The anti-discrimination non-profit SOS Homophobie has accused the bishop of Bayonne-Lescar-Oloron, in southwestern France, of "legitimising" the implementation of banned conversion therapies – a charge he denies.
This comes on the heels of a decision by the Vatican to authorise blessings for homosexual couples.
SOS homophobie says it is angry over a note, published on the Bayonne-Lescar-Oloron diocese website on 29 December, written by bishop Marc Aillet.
The Catholic leader invited the priests of the diocese to give their blessing to homosexual couples if requested, but with certain conditions.
"If people ask, give them a blessing provided that it is to each person individually – calling them to conversion and inviting them to ask for the help of grace that the Lord grants to all those who ask him to conform their lives to the Will of God," the message reads.
SOS homophobie says these conditions are discriminatory for homosexual couples and akin to "legitimising" conversion therapies.
Sometimes called sexual reorientation therapies, conversion refers to a set of pseudo-scientific treatments with the controversial goal of attempting to change one's sexual orientation.
This practice is prohibited in France.
The bishop's office told FranceInfo that Aillet’s note had been misinterpreted.