ROME, ITALY – AN Italian bishop has told a young paraplegic he cannot have
a church wedding because he is impotent, despite his fiancée being aware of
the problem, media here reported.
Mr Salvatore de Ciuco, spokesman for Bishop Lorenzo Chiarinelli of Viterbo
in central Italy, told SkyTG24 television late Sunday: ‘No bishop, no priest
can celebrate a wedding when he knows of admitted impotence as it is a
motive for annulment’ of the marriage.
The 26-year-old groom, who took part in a civil marriage ceremony on
Saturday in Viterbo, has been paraplegic since he was involved in a car
accident. The curate of the parish who was banned from marrying the couple
was present at the ceremony. – AFP