Vatican sacks priest who came out as gay

The Vatican dismissed a priest from his post in a Holy See office on Saturday after he told a newspaper he was gay and urged the Catholic Church to change its stance on homosexuality.

Monsignor Krzystof Charamsa, 43, was removed from his position at the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal arm where he had worked since 2003, a statement said.

The Polish theologian said he wanted to challenge the Church's "backwards" attitude to homosexuality.

Charamsa said he was in a relationship and was "happy and proud" of his identity.

"It's time the Church opened its eyes and realised that offering gay believers total abstinence from a life of love is inhuman,” he said.

"I also know that I will have to give up the ministry," he added, but said he felt he had a duty towards sexual minorities to come out.

According to Reuters, he later held a news conference with his partner, a Spanish man, 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 called his actions "very serious and irresponsible" and stripped him of doctrinal responsibilities. It said Charamsa's dismissal had nothing to do with his comments on his personal situation, which it said "merit respect". But it said giving the interview 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 how to reach out to gays.

It said his actions would subject the synod, which Pope Francis is due to open on Sunday, to "undue media pressure".