Melbourne, March 28: Melbourne's Catholic Church has embraced a Vatican suggestion to ban gays from becoming priests.

All potential priests will have to undergo tests for sexual orientation.

Describing homosexuality as “a type of deviation”, the head of the Vatican committee recently said that celibate gays should also be banned.

James O’Farrell, an Archdiocese of Melbourne spokesman, confirmed that Carlton’s Corpus Christi Catholic seminary had started adhering to the guidelines.

Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby spokeswoman Hayley Conway said the church was sending a “dangerous and offensive” message about sexuality, reports the Courier Mail. (ANI)