FutureChurch decries the latest CDF Responsum declaring that the Church cannot bless same sex unions
 
For Immediate Release: March 17, 2021

Contact: Deborah Rose-Milavec (debrose@futureChurch.org; mobile 513.673.1401)
Russ Petrus (russ@futurechurch.org; office 216.228.0869)
 
FutureChurch decries the latest Responsum released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and endorsed by Pope Francis declaring that the Church “does not have, and cannot have, the power to bless unions of persons of the same sex…” 

"After the hopeful responses of Pope Francis regarding pastoral outreach to LGBTQ persons in the past and his support of civil unions, we are deeply dismayed by his endorsement of this rigid and un-pastoral declaration," said Deborah Rose-Milavec, Co-Director of FutureChurch. "Because of the harm this Responsum has already incurred and the danger it poses to the lives of LGBTQ people, it is imperative that our bishops and priests take a fearless stand for LGBTQ people."

FutureChurch calls on prelates like Cardinal Blaise Cupich, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Bishop John Stowe, Bishop Robert McElroy and others who have promoted the pastoral initiatives of our pope to speak out forcefully on the destructive aspects of this Vatican action.

Further, because of their courageous solidarity, FutureChurch enthusiastically endorses today’s statement by the Austrian Priests’ Initiative as they declare their decision to continue blessing same-sex loving couples. They write:

We, the members of the Austrian Priests' Initiative are deeply appalled by the new Roman decree that wants to prohibit the blessing of same-sex loving couples. This is a relapse into times that we had hoped to be overcome with Pope Francis. In solidarity with so many, we will not reject any loving couple in the future who wants to celebrate God's blessing, which they experience every day, in a church-service. Reality has long since shown that same-sex couples connected in love can very well celebrate God's blessing in church. A state-of-the-art theology establishes this responsible practice.
 
We vehemently protest against the assumption that same-sex loving couples are not part of God’s divine plan. Here an attempt is made to undermine the reality of creation with dogmatizing presumptions. We deeply regret that this decree, which seeks to revive the spirit of bygone times, widens the gap between Roman bureaucracy and the local Church. This decree offends many Christians and obscures and discredits the liberating message of Jesus.
 
“The Spirit will continue to move Catholics – lay and ordained – around the globe to support and bless their LGBTQ friends and family members as they enter into marriage,” said Russ Petrus, Co-Director for FutureChurch. “No directive from the Vatican will stop Her holy movement toward equality and wholeness for all members of the Body of Christ.”

On a personal note, Petrus added, “I share the pain of my LGBTQ siblings today. But I encourage us to find comfort in knowing that God’s blessing pours out on us regardless of whether the institution recognizes it or not. My own marriage is blessed and is a blessing and no statement can take that away from me.” 

End

Women Erased: Women in Catholic Media; Authority and Influence in Shaping the Stories We Read and Hear
March 23, 2021, 8:00pm ESTWith Heidi Schlumpf, Executive Editor of National Catholic Reporter
Sign Up
Women Witnesses for Racial Justice: Good Friday Stations of the Cross
April 2, 2021 at 12:00 pm EST
With FutureChurch staff
Sign Up
Women Witnesses for Racial Justice: Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church
April 6, 2021 at 7:00 pm EST
With Olga Marina Segura, Opinion Editor for National Catholic Reporter
Women Erased: Catholic Women, Feminism, and a New Paradigm for Being Church
April 20, 2021 at 8:00 pm EST
With Sr. Sandra Schneiders, IHM, Ph.D.
Women Witnesses for Racial Justice: Tracing the Evolution of Black Catholicism in the United States
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 7:00 pm ET
With Matthew Cressler, Ph.D. who will trace the evolution of Black Catholicism in the United States showing how Black Catholic activists in the 1960s and 1970s made Black Catholicism as we know it today.
Woman Erased: The Critical Role of Women in Latinx Catholicism and in the U.S. Catholic Church Today
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 8:00 pm ET
With Natalia Imperatori-Lee, Ph.D.
Enacting Vatican II: History, Documents, and Implications for the Church Today!
Four part series beginning Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - June 16, 2021 at 7:00 pm ET
With Sr. Maureen Sullivan, OP, Ph.D.
celebrates the voices of Catholic Women of Color
during Lent, Holy Week and Easter!
Please join us in celebrating the wisdom and words of
CATHOLIC WOMEN PREACH
MORE VIEWERS THAN EVER

Featuring Catholic women from across the globe addressing the challenges we face today in light of the Gospel.

Catholics are engaging the voices of Catholic Women Preach more than ever because they know that we need the courageous leadership and wisdom of Catholic women as we face the evils of racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia in our Church and in our world. Join us each week and on holy days!
Please Support FutureChurch
as We Share the Renewing Spirit of Hope
We know that these are uncertain times for everyone. But, if you are in a position to do so and would like to make a contribution, we would appreciate your support as we work to share the renewing Spirit of Hope at this critical time.