Archbishop Alexander Sample
Archbishop Alexander Sample
Portland Archbishop Alexander Sample expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for a March 15 statement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that explains while all persons have inherent dignity and are to be treated with respect, the church considers same-sex unions illicit and will not bless them.

“All persons are created in the image and likeness of God, have an inherent human dignity, and are worthy of our love and pastoral care,” Archbishop Sample said. “At the same time there are certain actions and relationships (in this case same-sex unions) that cannot be blessed by the church.”

Archbishop Sample said the CDF statement is a reaffirmation of the church’s constant teaching.

“This is not a matter of discrimination but of honoring the truth of the human person and the dignity of marriage itself,” he said.

He added that the clarification from the pope “is important today when there is so much confusion about what is for our authentic good and how to draw closer to Christ.”

The archbishop said he is praying that this will be a unique moment of grace for the life of the church.