Is the pope blessing gay marriages

Pope Francis has granted his formal approval allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples so long as they do not appear to endorse their marriage, marking the church's most. VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A Catholic priest can bless a gay or other unmarried couple as long as it is not a formal liturgical blessing and does not give the impression that the Catholic Church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage, the Vatican doctrinal office said.

The Catholic Church's approval of blessings of couples in same-sex relationships "will remain" under Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Vatican's doctrine office told an Italian reporter in a brief. The Catholic Church will continue to allow blessings for same-sex couples — but not recognition for their unions as “marriages” — under Pope Leo XIV, a Vatican official said this week, continuing a precedent set by the late Pope Francis.

The Vatican declaration came a day after the Church of England, after years of debate, began to offer blessings of same-sex couples in churches, although it will not bless gay. Sign up to receive our daily selection of "Le Monde" articles translated into English. Such arguments have force, moreover, because gay blessings are just one front in the battle.

Doctrinal declaration opens possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations - Vatican News

The document elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. Yet one can imagine why a conservative priest might be anxious that the pope is preparing the ground to require him to do so by creating a Jesuitical loophole for his conscience which can later be closed.

However, this gesture of pastoral closeness must avoid any elements that remotely resemble a marriage rite. After analyzing blessings in Scripture, the Declaration offers a theological-pastoral understanding. More from ABC. The pope reasoned, magnanimously, that :. But it said that shouldn't deprive them of God's love or mercy. For when a blessing is requested, it is expressing a plea to God for help, a supplication to live better, a trust in a Father who can help us live better.

The Church of England and the silence of gay Christians. As Christopher Altieri notes :. Conservative Catholics, on the other hand, sometimes seem to worry that even framing the situation in such terms hate the sin, love the sinner is just a cover for those who would prepare the ground to change Church teaching.

For liberal Catholics, Fiducia Supplicans can seem, in some ways, a mere acknowledgement of the obvious: that God is moved by love and mercy and that the point of blessings is to recognise and give thanks for that. These arguments, moreover, form part of wider critiques against Francis and his approach to the pontificate. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.

That document created an outcry, one it appeared even Francis was blindsided by even though he had technically approved its publication. A second extensive part of the Declaration paragraphs analyzes the meaning of different blessings, whose recipients are people, objects of worship, and places of life. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn't confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.

That document created an outcry, one it appeared even Francis was blindsided by, even though he had technically approved its publication. It is precisely in this second category there is now consideration of the possibility of welcoming even those who do not live according to the norms of Christian moral doctrine but humbly request to be blessed.

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Blessing of same-sex couples document

In our relationships with people, we must not lose the pastoral charity, which should permeate all our decisions and attitudes. Videos Investigations Explainers. The document from the Vatican's doctrine office, released Monday, December 18, elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October.

The new document repeats that condition and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. French Delights Exhibitions Gastronomy Culture. But it says requests for such blessings for same-sex couples should not be denied full stop.