L.G.B.T.Q community and their allies have condemned Catholic Church for prohibiting priests from blessing same-sex unions, after the Vatican declared that God “does not and cannot bless sin”.
On Monday, March 15, Vatican’s doctrinal office, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), issued the ruling in response to questions and moves in some parishes to bless same-sex unions.
Read Also: Vatican Says Catholic Church Can’t Bless Same-Sex Unions
The CDF’s response, as approved by Pope Francis, added that it was “not intended to be a form of unjust discrimination, but rather a reminder of the truth of the liturgical rite“.
While the Vatican said that the community should welcome gay people with “respect and sensitivity,” their unions would not receive the same embrace, as under Catholic teachings, marriages as per “God’s plan” should be between a man and a woman to create new life.
Since gay unions are not intended to be part of that plan, they cannot be blessed by the church, CDF noted.
It said such blessings were not permissible even though they were “motivated by a sincere desire to welcome and accompany homosexual persons” and help them grow in the faith.
CDF added that since marriage between a man and a woman was a sacrament and blessings are related to the sacrament of marriage, they could not be extended to same-sex couples.
The church and priests can still bless people who are gay who live in “fidelity,” the statement says. “Rather, it declares illicit any form of blessing that tends to acknowledge their unions.”
Monday’s statement from the Vatican comes less than six months after revelations of Pope Francis‘ stunning endorsement of same-sex civil unions were made public.
He endorsed providing gay couples with legal protections in same-sex unions, but that is in reference to the civil sphere, not within the church.
The new order has however attracted criticism from members and allies of L.G.B.T.Q community on Twitter.
See some reactions from Twitter users below;
Dear Catholic Church,
It doesn’t matter whether you bless same-gender marriage or not.
God already does.
God created LGBTQ people.
God gave free will.
God is love.One day you’ll wake up and realize your discrimination is a sin.https://t.co/ost34veTcE
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) March 16, 2021
The Vatican says catholic priests will never bless Gay union/marriage because it’s a sin & the LGBTQ people are livid.
Isn’t it obvious these people are abnormal?
Even the Catholic Church knows being Gay is a decision and a very Negat*ve one for that matter. 1/
— Your Online Boyfriend😎🙃 (@bright___r) March 16, 2021
If you are or were Catholic and LGBTQ+, know that there is a whole world that believes you are more than good enough,& your life means every bit as much as anyone else’s. You matter, you belong, and we need you here. 💙🌈 That’s what agape, or UNCONDITIONAL “God” love really is.
— Jess Phoenix 🌋 (@jessphoenix2018) March 16, 2021
It just sucks because here I was thinking the Catholic Church simply LOVED gays. Addicted to the stuff!
— Matt Rogers (@MattRogersTho) March 16, 2021
I don’t give a f*ck what the Catholic Church has to say.
— TheDaily (@StopTheCriminal) March 15, 2021
The Catholic Church protects paedophiles, now refuses to bless same sex unions. Evangelical zealots want to strip a woman’s right of choice away & are homophobic. Can anyone tell me why ANY church is enjoying tax free status when they promote hate, intolerance & protect abusers?
— GrumpyGrannie (@grumpy_grannie) March 15, 2021
Stunning to see the Pope saying that marriage has always been God’s plan when the Catholic Church didn’t recognize it as a sacrament for over a *thousand years* and still didn’t get serious about it for another 100-200 years for reasons that were about politics and inheritance.
— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) March 16, 2021
wait until the catholics find out what michaelangelo was doing when he wasn’t reluctantly painting the sistine chapel
— julie ✿ (@wellsbering) March 16, 2021
