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The Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki joins the controversial No of the Vatican to the blessing of homosexual couples.
Woelki sees in the attitude of the Vatican "a strengthening of the Catholic understanding of marriage and family", as the Archdiocese of Cologne announced to the "Bonner General-Anzeiger" on Tuesday.
The Roman Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith made it clear in mid-March that the Church was not authorized to bless homosexual couples.
Any form of blessing that recognizes a homosexual partnership is not permitted.
The decision was heavily criticized, among other things, numerous Catholic bodies and associations had opposed it.
Woelki went on to say that he would “continue to work to ensure that we humans treat each other - regardless of sexual orientation - with respect, mutual respect and appreciation.” It remains “for us the task that involves church residency and pastoral care for To continue with questions related to same-sex inclinations.
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Just a few days earlier, lawyers had presented an expert report commissioned by Woelki on how diocese officials dealt with allegations of abuse.
The experts accused several of those in charge of the archdiocese of breach of duty.
Woelki himself was not incriminated, but admitted his own mistakes in dealing with alleged abusers.