The Vatican issued a statement Monday declaring that churches and priests do not have the ability to bless same-sex marriage since God “cannot bless sin.” The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a formal response to a question about whether Catholic churches have the power to bless same-sex unions. The question comes when “plans and proposals for blessings of unions of persons of the same sex are being advanced” in some “ecclesial contexts.”
The statement was signed off by Pope Francis starting off with:
TO THE QUESTION PROPOSED: Does the Church have the power to give the blessing to unions of persons of the same sex?
RESPONSE: Negative.
“It is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage, as is the case of the unions between persons of the same sex,” the statement said.
For this reason, it went on to say sexual activity outside of marriage (i.e., outside the indissoluble union of a man and a woman open in itself to the transmission of life), as is the case of the “unions between persons of the same sex. “The presence in such relationships of positive elements, which are in themselves to be valued and appreciated, cannot justify these relationships and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing, since the positive elements exist within the context of a union not ordered to the Creator’s plan.”
The Pope also added that the approved response was “not intended to be a form of unjust discrimination…”
The ruling will be disappointing to gay Catholics who hoped the Church was becoming more welcoming.
Pope Francis has also told parents they “should not condemn their kids just because they are gay and even voiced his support for civil unions for LGBTQ couples,” sending mix messages.
Press secretary Jen Psaki said that President Joe Biden had no “personal response” but reaffirmed the president’s support for same-sex unions.
“I don’t think he has a personal response to the Vatican, no. He continues to believe and support same-sex unions, as you know. He’s long had that position,” Psaki said.
-CNJ Staff reports