Belgian bishop lashes out at Vatican over gay unions decree – ABC News

BRUSSELS — A Belgian bishop has lashed out at the Vatican over its decree that the Catholic Church won t bless same-sex unions since God cannot bless sin.

Antwerp Bishop Johan Bonny wrote in an opinion piece Wednesday that he feels shame for my Church and intellectual and moral incomprehension after Pope Francis approved the negative response to a question about whether Catholic clergy have the authority to bless same-sex unions. The official response said God does not and cannot bless sin.”

Bonny, who was part of a Vatican 2015 synod on marriage and family, said: I want to apologize to all for whom this is painful and incomprehensible.

The conference of Belgian bishops backed Bonny’s concerns, saying LGBT faithful and their families saw the Vatican decree as exceptionally painful. The conference urged everyone to work on a climate of respect, recognition and integration.

The Vatican’s position has pleased conservatives, disheartened advocates for LGBT Catholics and thrown a wrench into a debate within Germany’s Catholic Church, which has been at the forefront of opening discussions on hot-button issues such as Catholic teachings on homosexuality.

via abcnews.go.com