INTERNATIONAL REFORM NETWORK SUPPORTS LGBT+ COMMUNITY IN WAKE OF VATICAN DENOUNCING CHURCH BLESSINGS FOR SAME SEX COUPLES
19 March 2021
Catholic Church Reform International (CCRI), joins with the outrage of millions of people from around the world disgusted by the Vatican’s recent statement forbidding Church blessings for same-sex couples. Together with We Are Church Int’l, Future Church, and numerous Catholic bishops from around the world we, too, support all movements within the Church to continue blessing same sex relationships. The statement released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith saying that the church cannot bless gay unions is based on an outdated church position that they are “not ordered to the Creator’s plan.” What is worse, the document said the pope was “informed” and “assented” to its publication. After the welcoming outreach of Pope Francis regarding the pastoral care of LGBT+ persons and his support of civil unions, we at CCRI agree with America magazine journalist Gerard O’Connell that it is significant that the document used such a tentative phrase in lieu of the more usual language of “approved” and “ordered its publication.” Pope Francis, we know you did not order the publication of this document. You cannot remain silent on this issue. You must come out publicly and state your position on this matter or what you fear most, a schism in the Church, will be inevitable. “For decades now the Church has been losing credibility with her Faithful, but this statement destroys any authority the Church has left over the people,” says Rene Reid, CCRI director. “No condemnatory pronouncement from the Vatican can stop the Spirit’s movement of our Church from blessing all of God’s people.”
CCRI Contact: Ms Rene Reid, director
Email: rene.reid@CatholicChurchReformIntl.org
Telephone: +775-825-9196 off; +775-772-1210 cell
