VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican press office confirmed that the Vatican is preparing a document on the admission of homosexual candidates to the priesthood. The document is in the early stages of preparation and is not expected to be published before the end of the year, a press office official said Nov. 5.

The document is expected to look at other issues regarding admission to the priesthood as well as homosexuality, the official said. He said it would probably be addressed primarily to local bishops and seminary rectors.

Catholic News Service, citing informed sources, reported Oct. 8 that the Vatican had prepared a draft document containing directives against the admission of homosexuals to the priesthood.

At that time, the sources told CNS that the draft document maintained that since the church considers the homosexual orientation as "objectively disordered" such people should not be admitted to the seminary or ordained.

The question of excluding homosexuals from the priesthood had been quietly considered at the Vatican for years without finding a consensus. It received new and more urgent attention in the wake of U.S. clerical sex abuse cases, many of which involved homosexual acts.