Vatican and blessing same-sex marriages

Sir, – The Vatican's recent pronouncement on same-sex unions discriminates against homosexuals. Fr Kevin E O'Reilly (Letters, March 23rd), responding to Dr Mary McAleese, disagrees with this interpretation of the document on the basis that the church refuses to bless unions that "involve sexual activity outside of marriage". This applies to both homosexual and heterosexual couples. But this is a half-truth that will fail to impress many Catholics because the church rules out marriage for same-sex couples. Therefore, same-sex couples, unlike heterosexual couples, cannot remedy their supposed immoral relationship by getting married.

This is not “sacramental logic” – it is sacramental dogma. – Yours, etc,

Dr DON O’LEARY,

Mallow,

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Co Cork.