Catholic churches around Germany were offering blessings for gay couples on Monday in a protest against the Vatican s refusal to approve same-sex partnerships.
More than 100 churches around the country have signed up to host services under the motto love wins on or around May 10 in the scheme initiated by priests, deacons and volunteers.
At the services, all couples will be invited to be blessed - regardless of sexual orientation.
A rainbow flag is seen on the wall of a Catholic church as the building is open for same-sex couples to receive a blessing in Cologne, Germany, May 10
Vicar Wolfgang Rothe, left, blesses the couple Christine Walter, center, and Almut Muenster, right, during a Catholic service in St Benedict s Church in Munich, Sunday, May 9. Germany s Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering exactly such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country