Rebel priests vow to bless same-sex couples, defying Vatican

The group are "deeply appalled" with the Church's decision to not bless same-sex marriages

A group of dissident Roman Catholic priests leading a campaign against the Vatican said they would continue to bless same-sex unions rather than following the Church's orders. This came after the Vatican announced on Monday that it would not bless same-sex marriages, as they were deemed "sinful" in the eyes of the Church.

In a statement from the Holy See Press office, a spokesperson said that same-sex marriages are not lawful as the union  is "not ordered to the Creator’s plan."

The statement said: “There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family.”

A spokesperson concluded by saying that the Church "does not have, and cannot have, the power to bless unions of persons of the same sex."

The announcement came as a disappointment to many gay Catholics around the world who believed their Church was becoming more progressive under Pope Francis.

The group, named the Parish Priests Initiative, said they are "deeply appalled by the new Roman decree that seeks to prohibit the blessing of same-sex loving couples," according to Reuters.

The statement said: "This is a relapse into times that we had hoped to have overcome with Pope Francis."

The group concluded: "We will - in solidarity with so many - not reject any loving couple in the future who ask to celebrate God’s blessing, which they experience every day, also in a worship service," Reuters reported.