Stacy Meichtry, RNS’ Vatican correspondent, reports on new rules that would bar gay men from Roman Catholic priesthood.

Quotes:

A Vatican official, speaking to RNS on the condition of anonymity because Vatican policy prohibits public discussion of internal matters, confirmed that a document containing the new regulations had been submitted to the pope for final approval.

However, he stressed that the document could still be returned to the Congregation for revision. If that happened, its publication could still be years away.

and

Given the volatility of the issue, some have wondered if the pope will actually sign the document or simply let the guidelines be issued by the Congregation for Education without his official endorsement. If Benedict personally signed off on the guidelines-an endorsement known as “in forma specifica”-it would make the document’s teaching more difficult to reverse.