod of
bishops who will discuss family issues,
including the Church's position on gays.
The Vatican said his actions were aimed at
subjecting the synod, which Pope Francis
opens on Sunday, to "undue media pressure".
He presided at prayer vigil for the synod on
Saturday night before tens of thousands of
people in St Peter's Square.
At the news conference, Charamsa said he
wanted to make "an enormous noise for the
good of the Church" and apply "good
Christian pressure" on the synod not to forget
homosexual believers.
"This decision of mine to come out was a very
personal one taken in a Catholic Church that
is homophobic and very difficult and harsh
(towards gays)," he said.
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New
Ways Ministry, which ministers to Catholic
gays, said the Vatican's move was "sadly
disappointing."
"It is unfortunate that Church leaders did not
see Charamsa's announcement as an
opportunity for further dialogue with someone
they have known and trusted," DeBarnardo
said.
At the news conference, Charamsa suggested
that a study be made of how many
homosexuals work in the Vatican.
"I ask the pope to be strong and to remember
us, homosexuals, lesbians, transsexuals and
bisexuals as children of the Church and
members of humanity," Charamsa said.
The issue of homosexuality and the Church
has dominated the aftermath of the pope's
visit to the United States last week.
The Vatican has been embarrassed by a row
over the pope's meeting during his U.S. trip
with Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who
went to jail in September for refusing to honor
a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and issue same-
sex marriage licences.