The Vatican Calls Ireland’s Vote for Same-Sex Marriage a ‘Defeat for Humanity’
The Vatican Calls Ireland’s Vote for Same-Sex Marriage a ‘Defeat for Humanity’
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Drag queen and gay-rights activist Rory O'Neill, known by his stage name Panti Bliss, arrives at the central count center at Dublin Castle, in Dublin on May 23, 2015Brian Lawless—;PA Wire/Press Association Images
Ireland’s recent referendum approving same-sex marriages has drawn sharp condemnation from a senior Vatican official, who described it as “a defeat for humanity,” the Guardian reports.
“I was deeply saddened by the result,” said the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on Tuesday. “The church must take account of this reality, but in the sense that it must strengthen its commitment to evangelization. I think that you cannot just talk of a defeat for Christian principles, but of a defeat for humanity.”
Parolin is regarded as the highest official in the church hierarchy after the Pope. His hard-line stance will be greeted with dismay by Catholics hoping for a softening in the church’s position on homosexuality. They come after the Vatican’s recent refusal to accept a gay Catholic, Laurent Stefanini, as France’s ambassador to the Holy See because of his sexuality, the Guardian reports, citing French and Italian media.
This month’s Irish referendum saw 62% of voters coming out in favor of marriage equality for gays and lesbians.
The wind lifts Pope Francis' mantle as he delivers his speech in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, on Sept. 26, 2015.Tony Gentile—APPope Francis looks at the Statue of Liberty from the window of a helicopter on his way to the John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York City, on Sept. 26, 2015.L'Osservatore Romano/APA Pope Francis mannequin rides around in a car in Times Square as New York City waits for the arrival of the Pope to the city, on Sept. 24, 2015.Timothy A. Clary—AFP/Getty ImagesKaydn Dorsey, 4, and Lionel Perkins, 4, draw on a coloring sheet bearing the image of Pope Francis as they wait for him to arrive on a visit to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2015.David Goldman—ReutersNuns with the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy in Pleasantville, N.J., pose for a selfie with a cutout of Pope Francis, at the World Meeting of Families conference, in Philadelphia, on Sept. 22, 2015. Matt Rourke—APPope Francis blows out the candles of a birthday cake to celebrate his 78th birthday during a general audience at the Vatican on Dec. 17, 2014. Osservatore Romano/AFP/Getty ImagesPaying the bill at Rome's Domus Internationalis Paulus VI hotel, where Pope Francis stayed as a cardinal before entering the conclave and being elected pope.Osservatore Romano/APWelcoming Pope emeritus Benedict XVI as he returns to the Vatican from the pontifical summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.Osservatore Romano/APHolding a disabled child after celebrating Easter Mass.Alessandro di Meo—ANSA/Zuma Press Pope Francis masks in a factory in Brazil, where the Pontiff took his first overseas trip. Christophe Simon—AFP/Getty ImagesLeading the Worldwide Eucharistic adoration at the Vatican.Alessandra Benedetti—CorbisA gust of wind blows the pope's mantle. Alessandra Tarantino—APAttending the opening of the Pastoral Convention of the Diocese of Rome. Stefano Rellandini—ReutersLeaving a welcoming ceremony at Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro. Ricardo Moraes—ReutersGreeting the weekly General Audience. Stefano Rellandini—ReutersPointing to the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida from the balcony of the Aparecida basilica in Brazil. Domenico Stinellis—APA Catholic faithful in Brazil bears a sticker of Pope Francis on his forehead. Ueslei Marcelino—ReutersImages of Pope Francis projected onto screens at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Paulo Whitaker— ReutersDeparting Rio de Janeiro. Ricardo Moraes—ReutersA stray dog walks across the stage near the altar where Pope Francis celebrates the World Youth Day's closing Mass on the Copacabana beachfront. Victor R. Caivano—APListening to confessions of young people in a park in Rio de Janeiro. L'Osservatore Romano—EPAPosing with youths in Saint Peter's Basilica.L'Osservatore Romano—EPAGreeting the faithful on a rainy day during the General Audience.Fabio Frustaci—Eidon Press/Zuma PressArriving to lead his General Audience in a firefighter's helmet.Stefano Rellandini—ReutersA quiet moment after meeting with Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the Vatican.Max Rossi—ReutersMarking the 110th anniversary UNITALSI, a Catholic organization dedicated to helping the sick. Francesco Zizola—NOOR for TIMEA private Audience with Russian President Vladimir Putin. L'Osservatore Romano/APKeeping warm during a General Audience. Alessandra Tarantino—APComforting a disfigured man at the end of his General Audience. Claudio Peri—EPABlessing a sick man with deformed facial features. Evandro Inetti—Zuma PressVisiting the parish of the Sant'Alfonso Maria de Liguori during the Epiphany day.L'Osservatore Romano—AFP/Getty ImagesReacting to devotees at a weekly General Audience.Alessandro Bianchi—ReutersA seagull attacks a dove released during a prayer conducted by Pope Francis.
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