A priest in Northern Italy who
said that couples living together outside of marriage commit a
worse sin than murder has been forced to apologize.
Father Tarcisio Vicario set off a firestorm of reaction in
the town of Cameri when he said that while murder is an
"occasional" sin for which the culprit can repent, people who
live together outside the "sacrament of marriage" are sinning
continuously.
He was forced to write a letter of apology to his
parishioners, saying his words published in the parish bulletin
were "inappropriate and wrong (because) they simplify a reality
that is complex".
Vicario had also said that people who married in civil
ceremonies were also living in a state of sin and would not be
able to act as godparents because they could not be sure to
teach their godchildren to live in "the proper Christian" way.
Bishop Franco Giulio Brambilla distanced himself from
Vicario's comments, and posted his own letter on the website of
the Diocese of Novara in which he said he "sincerely apologizes
to all those who were offended by the misleading statements the
text published in the parish bulletin".
Brambilla, who is bishop of Novara, added that themes
around marriage, cohabitation, separation, and divorce are key
topics raised by Pope Francis for the next Synod of Bishops to
be held in October on the subject of the family.
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