The Roman Catholic Church recently issued a statement addressing same-sex unions. After receiving pressure from a few influential bishops in Europe, the church said they will not bless same-sex marriage. The statement said “[God] does not and cannot bless sin, but only what aligns with the “designs of God inscribed in creation, and fully revealed by Christ the Lord.” This statement from the Vatican came with full approval from Pope Francis. The Catholic church can expect harsh criticism. But isn’t is the role of the churches to make clear the ethical boundaries especially when it comes to fundamental relationships like marriage? Every society is faced with the question of which rules to live by. And those rules will either come from transcendent values given us by our Creator or they’ll be man-centered.