Vatican News reported that the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union expressed concern on December 9 over a recent ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union. The judgment, issued on November 25, requires EU countries to recognise same-sex marriages legally concluded in another member state, even when national law does not permit such unions.
The case involved a Polish couple who married in Germany in 2018 but were unable to have their marriage registered after returning to Poland. According to COMECE, the judgment touches on issues that fall within national authority, particularly the lawful definition of marriage.
Church officials noted that EU law states marriage remains defined by national legislation and that member states maintain the right to determine whether same-sex marriage is permitted. However, the bishops said the judgment narrows this principle by insisting that states comply with broader EU obligations.
COMECE added that the decision creates uncertainty for governments, which may struggle to anticipate how future family-law concerns will be interpreted or decided. The bishops cautioned that similar legal approaches could affect other sensitive areas, including surrogacy. Sources said COMECE saw the decision as going beyond the EU Court’s intended authority.