Pope Francis, who made headlines in the first months of his papacy by responding, “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay priests, has now signed off on a Vatican decree that priests cannot bless same-sex unions since God “cannot bless sin.” The decree, issued by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Read more
Couples, married or not, heterosexual or homosexual, were invited to spend Valentine’s Day in Lourdes. According to an AFP report, a flyer was put out by Tarbes et Lourdes diocese touting a “couples weekend”. “Come to Lourdes to say I love you,” the flyer stated. It featured the silhouettes of a man and a woman Read more
Melbourne’s archbishop has urged Victoria’s Catholic high schools to be sensitive to students who want to bring a partner of the same sex to school formals. Archbishop Hart was asked by Fairfax Media for comment on a case at the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy last year. A student at the all-girls school started Read more
A Catholic agency may have to stop arranging adoptions if a Victorian bill that allows same-sex couples to jointly adopt children becomes law. Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart and CatholicCare have called for protection for faith-based groups that do not want to give adoption services to same-sex couples. But, under the Victorian government’s bill, faith-based groups Read more
An official at the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith says he is homosexual, has a partner and that the Church’s stance on same-sex love is inhuman. In a long interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper on Saturday, Msgr Krzysztof Charamsa, 43, announced he is gay and has a partner. He later held Read more
Voters in the Irish Republic will decide whether or not to approve legal same-sex marriage in a referendum on May 22. In announcing the date, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the referendum would underline Ireland’s reputation as a tolerant and inclusive nation. Mr Kenny said that most members of the Irish Parliament were in favour of Read more
A priest in Switzerland has been forced to resign after he blessed a lesbian couple in a ceremony he said was similar to a wedding. Fr Wendelin Bucheli blessed the couple in his parish church in Burglen in October last year. Bishop Vitus Huonder of Chur diocese said the priest must now resign and return Read more
Differences over the blessing and ordination of gays could see the Anglican church in New Zealand could split or even disintegrate. These are two of the options being considered by a church commission dealing with differing views over same-sex relationships. The commission, established two years ago, and chaired by former governor-general, Sir Anand Satyanand, was Read more
A Catholic bishop has blocked plans by gay activists to pray the Rosary in his cathedral to ask the Virgin Mary to intercede on their behalf to pass legislation for same-sex marriage. The Rainbow Sash Movement called off the same-sex marriage Rosary after Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, denounced it as “blasphemous”. The movement Read more
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has given notice it may be forced to opt out of its civil marriage role if a same-sex marriage bill is passed. The government bill has passed the House of Commons and is now being scrutinised by a joint human rights committee of MPs and peers before being Read more