The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) wrote a letter to the Bishops of Ireland asking for a conversation to be held about a pastoral outreach to gay Catholics.
In the letter, the ACP leadership team addressed the publication made by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) stating that Catholic clergy cannot bless same-sex unions because God “cannot bless sin.” The priests claim that the need for this conversation comes after the CDF’s “insensitive and unnecessary intervention” that has caused much “pain and distress” to gay Catholics, their families, and friends.