Vatican Secretary of State
Pietro Parolin said Tuesday that last weekend's referendum in
which Irish people voted to legalise gay marriage was a "defeat
for humanity".
"I was deeply saddened by this result," Cardinal Parolin
said.
"The Church must take account of this reality, but in the
sense that it must strengthen its commitment to evangelization.
"I think that you cannot just talk of a defeat for
Christian principles, but of a defeat for humanity.
"The family remains at the centre and we have to do
everything to defend it and promote it.
"Hitting it would be like taking the foundations away from
the building of the future".
Catholic doctrine considers homosexuality a sin and the
Church is against moves to equate gay unions with traditional
marriages between men and women.
Pope Francis, however, famously said in 2013 "who am I to
judge?" gay people of good will who are seeking God.
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