Brian Leraisia on WNYC.

Yesterday Pope Francis, as many of you have probably heard, gave his approval to a declaration

allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples.

While moving beyond the previous statements, saying that God does not and cannot bless

sin, it still falls short of fully endorsing marriage for gay couples.

Nevertheless, my next guest, Father James Martin,

calls this a major step forward.

Father Martin is a Jesuit priest,

an editor of Outreach and LGBTQ Catholic Resource.

He is a consultant, as they call it, to the Vatican's Dicastory for communication

and author of books including Come Forth, which is out this year and learning to pray.

Father Martin always good to have you on the show.

Welcome back to WNYC.

Thank you, great to be back.

Tell me why this is good news for priests and their parishioners.

Well, it's good news because it enables us to bless couples, same-sex couples in a way that we were unable to do before. I just

bless my first one this morning actually and you know it really turns around a

statement that had come out two years ago as you quoted God does not and cannot

bless sin that really caused a lot of angst I would say in the LGBTQ community

which is includes their their families and friends so among many Catholics so I think it's a great

step forward a really pastoral response to a need in the church. And listeners we want

to hear from Catholic listeners lapse ored or active, gay or straight, but especially if you are a gay

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