Vatican Insists Catholic Church Will Not Bless Gay Unions

The Vatican released a statement on March 15 that immediately disappointed the LGBTQ+ community but was able to please conservatives.

The note approved by Pope Francis insisted that the Catholic Church will not bless gay unions for the reason that God cannot bless a "sin." However, the act of blessing same-sex unions has already begun in the United States and Germany.

A number of dioceses had sent messages to the Vatican, asking if it is allowed to bless gay unions since some priests are already doing it.

The Vatican, meanwhile, explained that the decision is not a form of "unjust discrimination," but a gentle reminder of the truth about the liturgical rite of the sacrament of marriage.

"For this reason, it is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships, or partnerships, even stable, that involve s*xual 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 s*x," the statement reads.

In a report by ABC News, Francis DeBernardo, the executive director of New Ways Ministry and an advocate for the acceptance of gays in the church, said that he is disappointed with the decision of the Vatican. However, he admitted that the announcement did not surprise him anymore.

"Catholic people recognize the holiness of the love between committed same-sex couples and recognize this love as divinely inspired and divinely supported and thus meets the standard to be blessed," he quipped.

Gay unions continue to be one of the most debated topics in the world. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are pleading for greater acceptance in their church, but the church remains firm with its belief that marriage is between a man and a woman only.

It can also be remembered that Pope Francis expressed support for same-sex civil unions last October, but the Vatican quickly claimed that the comments were edited.