Spanish priest rebuked, may face discipline, after blessing same-sex union
August 31, 2016
A Spanish priest may face disciplinary action after he conducted a "blessing" ceremony for a homosexual couple.
Father José Garcia "did not distinguish the welcoming and pastoral accompaniment of persons, on the one hand, from the apparent approval of a union that the Church cannot approve," the Diocese of Segorbe-Castellon announced in a public statement. The diocese revealed that Father Garcia had been personally rebuked by Bishop Casmiro Lopes Llorente, and had "recognized before the bishop the grave error of his behavior."
Diocesan officials are reportedly now considering whether or not Father Garcia's actions merit more formal disciplinary action.
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Sep. 01, 2016 3:49 PM ET USA
Maybe this priest acted according to his perceived "mind of the Pope" in reference to the more troublesome paragraphs of Amoris Laetitia. I would expect the Pope to come to his rescue. If he does not, then I would consider this to be evidence of actual ambiguity manifest in these paragraphs.
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Posted by: brenda22890 -
Sep. 01, 2016 9:53 AM ET USA
Thank you Pope Francis.
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Posted by: jeremiahjj -
Aug. 31, 2016 6:28 PM ET USA
The clergyman should be sent to where he can reflect and (hopefully) repent of this deviation from his priestly vows. He may have acted out of perceived love, but his act conveyed support that does not exist in the larger church. This was a grievous error because Holy Mother Church, guided as always by the Holy Spirit, recognizes and blesses only marriages between a man and a woman. Marriage-like unions between same-sex partners will remain a disordered aberration in the eyes of the church.
