Pope Francis has formally permitted Catholic priests to
bless same-sex unions.
In the Catholic Church, a blessing is a prayer or plea,
usually delivered by a minister, asking God to look favourably at the person(s)
being blessed.
However, a declaration issued by the Vatican on Monday
clarified that “such blessings should not be conducted with any church rites
that offer the impression of a marriage”.
The declaration added that “the doctrine regarding marriage
does not change, and the blessing does not signify approval of the union” and
that “only sexual relations between a man and a woman in the context of
marriage are considered lawful”.
Despite the caveat, the declaration reflects a significant
shift in Vatican doctrine.
In 2021, the Vatican decreed that the Catholic Church would
not bless gay marriages because God “cannot bless sin”.
But in a turn of events two months ago, Francis hinted that
he would be open to having the Catholic Church bless same-sex unions.
The pope said “pastoral charity” requires patience and
understanding, adding that priests should not become judges “who only deny,
reject and exclude”.
He said a blessing requested is a plea for God’s help to
live a better life even in situations that are “not morally acceptable”.
The practice of blessing same-sex couples was already
established in some countries such as Belgium and Germany, despite not having
the approval of the Holy See until now.
Since Pope Francis took office in 2013, he has worked to
reform church governance, making it less hierarchical and paying more attention
to those who have expressed concerns about exclusion.
However, he has met stiff internal resistance along the way.
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