ROME — Pope Francis has sanctioned the authorization for priests to bless same-sex couples, marking a significant shift in Vatican policy. In a new document released Monday by the Vatican’s doctrine office, the pontiff expounds on a preceding letter he sent to two conservative cardinals, published in October, indicating that such blessings might be admissible under specific conditions without conflating them with the sacrament of marriage.
The recent document reiterates this condition, affirming that marriage is an enduring sacrament exclusively between a man and a woman. It emphasizes that the blessings in question must remain non-liturgical, separate from the sacrament of marriage, and devoid of elements resembling ceremonial rituals or gestures associated with weddings, even if conducted alongside a civil union.
However, the document asserts that requests for blessings for same-sex couples should not be categorically refused. It introduces an expansive interpretation of the term "blessing" in Scripture, asserting that individuals seeking a spiritual connection with God and seeking His love and mercy need not undergo an exhaustive moral assessment as a prerequisite.
“Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to deepen their trust in God,” the document stated. “The appeal for a blessing, therefore, embodies and nurtures openness to transcendence, mercy, and intimacy with God across numerous real-life circumstances, a significant facet in today's world.”
The document emphasized, “It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that should be fostered, not impeded.”
Traditionally, the Vatican maintains that marriage is an unbreakable bond between a man and a woman, leading it to oppose same-sex marriage. In 2021, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith explicitly stated that the Church could not bless unions between two individuals of the same sex, citing that “God cannot bless sin.”
The 2021 document caused an uproar, catching Francis off-guard despite his technical endorsement of its publication. Subsequently, he removed the official responsible for it and began laying the groundwork for a reversal.
In this new document, the Vatican underscores the Church's necessity to steer away from doctrinal or disciplinary rigidity, particularly when it results in a self-absorbed and authoritarian approach. It clarified that individuals in “irregular” unions, whether heterosexual or homosexual, remain in a state of sin. Nonetheless, this should not preclude them from receiving God's love or mercy.
“When individuals seek a blessing, an exhaustive moral scrutiny should not serve as a prerequisite for its bestowal,” the document highlighted.
Rev. James Martin, an advocate for LGBTQ+ Catholics, hailed the new document as a "significant stride forward" and a "dramatic departure" from the Vatican’s 2021 stance. He remarked, “The new document recognizes the deep longing of many same-sex Catholic couples for God's presence and support in their committed relationships. Like numerous Catholic priests, I am now eager to bless my friends in same-sex marriages.”
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NO ONE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE. NOPE. NO SIREE ROBERTUS.
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PermalinkTheir cardinals have been diddling little boys for generations. It's about time they admit they're gay and pedophiles.
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