Pope allows priests to bless same-sex couples, but marriage remains for man and woman
OAN’s Brooke Mallory
6:05 PM – Monday, December 18, 2023
In a groundbreaking move, Pope Francis endorses blessing same-sex couples
In a new statement issued on Monday, Pope Francis formally endorsed the practice of priests blessing same-sex couples, stating that anyone seeking God’s love and compassion should not have to undergo a “moral analysis” in order to be granted it.
This marks a major departure in Vatican doctrine.
“One should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing,” said the document from the Vatican.
However, the shift in policy does not alter the church’s position on marriage.
It states unequivocally that such blessing requests from homosexual couples should not be turned down, and it also mentions how anyone pursuing a transcendent relationship with God and those seeking his compassion or mercy should not be subjected to “an exhaustive moral analysis” as a prerequisite for obtaining it, offering a comprehensive explanation of the term “blessing” in scripture.
“Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God,” the document reads. “The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy, and closeness to God in a thousand concrete circumstances of life, which is no small thing in the world in which we live.”
“It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered,” the Pope added.
The Vatican also maintains that a marriage is an unbreakable bond “between a man and a woman.”
Furthermore, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican said in 2021 that “God cannot bless sin,” so the church was unable to approve of a marriage between two males or two females.
Even the progressive Pope Francis seemed taken aback by the uproar the statement had caused, despite the fact that he had given his formal approval for its release. He dismissed the official who had written it shortly after it was published and reportedly started to prepare for a reversal.
The Vatican stated in the updated document that the church must avoid engaging in “doctrinal or disciplinary schemes, especially when they lead to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism whereby instead of evangelizing, one analyzes and classifies others, and instead of opening the door to grace, one exhausts his or her energies in inspecting and verifying.”
It emphasized that everyone involved in “irregular” couplings, homosexual or heterosexual, is living in sin. However, it also expressed that this fact should not rob them of God’s compassion or love.
“Thus, when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it,” the document continues.
As a “huge step forward” and a “dramatic shift” from the Vatican’s 2021 stance, the new statement was highly praised by Rev. James Martin, a notable advocate for greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ Catholics.
The document “recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence and help in their committed relationships,” the Reverend said in an email. “Along with many Catholic priests, I will now be delighted to bless my friends in same-sex marriages.”
However, some Evangelical Christians and other social media users online have criticized the new stance, saying that the Pope is just trying to appease the progressive left and liberals. They have also accused him of overstepping his power and attempting to change Biblical doctrine.
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What does the Vatican’s document on blessing same-sex couples mean for the Catholic Church’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights?
In a groundbreaking move, Pope Francis has endorsed the practice of priests blessing same-sex couples. This announcement marks a major departure in Vatican doctrine and highlights a significant shift in policy.
The document from the Vatican states that the Church should not prevent or prohibit its closeness to people in every situation where they seek God’s help through a simple blessing. This means that same-sex couples should not be turned down when requesting a blessing from the Church. The document also emphasizes that anyone pursuing a transcendent relationship with God and seeking His compassion or mercy should not be subjected to an exhaustive moral analysis as a prerequisite for obtaining it.
The Vatican clarifies that while it endorses the blessing of same-sex couples, it does not alter the Church’s position on marriage, which it defines as an unbreakable bond between a man and a woman. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican had previously stated in 2021 that “God cannot bless sin,” making it unable to approve of same-sex marriages.
Even though Pope Francis gave his formal approval for the release of the document, he seemed taken aback by the uproar it caused. He dismissed the official who had written it shortly after its publication, and there are reports that he may be preparing for a reversal of the endorsement.
The updated document emphasizes that everyone involved in “irregular” couplings, whether homosexual or heterosexual, is living in sin. However, it also stresses that this fact should not deprive them of God’s compassion or love. The Vatican urges the Church to avoid engaging in doctrinal or disciplinary schemes that analyze and classify others instead of evangelizing and opening the door to grace.
The new statement has been highly praised by Rev. James Martin, a prominent advocate for greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ Catholics. He sees it as a “huge step forward” and a “dramatic shift” from the Church’s previous stance.
However, there has been criticism of the Pope’s endorsement from Evangelical Christians and social media users who accuse him of appeasing the progressive left and liberals. Some argue that he is overstepping his power and attempting to change Biblical doctrine.
In conclusion, Pope Francis’s endorsement of the blessing of same-sex couples represents a historic moment for the Catholic Church. While it does not alter the Church’s position on marriage, it signifies a significant shift in policy and has generated both praise and criticism. As the Church navigates this change, it remains to be seen how it will impact the larger conversations surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and religious doctrine.
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