Chico Harlan and Sarah Pulliam Bailey of The Washington Post report that Pope Francis has signed an official proclamation barring Catholic clergy from blessing same-sex unions. Some speculate that the decree is a response to German bishops’ ongoing revision of church doctrine regarding gender and sexuality. They write, “In some issues of controversy, Francis has left decision-making up to local churches, comfortable with policy that varies from country to country or even parish to parish. But in this case, Francis took the opposite approach — one that will put pressure on liberal clerics to fall in line.” The pope’s decision is in keeping with his opposition to same-sex unions, despite his reputation as a pontiff who welcomes LGBT Catholics.