A SENIOR priest has been dismissed by the Vatican after revealing he is gay in order to highlight the 'inhuman' treatment of sexual minorities by the Catholic Church.
Monsignor Krzystof Charamsa was removed from his position ahead of a major meeting that will define the Catholic Church's "teaching on family".
The 43-year-old from Poland said he wanted to challenge the Church's "backwards" attitude to homosexuality.
He was joined by his partner Edouard to reveal his homosexuality during a press conference in Rome yesterday.
Charamsa confirmed he was in a relationship and was "happy and proud" of his identity.
His statement came as bishops arrived in Rome for a synod that will discuss homosexuality.
The Vatican called his actions "very serious and irresponsible" and removed him from his position at the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, where he had worked since 2003
Charamsa, said: "It's time the Church opened its eyes and realised that offering gay believers total abstinence from a life of love is inhuman.
"I also know that I will have to give up the ministry."
However, he said he felt he had a duty towards sexual minorities to come out.
The Vatican confirmed he would no longer be able to keep his position in the church, while his future as a priest would be decided by a local bishop.
In a statement, The Vatican said: "The decision to make such a pointed statement on the eve of the opening of the synod appears very serious and irresponsible, since it aims to subject the synod assembly to undue media pressure."
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