In an unprecedented step for the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has approved the practice of priests blessing same-sex couples.
This remarkable break from conventional wisdom was codified in a document released by the Vatican on Monday, marking a major advancement for the LGBT community inside the Church.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church made it clear that these kinds of blessings should only be given in certain situations and that they have no place in regular Church ceremonies or be connected to marriage or civil unions.
The Vatican maintained its unwavering stance, recognizing marriage as an exclusive partnership between a man and a woman, in spite of this change.
The amended text conveys the idea that God accepts everyone, as understood by the document that was approved. It does, however, emphasize the latitude with which individual priests can exercise their discretion and the need for case-by-case decision-making.
The prefect of the Church, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, introduced the document and emphasized its adherence to the Church’s traditional teaching on marriage. He emphasized that this change, which permits priests to bless relationships that are still regarded as sinful, is in line with Pope Francis’ pastoral vision of broadening the Catholic Church’s appeal.
Importantly, the document stresses that prior moral perfection should not be a requirement for those receiving blessings. In the Catholic tradition, a blessing is essentially an invocation to God for favor for those being blessed, usually made by a minister.
It is very evident, according to Cardinal Fernández, that the new position does not validate the standing of same-sex couples in the Catholic Church. The statement implies a more forgiving tone, but it does not represent a formal shift in the Church’s stance. Notably, Pope Francis claimed in 2021 that priests could not approve same-sex unions because God could not approve of sin.
In October, Pope Francis had made hints about how open he was to the idea of the Church blessing same-sex couples. Prior to this formal announcement, some bishops in some nations had already allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, raising questions about the Church’s overall position on the subject.
