On Monday, the Vatican, under the approval of Pope Francis, issued a groundbreaking ruling stating that Roman Catholic priests can bestow blessings upon same-sex couples, provided these blessings are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies.
In a document released by the Vatican’s doctrinal office, there was a notable reversal of a declaration issued by the same body in 2021. The document emphasized that such blessings should not be considered a legitimization of irregular situations but rather a symbolic representation that God welcomes everyone. Importantly, the Vatican clarified that these blessings should not be confused with the sacrament of heterosexual marriage.
According to the document, priests are encouraged to assess each case individually, ensuring they do not obstruct the Church’s support for people seeking God’s assistance through a simple blessing in any circumstance.
The shift in the Vatican’s stance was hinted at by Pope Francis in October, responding to queries from conservative cardinals during a synod of bishops at the Vatican. While the October response was nuanced, the recent eight-page document explicitly detailed various situations, with a specific section titled “Blessings of Couples in Irregular Situations and of Couples of the Same Sex.”
The Catholic Church maintains that same-sex attraction is not inherently sinful, but it deems homosexual acts as such. Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has aimed to make the Church, with its more than 1.35 billion members, more inclusive to the LGBT community without altering moral doctrines.
Father James Martin, a prominent American Jesuit priest known for ministering to the LGBT community, hailed the document as “a major step forward in the church’s ministry.” He expressed his readiness to bless same-sex unions, emphasizing the document’s recognition of the deep desire among Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence in their relationships.
However, the ruling is likely to face opposition from conservatives, who previously criticized the Pope’s initial comments on the subject in October. Ulrich L. Lehner, a theology professor at the University of Notre Dame, expressed concern that the new guidance could lead to misunderstanding and confusion, even suggesting it might be an “invitation to schism.”
The document, titled “Fiducia Supplicans” (Supplicating Trust), highlighted that the form of the blessing should not be ritually fixed by ecclesial authorities to avoid confusion with the Sacrament of Marriage. It emphasized that the blessing could be extended to those who do not claim legitimation but seek enrichment, healing, and elevation of what is true, good, and humanly valid in their lives.
Ultimately, the document emphasized that a blessing serves as a means for individuals to enhance their trust in God, calling for its nurturing rather than hindrance. It outlined that the blessing should not be associated with civil marriage ceremonies, with no elements resembling those proper to a wedding in terms of clothing, gestures, or words. The document suggested alternative contexts for such blessings, including visits to shrines, meetings with priests, group prayers, or pilgrimages. The ruling was signed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and was approved by the Pope in a private audience on Monday.
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