The Christian church, especially the catholic church and the pope as their leader, are currently strongly criticized due to their position to disallow blessings of same sex couples. Many members of the LGBTQI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and others) communities are reported to be very disappointed. Even some catholic priests openly disobeyed the order of the pope and did bless same sex couples. 

First and foremost: God created us all in his image. We are all brothers and sisters and God does not show favoritism. This is what we know from the old testament and Jesus further strengthens this by encouraging us to love one another: 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34

I think with “love”, Jesus refers to the unconditional, undemanding and not lust related love also called “Agape-love” from the respective Greek word. This kind of love is applicable regardless of sexual orientation and stages we are in in life. Further we read:

There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

James 4:12

It is not me to judge anyone for their deeds and especially not for their sexual orientation. God gives us freedom and it is one of my highest values too. Every human is able to define for themselves how they feel and want to be perceived. No-one should be required to hide who they are. 

I respect everyone as they are. I have some gay friends that are in very loving relationships and some have celebrated their civil marriage already as it is possible in some European countries. 

Now, why does the catholic church not want to bless same-sex couples? When it comes to the sexual acts for same sex couples, the bible is quite clear: 

Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

Leviticus 18:22

This bible verse goes on disallowing sexual intercourse with family relatives and is followed by disallowing sexual intercourse with animals and so on. The bible passage even highlights the punishment if those practices are accepted:

Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

Leviticus 18:24-25

During his lifetime Jesus confirmed the old testament. In the visions of Valtorta Jesus also confirms the Bible verses of Leviticus calling those practices including homosexual intercourse an “inconceivable obsessive union”.

When talking about sex and marriage, the bible implicitly refers to hetero orientation only. For example we read:

Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

Matthew 19:4-6

Taking those verses into consideration, and assuming the Bible reflects the word of God, in my view God accepts and loves every human just as they are, with whatever sexual orientation. However, when it comes to sexual intercourse and lust, God is quite clear too. The main purpose of sexual intercourse, as designed by nature, is to be fruitful, become one flesh, thus to reproduce. Same-sex intercourse does not fulfill this purpose and thus is lust only. God therefore is disallowing it. Traditionally, marriage is the starting point to sexual intercourse in order to reproduce, and also to provide a protected framework for children. Therefore, same sex marriages are from a biblical point of view not foreseen. 

I fully understand the catholic church and the pope too. They cannot bless same sex marriages as they cannot act against the word of God or disrespect a clear commandment. Further, they can and shall not dare to change the word of God. Times change yes, but God and his word is eternal. Certainly they can bless each individual as God loves them but not as a LGBTQI+ couple.

Civil marriages do give same-sex couples all the rights they need, to care for each other e.g. in case of health emergencies and I think it is very good that this is or gets more and more allowed. If an LGBTQI+ person wants to live a God aligned life, other options like e.g. platonic love are available. Is it unfair? Well, hetero’s married are according to the Bible not allowed to have other sexual relationships outside their marriage and the main purpose of the intercourse should be to reproduce. If someone wants to live a God aligned life, there are rules to obey. God gives everyone the freedom to choose.

Do you have a different opinion or research results? Please leave a note, I am happy to discuss: