Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples if the rituals don't resemble marriage

[ificandream]

Last edited Mon Dec 18, 2023, 11:46 AM - Edit history (3)

Source: Associated Press

BY NICOLE WINFIELD
Updated 6:25 AM PST, December 18, 2023

ROME (AP) -- Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God's love and mercy shouldn't be subject to "an exhaustive moral analysis" to receive it.

The document from the Vatican's doctrine office, released Monday, elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. 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.

The new document repeats that rationale and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding.

But it says requests for such blessings should not be denied full stop. It offers an extensive definition of the term "blessing" in Scripture to insist that people seeking a transcendent relationship with God and looking for his love and mercy should not be subject to "an exhaustive moral analysis" as a precondition for receiving it.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-lgbtq-pope-bfa5b71fa79055626e362936e739d1d8

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I think this is one small step for man and one giant leap for the Church. The Catholic Church I grew up (and I went to Catholic schools for 12 years) in would never approved same-sex marriages or gay rights. This is a first step, albeit a small one.

[twodogsbarking]

1. Good grief.

[SarcasticSatyr]

2. People who love each other . . .

don't need any "blessing" from some idiot in a funny hat. The Poop needs to stay in his lane.

[calguy]

3. Is this the Catholic version of 'Don't say gay'?

Not hardly in tune with twenty-first century reality, but this Pope, at least from my view, is more liberal-minded than any in recent memory. I do give him credit for moving the church a step in the right direction.

[ificandream]

4. I think this is one small step for man and one giant leap for the Church.

The Catholic Church I grew up in had never been for gay rights or same-sex marriages. I think this is a move in that direction. It's certainly a first step.

[speak easy]

6. Pope Francis has supported civil unions for gay couples since 2010.

What he is saying now is that priest can bless their union.

Only civil unions, not same sex marriage? No. As far as the Church is concerned a same sex marriage is a civil union, because marriage is reserved to a man and a woman.

So basically, a Catholic same sex married couple can approach a priest to bless their union, and the priest can do so. And they can continue to go mass etc.

This is a huge step beyond, say, the SBC's position,

[Voltaire2]

10. Actually he is saying that a priest can't bless their union.

But can give them 'blessings' as people as long as that doesn't in any way 'bless' their status as married people.

[speak easy]

14. That is not how Catholic LGBT advocates see it.

From the AP Report "The Rev. James Martin, who advocates for a greater welcome for LGBTQ+ Catholics, praised the new document as a “huge step forward” and a “dramatic shift” from the Vatican’s 2021 policy [ that the church couldn’t bless the unions of two men or two women because “God cannot bless sin.”]

This is a blessing of a couple as a couple.

[speak easy]

15. On further reading I believe you are correct :(

[Valdosta]

39. He stops short of calling gay unions a "sacrament".

From a secular point of view it's hairsplitting, but to a Roman Catholic that's the whole deal.

However, I expect it will happen soon. And provoke a schism as it did with the big Protestant denominations.

[speak easy]

5. No. its a statement that blessings can't be given

as part of a wedding ceremony. Obviously if two people of the same sex ask for a priest to bless their existing union/marriage its Gay.

[Ray Bruns]

8. More like "Don't ask, Don't tell"?

[Novara]

11. But he can't have it all ways

You can't "bless" unions of same-sex couples at the same time you're denying them marriage. Either you accept that they have the same rights as anyone in the church or you say they do not.

You can't have it all ways.

[calguy]

13. No, you can't

But changing the teachings that have been part of the foundation of church teachings for thousands of years doesn't come overnight. This declaration might seem trivial to you and me, but it's a big step for the leader of the Catholic church to make such a statement.

It's at least a step in the right direction, and I applaud him for that.

[pnwmom]

38. You're right, it is a major step. And he could even be risking a schism

but he chose to do it anyway, because it's the right thing to do.

[LudwigPastorius]

21. Be patient.

the church has only been around for 2,000 years.

I'll bet, by no later than 3762, the Robot Pope will be conducting quantum holographic same sex marriages HIMSELF!

[Rebl2]

30. Yep

[twodogsbarking]

7. Feed the hungry and shut up.

[Voltaire2]

9. It's a step sideways.

Sorry but this is meaningless. Stop being bigoted. How difficult is that?

[50 Shades Of Blue]

12. Well, isn't that big of him.

[pnwmom]

19. Yes, it is, considering the context he's working in. My gay and Catholic father would have been thrilled

and amazed. This would have been inconceivable during his lifetime. And there must be Catholic bishops right now, especially in the US, who are plotting to oust him.

