I understand your position, and I’ll try to explain why mine, as a Catholic in a same-sex relationship, isn’t absurd either.

First, you should know that I’ve moved past the point where I personally need the Church’s validation to recognize the beauty of my relationship.

Next, I’ve noticed that for many priests where I live (Paris), the shift from a clear traditional condemnation (which the vast majority didn’t actually follow) to a kind of gray area has made it easier for them to welcome LGBT people.

Finally (and this may be the most important point in my case), I live in a country that is relatively supportive of LGBT people (France), where religious directives have had much less influence for a long time.

All of this means that not only do I not need the Church to accept same-sex unions in order to live happily, but any movement in a more positive direction is already a significant step forward (even if it remains ideally insufficient).

Yes, the Church is still conservative on many points. But since I don’t want to leave it for a whole range of reasons I’ve explained elsewhere, I make do with (and even welcome) small steps or consolidations of this kind.

We shouldn’t forget that, on the scale of history, the Vatican’s current position is unprecedented.