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Vatican Official Denounces Ireland’s Vote for Same-Sex Marriage Vatican Official Denounces Ireland’s Vote for Same-Sex Marriage
(about 7 hours later)
ROME — In the Vatican’s eyes, the referendum in Ireland that legalized same-sex marriage last week was a “defeat for humanity,” a top Vatican official said in remarks published late on Tuesday. ROME — In the Vatican’s eyes, the referendum in Ireland that legalized same-sex marriage last week was a “defeat for humanity,” a top Vatican official said in remarks published late on Tuesday.
“I was very saddened by this result,” said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, according to the Vatican Radio website. “I don’t think we can speak only about a defeat for Christian principles, but a defeat for humanity.”“I was very saddened by this result,” said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, according to the Vatican Radio website. “I don’t think we can speak only about a defeat for Christian principles, but a defeat for humanity.”
The Roman Catholic Church opposes same-sex marriage and regards homosexual relations as sinful, but many Catholics, especially young people in Western Europe and North America, pay little heed to the church’s teachings on the subject. In Ireland, where the vast majority of citizens consider themselves Catholic, the constitutional amendment to allow same-sex marriage passed easily, with 62 percent of votes in favor.The Roman Catholic Church opposes same-sex marriage and regards homosexual relations as sinful, but many Catholics, especially young people in Western Europe and North America, pay little heed to the church’s teachings on the subject. In Ireland, where the vast majority of citizens consider themselves Catholic, the constitutional amendment to allow same-sex marriage passed easily, with 62 percent of votes in favor.
Afterward, the archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said the church was growing out of touch with young people and needed a “reality check.”Afterward, the archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said the church was growing out of touch with young people and needed a “reality check.”
Cardinal Parolin’s comments were the first by a high-level Vatican official since the referendum. He said the church needed to register that reality “in the sense of reinforcing all its commitment, and make an effort to evangelize.”Cardinal Parolin’s comments were the first by a high-level Vatican official since the referendum. He said the church needed to register that reality “in the sense of reinforcing all its commitment, and make an effort to evangelize.”
Though the church has not changed its view of homosexuality, Pope Francis has been perceived as more open and compassionate on the subject than his recent predecessors, especially after a widely reported comment he made in 2013 concerning the sexual orientation of priests. “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Francis told reporters then, during his first trip abroad as pope.Though the church has not changed its view of homosexuality, Pope Francis has been perceived as more open and compassionate on the subject than his recent predecessors, especially after a widely reported comment he made in 2013 concerning the sexual orientation of priests. “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Francis told reporters then, during his first trip abroad as pope.
The pope has opened a two-year church synod to discuss issues surrounding the family and better ways to preach to Catholics today. In a recent meeting in Rome, Catholic bishops said it was necessary to welcome gays into the church, though they continued to rule out same-sex marriage. The pope has opened a two-year synod to discuss issues surrounding the family and better ways to preach to Catholics today. In a recent meeting in Rome, Catholic bishops said it was necessary to welcome gays into the church, though they continued to rule out same-sex marriage.
Before Francis became pope, the tone and language used by the church was sterner. The Vatican compared homosexuality to an “objective disorder,” and Pope Benedict XVI, when he was still a cardinal, defined it as a “tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil.”Before Francis became pope, the tone and language used by the church was sterner. The Vatican compared homosexuality to an “objective disorder,” and Pope Benedict XVI, when he was still a cardinal, defined it as a “tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil.”
Francis did not directly mention the Irish referendum in his regular weekly address to the faithful on Wednesday. But when he spoke about the importance of the engagement period before marriage, he repeated traditional church teaching, calling marriage a “love alliance between a man and a woman.”Francis did not directly mention the Irish referendum in his regular weekly address to the faithful on Wednesday. But when he spoke about the importance of the engagement period before marriage, he repeated traditional church teaching, calling marriage a “love alliance between a man and a woman.”
Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Italy, which like Ireland is heavily Catholic, and even Italy’s progressive Democratic Party has struggled to find a unified position on the issue. A recent campaign by gay rights activists and local officials has led to cities formally registering same-sex marriages that were performed abroad. The government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has promised new legislation to allow same-sex couples to join in civil unions, but not marriages. Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Italy, which like Ireland is heavily Catholic, and even Italy’s progressive Democratic Party has struggled to find a unified position on the issue. A recent campaign by g ay rights activists and local officials has led to cities formally registering same-sex marriages that were performed abroad. The government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has promised new legislation to allow same-sex couples to join in civil unions, but not marriages.