Catholic and LGBT groups in Ireland have expressed disappointment to the Vatican’s Monday statement sustaining a ban on blessing for same-sex relationships. “The sense is that a door has been slammed rather than a growing sensitivity to the pastoral care of LGBTQ Catholics being encouraged or facilitated,” he said. A lot of people in Ireland and elsewhere are Catholic and want that acceptance and blessing from the Church. Over recent years in Ireland there has been a growing practice of Catholic priests offering blessings to same sex couples in private. From conversations yesterday The Irish Times understands this is likely to continue regardless of Monday’s CDF statement.

Source: The Irish Times March 17, 2021 00:56 UTC