Catholics barred from attending same-sex weddings

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines called on members of the church to avoid taking part in ceremonies for same-sex unions, as it urged followers to oppose such partnerships.

In a pastoral letter published on Saturday, CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas said Catholics "are called to resist all attempts to normalize homosexual behavior and homosexual unions in their culture," while also extending compassion towards families "touched" by homosexuality.

"[Catholics] cannot participate in any way or even attend religious or legal ceremonies that celebrate and legitimize homosexual unions," Villegas said.

"Understandably, this will be a particularly heavy cross for families that have been touched by homosexuality. The Church reaches out with compassion to these families whose loved ones have entered into such unions," he added.

Villegas reiterated the church's stand that marriage is between a man and a woman, with procreation and raising their offspring among its main points.

"Homosexual unions... do not have the basic biological and anthropological elements of marriage and family," Villegas said.

"They are not able to contribute in a proper way to the procreation and survival of the human race, and thus, it would be an injustice to grant them legal recognition along with the same benefits and privileges accorded to marriage," he added.

Oppose law on same-sex unions

Villegas also said the Catholic faithful are "to oppose all gravely unjust laws that contravene both divine law and natural law—including all laws that legalize homosexual unions—because these unjust laws pervert and undermine the common good."

The call is made in particular to Catholic politicians, who he said "are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions in a particularly vigorous way."

"When legislation in favor of this recognition is first proposed, the Catholic lawmaker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it," Villegas said.

Calls for same-sex unions were made anew in the Philippines after a landmark US Supreme Court ruling in June that effectively legalized gay marriage in all 50 states, guaranteeing these unions with due process and equal protection under the law.

Congress said chances are slim to have the same law here in the Philippines, despite a growing acceptance for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT). -Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/NB, GMA News