<p>Earlier this week in a statement from Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by Pope Francis the Vatican denied the possibility of the Church and Priests blessing same-sex couples. We were deeply disapointed by this statement and the harm it will do to LGBTQI Catholics noting that so many Catholics already support and affirm the relationships of LGBTQI people in their lives. <a href=https://www.dignityusa.org/news/vatican-statement-denying-blessings-same-sex-couples-%E2%80%9Cexacerbates-pain-and-anger%E2%80%9D-gay-catholics>You can read our full response here.</a></p><p><span>Since then reporters and journalists from across the country have reached out to DignityUSA national and local leaders asking for our thoughts and comments. We want to ensure that the voice and experiences of LGBTQI Catholics is heard.</span></p><p><span>Check out the list below to hear from DignityUSA leaders respond to the Vatican's statement:</span></p><p><strong>National</strong></p><p><a href=https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-catholics-vatican-rebuff-same-sex-unions-d51a65e2880c4daf7ef58a199e2fd47f>Associated Press -&nbsp;LGBTQ Catholics stung by Vatican rebuff of same-sex unions</a></p><p><a href=https://www.insider.com/lgbtq-catholics-vatican-decree-same-sex-unions-2021-3>Insider -&nbsp;LGBTQ Catholics worry that Pope Francis' decree on same-sex unions could drive more away from the church</a></p><p><a href=https://daily.jstor.org/the-origins-of-lgbtq-affirming-churches/>JSTOR Daily -&nbsp;The Origins of LGBTQ-Affirming Churches</a></p><p><a href=https://www.npr.org/2021/03/15/977415222/illicit-for-catholic-church-to-bless-same-sex-marriages-vatican-says>National Public Radio -&nbsp;Vatican Says Catholic Church Cannot Bless Same-Sex Marriages</a></p><p><a href=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/lgbtq-catholics-stung-vatican-rebuff-same-sex-unions-n1261211>NBC Out -&nbsp;LGBTQ Catholics stung by Vatican rebuff of same-sex unions</a></p><p><a href=https://www.newsnationnow.com/radio/audio-vatican-bars-gay-union-blessing-says-god-cant-bless-sin/>NewsNation -&nbsp;Vatican bars gay union blessing</a></p><p><a href=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/15/world/europe/vatican-same-sex-unions.html>New York Times -&nbsp;Vatican Says Priests Can't Bless Same-Sex Unions</a></p><p><a href=https://www.npr.org/2021/03/15/977548652/the-vatican-has-announced-the-church-cannot-bless-same-sex-unionsMarianne>NPR All Things Considered -&nbsp;The Vatican Has Announced The Church 'Cannot' Bless Same-Sex Unions</a></p><p><a href=https://www.pbs.org/video/march-16-2021-m30wka/>PBS - March 16th 2021</a></p><p><a href=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vatican-lgbt/in-setback-for-gay-catholics-vatican-says-church-cannot-bless-same-sex-unions-idUSKBN2B71C3>Reuters -&nbsp;In setback for gay Catholics Vatican says church cannot bless same-sex unions</a></p><p><a href=https://time.com/5947091/lgbtq-catholics-same-sex-union-marriage-vatican/>Time - LGBTQ Catholics Are Stung by the Vatican['s Rebuff of Same-Sex Unions</a></p><p><a style=text-decoration-line: underline; href=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/pope-same-sex-unions-licit/2021/03/15/8c51ee80-8581-11eb-be4a-24b89f616f2c_story.html>Washington Post -&nbsp;Pope Francis says priests cannot bless same-sex unions dashing hopes of gay Catholics</a></p><p><a href=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/03/16/catholic-opinion-gay-marriage-pope-francis/>Washington Post -&nbsp;Regarding same-sex unions Pope Francis must navigate a divided church</a></p><p><strong>International</strong></p><p><a href=https://theswaddle.com/vatican-refuses-to-bless-same-sex-marriages-calling-them-a-sin/>The Swaddle -&nbsp;Vatican Refuses To Bless SameSex Marriages</a></p><p><strong>Local</strong></p><p>California</p><p><a