In a preliminary response to the Vatican document, Pope Francis suggested same-sex blessings could be offered if the rituals don't resemble marriage.

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.

  • AFK BRB Chocolate@lemmy.worldEnglish
    102·
    10 months ago

    Okay, whatever.

    Let’s say I create a club (I’m picturing Calvin’s “Girl Haters” club). I can make whatever rules I want for my club. I can define ceremonies and rituals, and I can kick anyone out who doesn’t follow my rules. What I can’t do is tell anyone else what they can do.

    So the Pope can say whatever he wants about what it means to be Catholic, but only Catholics should care.

    • Zombiepirate@lemmy.worldEnglish
      121·
      10 months ago

      I’d agree with you but for the fact that the Catholic Church has historically spent a ton of money lobbying to keep same-sex marriage illegal.

      The Catholic Church is very much a political institution.

      It would be nice if we didn’t have to pay attention to regressive extremists, but they are unfortunately very influential.

    • otp@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      11·
      10 months ago

      I get where you’re coming from. At the same time, they are such a large club that this will impact many people…some members of the club hold political positions around the world, for instance.