‘Grounded teaching’ or ‘act of cruelty’? Christian leaders react to the Vatican rejecting same-sex marriage
James Martin
Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor-at-large at America Magazine, posted a Twitter thread to express his disappointment with the Vatican statement.
Martin is the author of the 2017 book Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.
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“Today I received dozens of messages from #LGBTQ people, as well as their friends, families and allies, who told me they were disappointed, discouraged and disheartened by the Vatican’s latest pronouncement on barring the blessings of same-sex marriages,” tweeted Martin.
“Especially painful for many LGBTQ people who contacted me today was the statement that God ‘does not and cannot bless sin....’”
Martin explained that many people were "encouraged by several German bishops, and other priests in the West who have ventured to give such blessings." He added that they were "hoping that such blessings might represent a small way that the church might recognize what the CDF’s document called the 'positive elements...'"
Martin implored his followers to “never despair."
"After all, what are the dark 40 days of Lent other than a preparation for a light-filled Easter?" he asked. "On Easter Christ upended all expectations and reminded us that nothing is impossible with God..."
