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WATCH: Gay Parents Create Quandary for Catholic Church, Says Fox Contributor

WATCH: Gay Parents Create Quandary for Catholic Church, Says Fox Contributor

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Rev. Jonathan Morris seems to have qualms about welcoming children of gay parents, who are in what he calls 'irregular, difficult situations.'

Ministering to children of same-sex couples may be problematic for the Roman Catholic Church, claims Rev. Jonathan Morris, a Catholic priest and Fox News contributor.

Morris appeared recently on Fox & Friends to discuss the Synod of Bishops meeting at the Vatican; an interim report of the proceedings, convened to discuss issues of family and sexuality, contained language unusally welcoming of gay people, although the final document that emerged from the synod was considerably less so.

Morris, author of The Way of Serenity, said he favors finding "creative ways" to welcome people to the church. However, LGBT people aren't likely to perceive Morris as rolling out a welcome mat. He referred to same-sex couples as being in "irregular, difficult situations" and suggested that baptizing their child would present a quandary for the clergy.

"What is the church for but to welcome people?" Morris asked. "But ... the midterm report made it sounds like, well, welcoming could also mean, well, we're changing doctrine ... and what does it meant to welcome? Should we welcome? Of course, we should welcome everyone. ... We are all sinners, and of course we should find creative ways to welcome and at the same time not change the Bible. You know, we actually believe in the Bible. ...

"It is difficult, and I think they're going to have to make decisions next year of what that means. I mean, real practical situations. A gay couple comes in with their child, for example, to baptize the child. Should the child be baptized? Of course. But every couple, gay, straight -- when they say we're going to baptize our child, we're saying we're going to raise him in the Catholic faith. And so as a priest, as a minister, how do you deal with that? What does that exactly mean?"

Whether Morris's view or a more progressive one will prevail in the church remains to be seen. Another bishops' meeting will convene a year from now to further address sexuality and family.

Watch the video of Morris's Fox & Friends appearance below.

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