Pope Francis Challenges Church Teaching on Gays and Women

Pope Francis has suggested that it may be possible to bless same-sex unions, according to a newly public response to cardinals who questioned his affirmation of the LGBTQ community in the Catholic Church. While reaffirming the Church's understanding of marriage as between a man and a woman, he emphasized the importance of pastoral charity and the need to discern forms of blessing that do not convey a mistaken concept of marriage. LGBTQ advocates have welcomed the statement as a significant advancement in the inclusion of LGBTQ Catholics in the Church. The comments come ahead of a major three-week meeting at the Vatican to discuss the state of the Catholic Church and its future.