Pope Francis allows priests to bless same-sex relationships

Pope Francis has taken one of the most concrete steps in his efforts to make the Roman Catholic Church more welcoming to LGBTQ Catholics by allowing priests to bless couples in same-sex relationships, the Vatican announced Monday.

Priests have long blessed a wide variety of people and even objects such as boats, saying a prayer asking for God’s help and presence. But the Vatican has previously argued against blessing same-sex couples.

The new rule was issued in a statement by the Church Office on Doctrine and introduced by its prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who said the statement does not change “the Church’s traditional teaching on marriage” because there is no liturgical rituals in occurrence. that could be confused with the sacrament of marriage.

“It is precisely in this context,” wrote Cardinal Fernández, “one can understand the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and couples of the same sex without officially validating their status or in any way changing the Church’s eternal teaching on marriage .”

In his introduction to the declaration, which was signed and approved by Pope Francis, Cardinal Fernández nevertheless acknowledged that the widening of the scope of who could receive blessings amounted to “a real development” and a “specific and innovative contribution to the pastoral meaning of blessings.” He said the decision was “based on the pastoral vision of Pope Francis.”

“This new declaration opens the door to non-liturgical blessings for same-sex couples, something previously prohibited for bishops, priests and deacons,” said the Rev. James Martin, a prominent advocate for LGBTQ Catholics. “Together with many priests, I will now happily bless my friends in homosexual relationships.”

There has been a burst of activity on the LGBTQ issue in recent months from the Office of the Doctrine of the Faith, led by Cardinal Fernández, especially after many advocates for LGBTQ Catholics were deeply frustrated by a lack of progress, or even recognition, during a major October meeting of bishops and laity that could potentially lead to major changes in the church.

In October, the Vatican published Francis’ private response over the summer to conservative cardinals’ doubts about the possibility of blessing same-sex couples, a practice they strongly opposed. Francis instead suggested the blessings were a possibility, seemingly reversing a 2021 Vatican ruling that came down hard on blessing gay associations, arguing that God “cannot bless sin.”

While the pope also clearly defended the church’s position that marriage could only exist between a man and a woman, the pope said priests should exercise “pastoral charity” when it came to requests for blessings. But Francis also made clear that he did not want the blessings to be reduced to protocols, as was the case in parts of the liberal German church that support same-sex blessings – and urged priests to be open to ‘channels that go beyond standards’.

On Oct. 31, Francis approved another document from Cardinal Fernández’s office clarifying that transgender people can be baptized, serve as godparents and be witnesses at church weddings, furthering his vision of a more inclusive church.

The issue of blessing same-sex couples has exploded in recent years, especially in Germany, where priests have regularly offered blessings despite resistance from the Vatican.

Father Martin called the statement a “major step forward in the Church’s ministry to LGBTQ people and recognizes the deep longing of many Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence in their loving relationships.”