The decision also risks a schism, as in the United Methodist Church.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/us/the-united-methodist-church-schism.html

[50 Shades Of Blue]

22. I was raised Catholic and spent 12 years in Catholic school. It did a lot of damage and it still is

doing damage. This pope gets a lot of credit simply because he is good at PR. But until gay Catholics get equal treatment with straight Catholics and Catholic women get equal treatment with zygotes, I will continue to have no use for him.

[pnwmom]

23. I know from my father -- and even more from my mother -- the kind of damage

it could do, and I'm very sorry for what you and others have gone through.

However, If Pope Francis was so great at PR, he wouldn't have the majority of US Bishops against him. The people who credit Pope Francis do so because they understand what he's up against, and they appreciate his efforts.

[PlutosHeart]

16. In small steps

Francis is making sense to the Church. And this is good. Bless him.

[Chi67]

17. I don't care

They can do whatever they want.

All I care about is civil marriage and the church needs to stay the fuck out of that. Religious people need to understand that their religion's rules apply to them, and ONLY them. Leave the rest of us alone and everyone will get along just fine.

[pnwmom]

24. The Pope made it clear this will have nothing to do with civil marriage, so your wish is granted nt

[Chi67]

34. Well

Then we will get along just fine.

[appleannie1]

18. I am not Catholic but IMO this is a real step forward. Tiny steps can equal a leap in the end.

[LudwigPastorius]

20. No rings, no walking the aisle, no flower girl, no best man or woman, no white dresses or tuxedoes, no vows, no "I do"

no throwing of bouquets or garters, no drunken toasts, no dancing with an uncle to the new wave hits of the 80s, no brother-in-laws hooking up with bridesmaids...

Thus sayeth the Lord.

[pnwmom]

27. A couple is free to do any of that in a separate civil ceremony.

This is just about a Church blessing for two individuals.

[keopeli]

25. I love Pope Francis. Working in a very conservative and often hostile environ for LGBT+, he found a way to affirm them.

What other Pope would have gone so far to do something? Naysayers complain that this is not enough or that it is actually a repudiation of gay marriage. What I see is that he is providing an opportunity for priests and members who want the church to acknowledge and bless the shared love of a same-sex couple to do so. There is no longer a threat of punishment for simply acknowledging if not actually affirming a same-sex relationship.

I believe we should not discard the good because it's not perfect.

I also believe the primary takeaway is that "people seeking God's love and mercy shouldn't be subject to "an exhaustive moral analysis" to receive it." This is a big repudiation of ultra-conservative priests that are eager to judge and deny, as though they have that right, which belongs exclusively do God.

If you are not a catholic, this should not bother you at all. If you are a catholic, this should be a welcome improvement and a pivotal shift in doctrine that has been aggressively homophobic for centuries.

Bravo, Francis and thank you!

[pnwmom]

28. My late father and his partner attended a Catholic church

for the 20 years they were together, and they would have been thrilled.

[Goonch]

26. 👇👇👇👁️👁️

[keithbvadu2]

29. If marriage is a religious institution, what religion is a secular judge or magistrate practicing?

[walkingman]

31. As you imply marriage is NOT a religious institution.

Marriage in this country is a civil right. It affords couples thousands of civil, financial and social benefits. We have a little thing called the separation of church and state. Laws, for the most part, are not based on religious principle or they shouldn't be although living in the "Bible Belt" that is questionable.

I've heard some say that same-sex relationships are against strict religious dogma. This may be true, but our Constitution is not based on religion.

So for those that like to think it is a "religious institution" they it is just their personal opinion.

[keithbvadu2]

32. Yep!

[The Grand Illuminist]

35. Not really a right.

You still have to have a license.

[Chi67]

36. It's also worth pointing out..

...some churches do perform same sex weddings:

https://time.com/3749253/churches-gay-marriage/

[walkingman]

37. Yes, they do and today all Christian denominations regard

marriage as a sacred institution, a covenant. But having said that the difference between marrying in a religious or civil ceremony is that a religious ceremony is about being wed in the eyes of God (or whichever deity you believe in), while a civil ceremony is about being wed in the eyes of the law. If the Pastor is registered to do marriages, they are just acting as a notary public with regard to marriages.

[LeftInTX]

33. Is this the same as "Bless my best friend"?

"Best Friends Day"
"Friendship Day"

[MayReasonRule]

40. Leader Of World's Largest Abrahamic Blood Cult Shares His Bloody Opinion

The Abrahamic Blood Cults have inflicted and are still inflicting more pain, suffering and death than any single other societal construct.

Genocidal blood cults are a top notch paradigm for Machiavellian fascists intent upon world domination. They're not worth a shit for anything else.

If I never read, spoke or heard of his delusional eminence again it would be too soon.