The Vatican allows the blessing of same-sex couples outside of the liturgy

It is a change in form, but not in substance. On Monday, December 18, the Vatican published a document authorizing the blessing of homosexual couples “in an irregular situation”, a first for the Catholic Church. However, he remains strongly opposed to same-sex marriage

“A form that it must not be ritually fixed”

This blessing “they will never be celebrated simultaneously with the civil rites of union, nor in connection with them”, specifies the document of the dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by Pope Francis. As detailed The world, “it can take place during a visit to a sanctuary, a prayer recited in a group or during a pilgrimage, but not during a mass”.

This specific blessing will therefore be needed “form that must not be ritually fixed by ecclesial authorities, so as not to create confusion with the blessing proper to the sacrament of marriage”, there is an abundance of documents published in multiple languages ​​by the Vatican. Rhetoric similar to that of an opinion issued in October and validated by Pope Francis, who did not oppose the baptism of transgender faithful or those born through surrogacy, as long as this does not cause “scandal” OR ” confusion “.

Despite the lack of recognition by the Holy See, the blessing of same-sex couples has already been practiced so far by some priests, for example in Belgium and Germany.

As reported by AFP, it is the first time that the Church so clearly opens the way to the blessing of same-sex couples, a topic that divides the Church due to strong opposition from its conservative ranks, especially in the United States. Even without the Pope’s recognition, however, the blessing of same-sex couples was already practiced by some priests, especially in Belgium and Germany.

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