The Vatican has emphasized that permitting priests to bless same-sex couples is not a promotion of homosexuality, nor is it sacrilegious. This comes after certain Catholic bishops responded unfavorably to the decision made last month.
In December, Pope Francis gave his approval for a decision that permits priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples as long as the blessing is done without any ceremonial elements and does not imply the church’s acceptance of the relationship.
The decision was welcomed by LGBTQ+ members of the Catholic community, but it sparked confusion among bishops in certain countries, particularly in Africa. Some bishops in this region stated that they would not comply with the ruling.
The Vatican clarified on Thursday that giving blessings to same-sex couples is not a justification for all of their actions or an endorsement of their lifestyle, in accordance with Catholic church doctrine on marriage. However, this should not be viewed as heretical, against the church’s tradition, or blasphemous.
Clergy members had the choice to bestow blessings based on individual circumstances. However, the Vatican recognized that this could be risky in places where identifying as homosexual could lead to severe consequences like physical harm, incarceration, or even loss of life. In these cases, a complete prohibition was not feasible.
The Vatican released a five-page statement discussing the guidelines for “pastoral blessings”. These blessings should be brief and should not condone anything that goes against moral standards. The statement provided specific examples of when such blessings could be given, such as during a group pilgrimage when a divorced couple is now in a relationship and asks a priest for a blessing. In such cases, the priest can say a short prayer and end with both individuals making the sign of the cross. This entire process should only take 10 or 15 seconds.
The Vatican restated its stance that blessings for same-sex couples should not be given in conjunction with civil union ceremonies, and should not include any wedding-like attire, actions, or language.
In December, when the decision was made public, a commentator referred to it as “quite possibly the most definitive change in the church’s position on same-sex couples in its 2,000-year history”.
The ruling followed a letter Pope Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In the letter, Francis said such blessings could be offered in certain circumstances, so long as they were not confused with the sacrament of marriage.
Source: theguardian.com
