Belgian bishop criticized the Vatican over gay unions decree: What you need to know

A Belgian bishop has criticized the Vatican over its decree that the Catholic Church will not bless homosexual unions since God “cannot bless sin”.

Antwerp Bishop Johan Bonny wrote in an opinion piece Wednesday that he feels “shame for my Church” and “intellectual and moral incomprehension” after Pope Francis approved the “negative” response to a question about whether Catholic clergy have the authority to bless same-sex unions. The official response said God “does not and cannot bless sin."

The conference of Belgian bishops backed Bonny's concerns, saying LGBT faithful and their loved ones saw the Vatican decree as “exceptionally painful.” The conference urged everyone to work on “a climate of respect, recognition, and integration”.