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‘Cannot Bless Sin’: Vatican Launches Unprovoked Attack on Same-Sex Marriages

New Civil Rights Movement | March 18, 2021

Topics: Congregation For The Doctrine of the Faith, marriage equality, Pope Francis, Roman Catholic Church, same sex marriage, The Vatican

No one’s asking the Vatican to approve of same-sex marriages, but on Monday they released a statement approved by Pope Francis to let us all know that they do not.

Declaring that the Vatican “cannot bless sin,” the Roman Catholic Church on Monday launched an unprovoked attack on the marriages of same-sex couples and on LGBTQ people in general, issuing a very public response to a question no one except the Vatican’s had been asking.

“Does the Church have the power to give the blessing to unions of persons of the same sex?” the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith asked, as the Catholic News Agency reports.

“Negative,” was the answer from the Congregation, also known as the Vatican’s “Holy Office.”

What followed was a nearly 1000-word explanation to a question no LGBTQ or other civil rights group had posed.

It includes the claim: “’God loves every person and the Church does the same,’” rejecting all unjust discrimination.”

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, also known as the “Holy Office,” is one of the oldest congregations and was founded to protect the Church from “heresy.” It is notable this is the vessel the Vatican chose to issued a doctrinal rebuke of same-sex marriage.

Late last year, saying gay people have a “right to a family,” Pope Francis made headlines when he insisted governments should “legally” protect same-sex couples via civil unions. The Vatican quickly walked that statement back and insisted that LGBTQ people having a “right to a family” only meant acceptance by their own families – not a right to form families, and not a right to marriage.

The Associated Press updates its reporting to note the statement attacking same-sex marriage was “approved by Pope Francis.”

Written by David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement. Top Photo by In Lieu & In View Photography on Unsplash.

Franklin Graham Goes Apoplectic Over Pope’s Push for Civil Unions for Gays

New Civil Rights Movement | October 27, 2020

Topics: Catholic Church, civil unions, Franklin Graham, Pope Francis

Pope Francis’ recent statement of approval for gay civil unions shows hope for an improvement in relations between Christians and the LGBTQ community. But, as Franklin Graham is quick to remind us, not all Christians.

Franklin Graham is enraged. The 68-year old Trump-supporting scion of Southern Baptist minister and advisor to 12 presidents, the late Rev. Billy Graham, took to his Facebook ministry to attack Pope Francis after the pontiff called for civil union laws to protect same-sex couples.

Graham sees the Catholic Church’s new regard for supporting LGBTQ people in law – not religion – as so dangerous to the Christian faith he says it would mean Jesus died for nothing.

“For Pope Francis to attempt to normalize homosexuality is to say that Holy Scriptures are false, that our sins really don’t matter, and that we can continue living in them,” Graham told his nine million Facebook followers. “If that were true, then Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection wouldn’t have been needed. The cross would have been for nothing.”

To be clear, Graham sees simple legal protections for two people united in love – not even marriage – as so despicable he believes it is a direct threat to Christianity and civilization.

“I find these comments from the Pope unthinkable in light of the Word of God,” he proclaims.

Graham concludes by serving up some red meat to his flock of homophobes and bigots: gays are going to hell unless they repent.

“I want everyone to know the truth and to find the peace that comes only from fully surrendering our lives to Him and His commands. The consequence of an unrepentant, unbelieving heart is also clear in the Word of God — eternal death. Unless we repent and receive His offer of forgiveness, surrendering our lives to Him, we will spend eternity as part of a different family when we leave this earth — the family of the condemned.”

Written by David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement. Image: Vice President Mike Pence joins Franklin Graham at his Washington, DC Prayer March. Photo via Facebook

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