Malta’s gay-activist priest ‘blesses’ rings for same-sex ceremony, gets a pass from archbishop
VALLETTA, Malta , April 15, 2015 ( LifeSiteNews.com ) – Following a public scandal in Malta in which a priest “blessed” the rings of two homosexual men who were undertaking a civil unions ceremony, the newly appointed leader of the Maltese Catholic Church has encouraged the priest to continue his “pastoral outreach” to active homosexuals. Far from a reprimand, Dominican priest Mark Montebello was told by Archbishop Charles Scicluna to continue his “outreach” to active homosexuals. The Malta Independent reported that Archbishop Scicluna had called an “urgent” meeting with the priest and there was expectation that he would be ordered to clarify the ring blessing. Archbishop Scicluna, however, has not stepped up to defend Catholic teaching, but in comments on the national broadcaster RTK, said only that the ritual of the blessing of rings in engagement and wedding ceremonies were reserved for couples formed by a man and a woman. He added that he had encouraged Fr. Montebel