The Vatican has slammed an American theologian’s book that challenges negative Catholic views on homosexuality.

Professor Margaret Farley’s book ‘Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics’ was judged by the Vatican as a ‘defective understanding’ of certain core Church teachings.

In the book Farley discusses homosexual acts, same-sex marriage, masturbation and remarriage after divorce.

In a statement made today (4 June) by officials in Rome and approved by Pope Benedict XVI, they say the book could cause ‘grave harm to the faithful’.