The Vatican, with Pope Francis’s approval, announced that Roman Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples. This is contingent on the blessings not being part of regular Church rituals or liturgies. The Vatican’s doctrinal office emphasized that these blessings are not an endorsement of ‘irregular situations’ but signify God’s inclusive welcome. The decision, detailed in an eight-page document titled “On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings,” outlines specific guidelines for priests to follow on a case-by-case basis.
The Church maintains that same-sex attraction is not sinful, but homosexual acts are. Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has sought to make the Church more welcoming to LGBT individuals without altering its moral teachings on same-sex activity. Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest active in LGBT ministry, lauded the document as a major advance in the Church’s outreach to LGBT Catholics. The document, “Fiducia Supplicans” (Supplicating Trust), clarifies that the blessing should not mimic the Sacrament of Marriage to avoid confusion.
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