Sacred Bonds

Marriage in the eyes of the Vatican is of course a holy institution, provided that it takes place exclusively between pairs of heterosexuals to the accompaniment of the correct magic words. Even so, there are contexts in which love and sanctity must yield to higher powers, and since it's the Vatican mammon is naturally an overriding concern. Staff in Vatican institutions cannot marry one another and keep their jobs; both halves of one couple declined to resign on each other's behalf, so both have been Solomonically fired. Despite objections from employees, the rule is being strictly enforced because the Church, whose doctrines preach salvation at the hands of a Father through the intercession of His one-night stand and her Son, is morally concerned about the risk of nepotism.