Priest says gay civil unions ‘are giving approval to sinful behavior’

NAPLES, Florida, October 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A Florida priest criticized as “extremely questionable” Pope Francis’ recent remarks, in which the Holy Father appeared to support legal recognition of homosexual relationships. “The problem is we are giving approval to sinful behavior,” explained Fr. Michael Orsi, a Catholic priest in Naples, Florida. “And because homosexual relationships are sinful behavior, a homosexual relationship endangers the soul. It is a mortal sin.” “When the pope encourages civil unions, that becomes extremely questionable,” Orsi told his congregation on Sunday, pointing out that many people have asked him about the Pope’s statements regarding “civil unions for same-sex couples, their right to a family and their right to be part of a family.” Speaking in the context of Sunday’s Gospel message, “Love your neighbor as yourself," Orsi set the record straight: Church teaching has not changed. “Some people think that whenever the Pope speaks, it is an official …