On Saturday, February 24, 2024, two men got married in the chapel of a private estate in El Escorial, Madrid.
The video of the celebration began circulating on social media, and on Monday the Archdiocese of Madrid issued a statement. It said it had not been informed or consulted, that it was “a unilateral act by the estate”, and that “there would be canonical consequences in this regard”. It also laid down a clear rule: “under no circumstances is it permitted to hold a civil wedding ceremony inside a religious venue”. According to the statement, family chapels may only be used for the purpose the Church grants them: the private devotional use of the owning family, not for the for-profit services of an events company.
The controversy did not end with the statement. Priest Juan Manuel Góngora shared the video on X and described it as “an act of glorifying sodomy”. He called on Catholics invited to this kind of celebration not to be complicit in a mortal sin. These are priests’ personal opinions, not the official position of the Archdiocese.
For some, the Church is simply defending its own rules regarding a sacred space. For others, it is a closed door to a couple who wanted to celebrate their love. Which side are you on?