The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis stated that, in certain situations, priests should be able to bless same-sex and “irregular” couples. On the other hand, the Vatican underlined that blessings should not be associated with civil unions or weddings or be a part of routine Church ceremonies. It went on to say that it still sees marriage as a union of a man and a woman.
On Monday, December 18, 2023, Pope Francis gave his approval to a document that the Vatican had released announcing the change. Although the letter states that priests must make decisions on a case-by-case basis, the Vatican said it should be an indication that “God welcomes all.”
The Church prefect, Cardinal VÃctor Manuel Fernández, introduced the text and stated that the new declaration stuck to the Church’s fundamental teaching about marriage.
He did, however, add that the new regulations will let priests bless partnerships that are still seen as sinful, in keeping with the Pope’s “pastoral vision” of “broadening” the Catholic Church’s appeal.
The proclamation said that recipients of blessings “should not be required to have prior moral perfection.”
A blessing in the Catholic Church is a prayer or request for God to have favour with the person or people receiving the blessing, typically made by a minister. Cardinal Fernández emphasized that the Catholic Church does not view same-sex couples as having a higher status as a result of the new position.
As for the latest rule, Newsone Nigeria notes that it moves away from a 2021 ruling from the Vatican theology office that forbade such blessings, stating that God “cannot bless sin,” and it expands on the pope’s concession to blessing same-sex couples last October.
However, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, an Argentinean prelate and Francis’s supporter, has been in charge of the doctrinal department since July 2023 and has adopted a different stance than his predecessors.
“A thorough moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring a blessing when people ask for it,” the document, written by Cardinal Fernandez and another official, says. “Those who humble themselves as sinners like everyone else and do not claim to be righteous are
Although it states it is leaving decisions to “the prudent and fatherly discernment of ordained ministers,” the new decree claims it is enabling “the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex.”
James Martin, a Jesuit priest who serves gay Catholics, wrote on X that the most recent action “recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence in their loving relationships,” calling it a “major step forward in the church’s ministry to LGBTQ people.” Nevertheless, touched by God’s grace in their lives.”
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