Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Elton John Calls Out Vatican For Investing Millions In 'Rocketman' While Condemning Same-Sex Unions

Elton John Calls Out Vatican For Investing Millions In 'Rocketman' While Condemning Same-Sex Unions
Steve Granitz/WireImage via Getty ImagesMassimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Vatican's official statement refusing to bless same-sex unions was unsurprising, but incredibly disappointing.

The particularly harsh statement, approved by Pope Francis, ascertained that "since blessings on persons are in relationship with the sacraments, the blessing of homosexual unions cannot be considered licit" and that God "does not and cannot bless sin."


But Elton John, an extremely vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community who has been open about his sexuality for decades called out the Vatican's notable hypocrisy on where they put their money versus their public statements.

Rocketman, a biopic of John starring Taron Egerton, received millions of dollars from the Vatican ($4.5 million, to be exact) to finish production.

The film makes no secret of John's sexuality, depicting his marriage to David Furnish honestly.





The Vatican's statement comes as somewhat of a surprise after several years of Pope Francis being deemed one of the most progressive Popes in charge of the Catholic Church in recent memory.

The Argentine Pope has contradicted former Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II's stances on homosexuality, who called it an "intrinsic evil" and an "affront to Christian values" respectively.






"Pray. Don't condemn," Francis said of parents to homosexual children.

"And if you, as a father or mother, can't deal with this on your own, ask for help, but always in dialogue, always in dialogue. Because that son and daughter has a right to family, and their family is this family, just as it is."





The Vatican's financial investments and its official statements do not match, as John's situation has shown.

As the world becomes more open and accepting across the board for all types of people who exist, the Catholic Church has a choice: stay behind, or show up for people who need it the most.

More from News/lgbtq

Dr. Sandra Lee
TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle/YouTube

'Dr. Pimple Popper' Star Reveals She Suffered Stroke While Filming Series: 'I Had A Part Of My Brain That Died'

It's already scary to witness a younger person go through a life-changing medical diagnosis, but it's especially jarring to see a medical professional, who presumably knows best about how to care for themselves, go through the same.

Sandra Lee, known as "Dr. Pimple Popper" on Lifetime, is well-known for her bedside manner, medical knowledge and ability to share her knowledge in an accessible way, and, of course, her unique approach to dermatological care.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rob Schneider; Elizabeth Banks
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images; Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Rob Schneider Dragged For Criticizing Elizabeth Banks' 'Dangerous Rhetoric' After She Called Out White Female Trump Voters

After actor and filmmaker Elizabeth Banks—who played Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games—called out white women who voted for President Donald Trump, MAGA actor Rob Schneider lashed out against what he referred to as her "dangerous rhetoric."

Those who've read the book and seen the film adaptation of The Hunger Games know that Trinket—known for joyfully announcing, "Happy Hunger Games and the odds may be ever in your favor!"—is a mistress of propaganda for a hostile government that forces teenagers to fight to the death every year to intimidate critics and keep society's poorest and most vulnerable in line. Trinket eventually embraces the rebellion.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kid Rock
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Kid Rock Dragged After Offering Massive Discount To His MAGA Festival Due To Abysmal Ticket Sales

Musician Kid Rock has hitched his wagon to president Donald Trump for quite some time now, and it seems he too is in the "find out" stage of that particularly exercise in FAFO.

It seems that when the president you form your entire personality around craters to a catastrophic approval rating even for him, your ship starts to sink too.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dan Driscoll; Tammy Duckworth
Cheriss May/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Army Secretary Sparks Outrage After Shutting Down Army Social Media Accounts For Honoring Tammy Duckworth's Military Service

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is facing heavy criticism after he ordered that all accounts associated with the Army unit "Soldier for Life" (SFL) be shut down after the unit shared a post on social media celebrating Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth's military service.

Duckworth is a double amputee who lost both of her legs in combat in 2004 when her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Tom Homan; Pope Leo XIV
Fox News; Vatican Media/Vatican Pool - Corbis/Getty Images

Trump's Border Czar Ripped For Hypocrisy After Telling Pope Leo To 'Stay Out Of Politics'

President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan was called out for hypocrisy after telling Pope Leo XIV to "stay out of politics" after he clashed with Trump over the widely unpopular war in Iran.

Last week, Pope Leo criticized the war and called on the world "to reject war, especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war, which is continuing to escalate and is not resolving anything."

Keep ReadingShow less