From Le Figaro with AFP
Published 1 hour ago, updated 3 minutes ago
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The Vatican has decided to authorize the blessing of same-sex couples, but at the same time reiterated its opposition to same-sex marriage.
The Vatican approved in an official document Monday the blessing of same-sex couples and “in an irregular situation” for the church, a first, but remained steadfast in its opposition to gay marriage.
This blessing “is never performed simultaneously with the civil rites of union, nor in conjunction with them,” says the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith document approved by Pope Francis. “It is possible to bless couples in an irregular situation and couples of the same sex in a form that may not be ritually established by the ecclesiastical authorities, so as not to cause confusion with the specific blessing of the sacrament of marriage,” he explains This Document was published by the Vatican in several languages.
This is the first time the church has so clearly paved the way for the blessing of same-sex couples, an issue that reflects tensions within the church due to strong opposition from its conservative fringe groups, particularly toward the UNITED STATES. However, despite the non-recognition of the Holy See, the blessing of same-sex couples has already been practiced by some priests, particularly in Belgium and Germany.
The importance of an “open church for all”
This statement comes six weeks after the end of the General Assembly of the Synod for the Future of the Catholic Church, a global consultation meeting at which bishops, women and laity discussed social issues such as the inclusion of LGBT+ people or those divorced and remarried. In early October, five conservative cardinals publicly called on Pope Francis to reaffirm Catholic teaching on gay couples, but the synod's final document ignored this burning issue.
In 2021, the Vatican reiterated that it considers homosexuality a “sin” and confirmed that it is impossible for same-sex couples to receive the sacrament of marriage. Since his election in 2013, the Argentine Jesuit, who insists on the importance of an “open church to all,” has repeatedly drawn the ire of conservatives, particularly by restricting the use of the traditional Latin Mass in 2021.
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