‘Pope congratulates, blesses gay couple’
August 09, 2017
Some gay activists claimed a papal blessing on their lifestyle after a Brazilian man received a standard form letter from a Vatican official.
Toni Reis, general secretary of the Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians, and Transgender Persons, said on Facebook that he and his partner wrote to the Pope informing him of the April baptism of three adopted children in the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Curitiba.
On July 10, Msgr. Paolo Borgia, Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, responded to Reis, stating that the Pope “looks with appreciation” on the baptism, “expressed his sentiments of esteem,” and invoked on “his family abundance of divine graces, to live constantly and faithfully the condition of Christians, as good children of God and of the Church, and sends them a propitious Apostolic Blessing, asking them not to stop praying for him.”
A Vatican source said “the letter is addressed to one person, further evidence that the Secretary of State was unaware that it was a homosexual couple,” according to Catholic World Report. “The couple has not published the text of the letter they sent to Pope Francis, so it is unknown whether they presented themselves as a same-sex couple.”
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Further information:
- Vatican clarifies: Gay couple received standard form letter from Pope, not endorsement (Catholic World Report)
- Pope Congratulates, Blesses Gay Couple on the Baptism of Their Adopted Children (New Ways Ministry)
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Posted by: -
Aug. 10, 2017 3:32 PM ET USA
Christ loved the sinner and condemned the sin. The church needs to clarify this each and every time.
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Aug. 09, 2017 9:21 PM ET USA
The Vatican is a hive of pro homosexuality. The Pope has failed miserably in this area. His mercy teaching is fine but it must be balanced with truth and actions that support the truth. Otherwise what are we to think. You are either with Christ and His teaching or against Him. Otherwise you create a slippery slope.
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Posted by: feedback -
Aug. 09, 2017 6:23 PM ET USA
This claim creates an opportunity for the Holy See to reaffirm Catholic teachings on homosexuality and marriage. Pope Francis could use Bishop Paprocki's guide for Catholics about same-sex "marriage." As the proverbial elephant in the middle of the room becomes larger and messier each day, it really needs to be addressed.
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Posted by: rghatt6599 -
Aug. 09, 2017 1:01 PM ET USA
Toni Reis is the general secretary of a Brazilian gay lobby. As a prominent activist he is likely “out and proud”. What is the likelihood that his letter to Pope Francis gave no indication that he is gay “married”? Recent grave scandals and the gay friendly appointments of the current papacy raise questions about its openness to heterodox views on homosexuality. Faithful Catholics need some reassurance that the current Vatican is not a hive of pro-gay clergy. Will Vatican press office comment?
