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This leads to spontaneous blessings for people in irregular relationships.
The Diocese of Umuarama, considering the Fiducia Supplicans Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by Pope Francis, and in anticipation of possible requests for clarification from its dioceses, adopts the Father's explanations and proposes them to each individual Michelino Roberto, Episcopal Vicar for Communications Pastoralism of the Archdiocese of São Paulo.
Below are the clarifications of Father Michelino Roberto:
“The declaration Fiducia supplicans (Supplicant Confidence), published on December 18, on the pastoral importance of blessing in the Church was signed not by Pope Francis, but by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Pope approved the publication, but it is not a document of his authorship.
It is a statement that has no normative character among the documents of the Church, but rather a statement of the institution on a controversial issue of public interest, without the force of a definition or reflection on the issue.
Did the document authorize the blessing of samesex unions?
No. This statement addresses the topic of blessings granted in the Catholic Church and distinguishes between rituals (liturgical) and simple rituals (spontaneous), a category that includes people who do not live in accordance with the norms of the Church's moral teaching also couples in an irregular situation (not married in the church or married in a second marriage) or people of the same sex who live in a marital partnership.
Such blessings, therefore, are granted to men and not to unions, invoking God's protection and assistance for those who ask, so that they may carry out God's will in accordance with His commandments.
Has the Holy See changed the Church's teaching on marriage?
The document does not change in any way the Church's teaching on marriage. On the contrary, the text aims to “prevent something from not being recognized as marriage” and emphasizes that marriage is “an exclusive, stable and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the procreation of children “. Regarding this aspect, the declaration affirms that “rites and prayers that could cause confusion about what constitutes marriage are unacceptable.”
The text even states that this type of blessing can never provide any form of moral legitimacy to a union that is marriage or to sexual practices outside of marriage.
In what situations can these blessings occur?
The document emphasizes that such blessings can never take place in a liturgical celebration, never within or in connection with the celebration of a sacrament, never in a liturgical form, but always in private, under the preemptive judgment of the priest and always as a spontaneous prayer of those , who ask for this, accompanied by a request for them to know and fulfill God's will.
These blessings should not be given in connection with civil partnership rites and other related acts, nor with wedding attire, words or gestures typical of the wedding rite, such as promises of consent, exchange of rings, etc.
Why bless people in irregular situations?
As the document itself recalls, there are several occasions when people spontaneously ask for a blessing, such as on pilgrimages, in shrines, and on the street when they encounter a priest.
The Church has always taught that those in mortal sin are not in a state of grace but can receive a supernatural uplift through a blessing so that, as the document states, “human relationships mature and grow in fidelity to the message of the Gospel, free themselves from their imperfections and weaknesses and express themselves in the everincreasing dimension of divine love.”
The statement recalls the words of Pope Francis in one of his catecheses, when he noted that “blessings have a special power that accompanies the recipient throughout life and leads the human heart to allow itself to be transformed by God.” […]“. The Holy Father emphasizes that people must trust that they are blessed despite their sins and that “the Heavenly Father continues to love them and hopes that they will finally open themselves to good.”
Let us continue to pray for our Holy Church!
Umuarama, December 22, 2023.
Father Carlos Alberto de Figueiredo
Diocesan Communications Advisor