US same-sex ruling ‘blessing in disguise for PH Catholic Church’

The US Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage can be seen by the Catholic Church in the Philippines as a blessing in disguise, a priest said on Friday.

Fr. Dexter Toledo, executive secretary of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, said the ruling presented an opportunity for local church officials to reintroduce to the faithful traditional marriage between a male and a female.

“[N]akikita natin itong isang pagkakataon higit sa lahat para sa Simbahan upang muli ay maipakita at maipakilala ang sakramento ng kasal,” Toledo said in an interview with church-run Radyo Veritas. “Naniniwala tayo na ang sakramento ng kasal ay dapat na namamagitan sa isang lalake at isang babae.”

Citing the Family Code, Toledo said it would be impossible to pass a legislation legalizing same-sex unions in the Philippines amid strong clamor from members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

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Articles 1 and 2 of the Family Code limited marriages in the Philippines between a man and a woman, while Articles 46 (4) and 55 (6) cited homosexuality and lesbianism as grounds for annulment and legal separation.

A petition seeking to nullify the said provisions is pending before the Supreme Court.

But despite its firm opposition to same-sex marriage, Toledo said the Catholic Church would always respect the rights of homosexuals, adding that it would not prevent them from seeking spiritual help.

“Hindi ito magiging isang hadlang para sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan na nais makadaupang palad ang Diyos, alam nating maawain at mapagmahal ang Diyos at ang kanyang awa at habag ay bukas para sa lahat,” he said.