href=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-diocese-catholics-respond-to-vatican-decree-banning-gay-unio/?sba=AAS>The Press Democrat -&nbsp;Sonoma County diocese Catholics respond to Vatican decree barring blessing of gay unions</a></p><p>Georgia</p><p><a href=https://www.gpb.org/news/2021/03/15/vatican-says-catholic-church-cannot-bless-same-sex-marriages>GPB - Vatican Says Catholic Church Cannot Bless Same-Sex Marriages</a></p><p>Illinois</p><p><a href=https://abc7chicago.com/vatican-same-sex-marriage-gay-unions-catholic-church-lgbtq-rights/10419322/>ABC 7 Chicago -&nbsp;Vatican bars same-sex union blessing</a></p><p><a href=https://www.nbcchicago.com/lx/vatican-decree-on-same-sex-marriage-that-god-cannot-bless-sin-met-with-disappointment-from-lgbtq-groups/2462492/>NBC 5 Chicago -&nbsp;Vatican Decree on Same-Sex Marriage That God Cannot Bless Sin' Met With Disappointment From Celebs LGBTQ Groups</a></p><p>Massachusetts</p><p><a href=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/disappointment-locally-on-vatican-statement-barring-blessing-of-same-sex-unions/article_6512b938-85e2-11eb-8604-1fced7b2238d.html>The Berkshire Eagle -&nbsp;Disappointment locally on Vatican statement barring blessing of same-sex unions</a></p><p><a href=https://www.boston25news.com/news/lgbtq-catholics-react-vaticans-denial-blessings-same-sex-unions/ETZC7GZHUVEZ7OTLFVLG73HPCA/>Boston 25 News - LGBTQ Catholics React to Vatican's denial of blessings to same sex unions</a></p><p><a href=https://www.wgbh.org/news/national-news/2021/03/16/after-the-catholic-church-bans-same-sex-marriage-blessings-whats-next-for-lgbt-worshippers>GBH -&nbsp;After The Catholic Church Bans Same-Sex Marriage Blessings Whats Next For LGBT Worshippers?</a></p><p><a href=https://www.nbcboston.com/lx/vatican-decree-on-same-sex-marriage-that-god-cannot-bless-sin-met-with-disappointment-from-lgbtq-groups/2329426/>NBC 10 Boston -&nbsp;Vatican Decree on Same-Sex Marriage That God Cannot Bless Sin' Met With Disappointment From Celebs LGBTQ Groups</a></p><p><a href=https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/we-can-t-bless-gay-unions-ma-catholics-vatican-decree>Patch MA -&nbsp;&nbsp;'We Can't Bless Gay Unions': MA Catholics On Vatican Decree</a></p><p><a href=https://www.wbur.org/npr/977415222/illicit-for-catholic-church-to-bless-same-sex-marriages-vatican-says>WBUR -&nbsp;Vatican Says Catholic Church Cannot Bless Same-Sex Marriages</a></p><p>New Jersey</p><p><a href=https://outinjersey.net/once-again-pope-francis-has-shocked-the-catholic-lgbtq-community/>Out In Jersey -&nbsp;Once again Pope Francis has shocked the Catholic LGBTQ community</a></p><p>New York</p><p><a href=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/03/15/catholic-church-same-sex-marriage/amp/>CBS New York -&nbsp;Catholic Church Again Says It Cannot Give A Blessing To Same Sex Marriage LGBTQ Advocate Says Theyre Just Out Of Step</a></p><p><a href=https://www.gaycitynews.com/lgbtq-catholics-rip-church-over-rejection-of-marriage-equality/>Gay City News -&nbsp;LGBTQ Catholics Rip Church Over Rejection of Marriage Equality</a></p><p><a href=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/vatican-same-sex-marriage-long-island-1.50183884>Newsday - Long Island gay Catholics disapointed by Vatican same-sex marriage ruling</a></p><p>Pennsylvania</p><p><a href=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2021/03/15/Vatican-pope-francis-excludes-bars-gay-same-sex-unions-blessing-catholic-church/stories/202103150069>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette -&nbsp;Pope Francis says priests cannot bless same-sex unions</a></p><p>Texas</p><p><a href=https://www.nbcdfw.com/lx/vatican-decree-on-same-sex-marriage-that-god-cannot-bless-sin-met-with-disappointment-from-lgbtq-groups/2579797/>NBC 5 Dallas - Fort Worth -&nbsp;Vatican Decree on Same-Sex Marriage That God Cannot Bless Sin' Met With Disappointment From Celebs LGBTQ Groups</a></p>