By Eesha Catherine Vakkan
On 15 Mar, Pope Francis approved a Vatican decree that restricts the Catholic Church from blessing same-sex unions. The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF) declared that it is “impossible” to “bless sin” in reference to same-sex unions.
The Pope’s approval comes as surprising to some given his famous 2013 comment,
“Who am I to judge gay people?”
and his expression of support for same-sex civil unions in October 2020.
What Does the Decree Say?
The decree refers to such unions as “illicit” and “not ordered to the creator’s plan”. Additionally, it clarifies that individual blessings can be offered to candidates as long as they promise to refrain from any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage.
Response
This is a major setback for the Catholic LGBTQ+ community, many of whom have expressed disappointment at the decision. In response, a group of Roman Catholic priests have vowed to continue to bless same-sex unions in direct defiance of the order.
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