A congratulatory letter sent from Pope Francis to a same-sex couple regarding the baptism of their children was a standard form letter sent to all who write to the Pope, a Vatican source has confirmed.
The letter was not an endorsement of gay unions, the source told CNA, and the Pope may not have known that the letter was going to a gay couple, since it was addressed to a single individual.
Tony Reis, an LGBT activist, and his partner David Harrad published on Facebook in April that they sent a letter to the Pope, telling him about the baptism of their three adopted children in a church in Curitiba, Brazil.
[Editor’s note: pro-gay New Ways Ministry had published a blog post on August 9 titled “Pope Congratulates, Blesses Gay Couple on the Baptism of Their Adopted Children”. Other news sources published similar stories.]
The couple told AFP that they had received a congratulatory letter in return, signed by the Vatican Secretariat of State, Monsignor Paolo Borgi.
The letter, translated from Portuguese, said that the Holy Father “looks with appreciation” at the letter on the baptism of the children, and “expressed his feelings of esteem…and his wishes for the good spiritual fruits of his ministry as Pastor of the Universal Church.”
“Pope Francis wishes him well, invoking for his family the abundance of divine graces, so that they may live constantly and faithfully the condition of Christians, as good children of God and of the Church, and sends them a propitious Apostolic Blessing, asking them not to stop praying for him,” the letter concludes.
“(T)hat letter is the standard model of courtesy response that the Vatican sends to all the people who write to the Pope, and therefore was not a letter (that was) expressly thinking about them,” the Vatican source told CNA.
In an official statement to CNA, vice director of the Holy See press office Paloma Ovejero confirmed that the perception that this letter was an affirmation of same-sex marriage “is false. The letter was directed only to him (Reis).” The Vatican letter is only addressed to one person with the greeting “Dear Sir.”
“Although it is true that in the body of the response there was a reference to a blessing of the family of the recipient, in Portuguese this expression has a generic and ample meaning, equivalent to ‘all the people close to you,’” Ovejero told CNA.
She added that in the text of the Vatican letter “there is no element whatsoever that makes reference to the concrete content of Mr. Reis’ letter, except for the gratitude of the Pope for the expression of ‘esteem and veneration to the Pastor of the Universal Church.’”
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
There is Nothing and No One that the Gaystapo will not co-opt in to pushing their agenda of pandering to Intrinsically Disordered Behaviors & Agenda, including using Children as Hostages to deceive and demean the Church
Shame – on those who use Children in such a Degrading Manner – whether it be Larry Brinkin, Juan Enrique Pearce (who is still listed on the CA Bar Website as having No Record of Discipline and being fit to practice law – despite his Multiple Felony Plea in April before a ‘retired / ringer’ Judge brought in to softball the case – hoping to get Home Detention) & others who see Children as simply a Tool to Fool – the Unknowing & otherwise Good Hearted
Homosexuals are so desperate to be seen as normal and to try to embarrass the Church that they created this non-story. Writing to the Vatican was probably a set-up to begin with. You have to be very wary with people like that. Diabolical narcissism is evil.
the story in ‘o globo’ , brazil’s NYT, highlights a copy of the letter which is exactly as the Vatican spokeswoman said,a generic form letter addressed to a single ‘ sir’. however, the rest of the story tells how that gay couple shopped for cooperating parishes and were turned down by four local pastors until they met with the local bishop who saw no problem at all with anything..
Why does this Pope undermine Catholic teaching and leadership, worldwide?? And betray poor little children??WHY?? I think his resignation is long overdue!
Did you not read the article? Please use a little reason.
David– Good Catholics who are responsible adults, truly care for the welfare of little children! Little innocent children DO NOT BELONG in morally, psychologically, and spiritually DANGEROUS and CORRUPT “gay sex” homes! You should be old enough to know that, David! You don’t have to be a Catholic, to know this is a HORRIFIC SIN!! At least, these gays should BE RESPONSIBLE, and place the children for proper adoptions, to morally and psychologically responsible, good homes, with parents who believe in God, and love children!! The gays can apply to adopt a loving pet, maybe, at a local shelter– but watch out, their rules are strict, for the welfare of animals!
This had nothing to do with you claiming the pope is undermining the teachings of the church or calling for his resignation. The pope would agree with you.
Yes, David— no true Pope in this whole world, would want to undermine the Faith in the presence of little children being cruelly and selfishly victimized, by this Pope’s very public lack of fidelity to clear and true, faithful Catholic teaching– true and faithful Catholic teaching always seeks the highest welfare of children!!! Children DO NOT BELONG anywhere near such filthy, hedonist, selfish, sinful places of gay sex!!
Many Catholics today have not been taught– that it is IMPOSSIBLE to receive God’s Divine Graces and His favor– when living in a state of Mortal Sin!! And to involve innocent little children in such evils– is a horror, before God!! (Sacramental graces for the children’s Baptisms are certainly valid)
Michael: Take chill a pill, relax and enjoy God’s beautiful creation!!
There is no ‘enjoyment’ in Desecration of God’s Beautiful Creation by radical leftist / gender feminist / homosex / Demi-Krat political gangsters
Enjoyment of God’s Beautiful Creation also implies a Stewardship of the same, which is the opposite of the scam being pushed – so Scold the Desiccators if you actually believe what you write
A “rose” smells wonderful, and a “stinker” smells awful NO matter what you called them. Pope Francis sent an endorsement of gay marriage.
BTW – I followed the link to ‘new ways’ (which is problematic, as they would publicize the increased traffic on their website – as ‘endorsement’) and the story there is much worse than reported here.