Cardinal SHOCKS Church — Homosexuality “Order of Creation”

(DailyChive.com) – A sitting cardinal has publicly embraced language describing homosexuality as part of “the order of creation” rather than disorder, sparking alarm among traditionalists who see this as a direct challenge to longstanding Catholic teaching on sexuality.

Story Snapshot

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco authored a preface to a French book affirming homosexual orientation as a “non-pathological minority variant” rather than disorder
He invokes Vatican document Fiducia supplicans to argue the Church now blesses homosexual people “in the name of the Church,” claiming “that changes everything”
Former Vatican doctrinal chief Cardinal Müller warns such language represents “heretical relativization” of marriage and capitulation to “LGBT ideology”
The controversy highlights deepening divisions within Catholicism over whether pastoral practice is quietly eroding settled doctrine on homosexuality

Cardinal Reframes Homosexuality as Creation, Not Disorder

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers, wrote the preface to Homos et Cathos: L’Église à l’épreuve du réel (Gays and Catholics: The Church Put to the Test of Reality), published in French in May 2024. In the preface, Vesco praised theologian James Alison’s definition of homosexual orientation as “a regularly occurring non-pathological minority variant in the human condition.” Vesco added that this definition “places homosexuality within the order of creation and not within that of disorder or pathology.” This language directly contradicts the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which describes homosexual inclination as “objectively disordered” and homosexual acts as “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law.”

Invoking Vatican Document to Justify Blessings

Vesco invoked Fiducia supplicans, a December 2023 Vatican declaration allowing non-ritual blessings of persons in “irregular situations,” including same-sex couples. He claimed the Church now “authorizes its ministers to impart this blessing… in the name of the Church, and that changes everything.” He expressed joy that “homosexual people, whatever their state of life, should hear this blessing just as you and I do.” The document, issued under Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, has been interpreted differently across regions. Western European bishops see it as an opening for pastoral inclusion, while African and Eastern European bishops have largely restricted its application, viewing it as a threat to doctrinal clarity on marriage and sexuality.

Former Doctrinal Chief Condemns “Heretical Relativization”

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued sharp criticism of such pastoral shifts. Müller condemned blessings of same-sex couples as resting on “heretical denial” of revealed truth about male-female creation and marriage. He accused Synod Study Group 9’s report on sexuality of fueling “the heretical relativization of natural and sacramental marriage,” welcomed by what he called “the pro-LGBT lobby within the Church.” Müller rejected “gender ideology” as contrary to Christian anthropology and biological science. His warnings reflect concerns among traditionalists that pastoral language and practice are being used to undermine doctrine without formally changing it, effectively eroding the Church’s moral foundations through administrative maneuvering rather than honest theological debate.

German Cardinal Calls Catechism “Not Set in Stone”

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich-Freising has publicly called for revising Church teaching on homosexuality. Marx stated, “The catechism is not set in stone. One may also question what it says.” He declared, “Homosexuality is not a sin. It corresponds to a Christian attitude when two people, regardless of gender, stand up for each other, in joy and sorrow.” Marx admitted to blessing same-sex couples and advocated for an “inclusive church.” His comments, along with Germany’s Synodal Path pushing for positive recognition of same-sex relationships, illustrate a Western European push for doctrinal change. This stands in stark contrast to African and Polish bishops who defend existing teaching and warn against capitulation to secular ideologies imported from the West.

The controversy over Vesco’s preface exposes a fundamental question facing Catholics: Are Church leaders engaging in legitimate pastoral development that respects lived realities, or are they using bureaucratic language to quietly dismantle doctrines they lack the courage to challenge openly? For ordinary believers who value consistency and honesty, the spectacle of cardinals contradicting each other on foundational moral questions raises troubling doubts about whether the institution’s leadership serves truth or merely manages perceptions while pursuing agendas the faithful never voted for.