Vatican bars gay union blessing, says God ‘can’t bless sin’

A local LGBTQ leader says it's especially disappointing given the support Pope Francis has shown for the LGBTQ community in the past.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – The Catholic Church cannot bless same sex civil unions according to a declaration by the Vatican Monday.

It was just this past fall that news broke that Pope Francis was supportive of same sex civil unions.

Now, months later, the Vatican says they cannot bless these unions because God, “cannot bless sin.”

“We have a Pontiff who has been very vocal and very supportive of the LGBTQ community. And as much as we’re grateful for some of those great strides, there’s a long road ahead of us,” said Chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party’s LGBTQ Caucus Anthony DeRose.

The Vatican’s statement went on to say the unions are not part of God’s plan, and therefore cannot be recognized as marriage.

DeRose tells me the announcement is disappointing given how much work the church has done the last few years to draw people back in that it had alienated.

He says he hopes other Catholics who are part of the local LGBTQ community and wish to get married, aren’t deterred by this.

“If someone were to propose to me and I couldn’t get the church’s blessing, that wouldn’t stop me,” said DeRose. “I’m not going to stop my life and my future of being with someone because my church won’t bless me.”

In addition, he wants those who are married to not let this interrupt their faith, and to continue to push for change.

“To all those people that are currently married or have a civil union, and have families, whatever the catholic church says, it is not going to destroy that. You have a legal agreement that is bound by the laws and the government of this country,” said DeRose. “Keep the faith, keep the hope, do not lose that, do not let that deter you.”

ABC 6 reached out to the Providence Diocese for comment on this issue, but has not heard back.