A Belgian bishop has lashed out at the Vatican over its decree that the Catholic Church won't bless same-sex 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." Bonny, who was part of a Vatican 2015 synod on marriage and family, said: "I want to apologize to all for whom this is painful and incomprehensible." The Vatican's position has pleased conservatives, disheartened advocates for LGBT Catholics and thrown a wrench into a debate within Germany's Catholic Church, which has been at the forefront of opening discussions on hot-button issues such as Catholic teachings on homosexuality. Bonny said he was disappointed by the level of argument that ran through the note from the Vatican's orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. "I am angry because these kind of pieces don't even reach the intellectual level of high school. The simplicity of arguments is jarring," he told Belgian broadcaster VRT. The Congregation's note distinguished between blessing same-sex unions and the church's welcoming and blessing of gay people, which it endorsed. It argued that such unions were not part of God's plan and that any sacramental recognition of them could be confused with marriage. The Vatican holds that gay people must be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is "intrinsically disordered." Catholic teaching says that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman that is part of God's plan and intended for creating new life. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?✝️ (?: AP/Andrew Medichini)

A Belgian bishop has lashed out at the Vatican over its decree that the Catholic Church won't bless same-sex 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." Bonny, who was part of a Vatican 2015 synod on marriage and family, said: "I want to apologize to all for whom this is painful and incomprehensible." The Vatican's position has pleased conservatives, disheartened advocates for LGBT Catholics and thrown a wrench into a debate within Germany's Catholic Church, which has been at the forefront of opening discussions on hot-button issues such as Catholic teachings on homosexuality. Bonny said he was disappointed by the level of argument that ran through the note from the Vatican's orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. "I am angry because these kind of pieces don't even reach the intellectual level of high school. The simplicity of arguments is jarring," he told Belgian broadcaster VRT. The Congregation's note distinguished between blessing same-sex unions and the church's welcoming and blessing of gay people, which it endorsed. It argued that such unions were not part of God's plan and that any sacramental recognition of them could be confused with marriage. The Vatican holds that gay people must be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is "intrinsically disordered." Catholic teaching says that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman that is part of God's plan and intended for creating new life. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?✝️ (?: AP/Andrew Medichini)