Pope Francis is seeking to clarify that the Catholic Church is not changing its teachings about homosexual practices and same-sex relationships as the Vatican faces criticism for approving a document allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Francis met in Rome this week where they issued a fresh call for Christian unity.
Mike Pilavachi's conduct fell short "of that expected of a priest in the Church of England", an investigation has concluded.
The Vatican's doctrinal office issued a five-page statement Thursday clarifying last month's controversial "Fiducia Supplicans" guidance, which led to an eruption of pushback from theologically conservative Roman Catholic prelates worldwide.
"Using the language that individuals use for themselves shows that we care as a Church and that we affirm them as a child of God," the guidance says.
A Catholic archbishop in Kazakhstan reportedly issued a formal repudiation of the Vatican doctrinal office's guidance this week allowing priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples. He accused the Catholic Church of propagating "gender ideology."
"Jesus also contradicts ideologically these ways [that] want to relativize or even destroy a marriage of men and women and the family of the parents with their own children," the German cardinal told GBNews host Jacob Rees-Mogg.
The Vatican approved same-sex blessings, but there are a few caveats.
Pope Francis has given his approval for priests to bless couples in "irregular" situations, including same-sex unions.
Pope Francis has already made plans for his funeral and burial, he revealed this week.
The Salvation Army has officially opened its new UK and Ireland Territory headquarters in south London.
Traditionalist Anglicans have expressed disappointment at the decision of the Church of England House of Bishops to allow prayers for same-sex couples in services from this Sunday despite deep divisions.
The Church of England is making its controversial prayers for the blessing of same-sex couples available for use in services from Sunday.
