Catholic church cannot bless same-sex unions, Vatican decrees

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith rules that God cannot bless sin'

The Vatican has said the Catholic church cannot bless same-sex unions, as God does not bless sin", dashing the hopes of gay Catholics who believed Pope Francis might have created a more open environment.

In response to a question put to it about whether priests can bless gay couples, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), published a decree saying that such blessings cannot be considered licit". The response was approved by Pope Francis, who last year endorsed same-sex civil unions in an interview for a documentary film.