Same-sex blessings: Monumental shift or mixed bag?

By mzaxazm


When Pope Francis became the first person from the Americas to lead the Catholic Church a decade ago, he immediately began to emphasize the pastoral ministries of the church over what could be seen as a dogmatic insistence on the purity of its teachings.

That was the emphasis of his predecessor, Pope Benedict, a theologian and specialist in church doctrine. He believed the church must stand against moral relativism or cultural change that might compromise the integrity of its immutable teachings.

Why We Wrote This

During his 10 years as head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has placed an emphasis on charity over doctrine. This week’s ruling on blessings, experts say, shows efforts to extend a larger welcome.

So Francis immediately startled observers around the world in 2013 when he told reporters, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?”

Since then, his papacy has been defined by an unprecedented effort to expand the reach of the church’s pastoral ministries.

This week, Francis again startled Catholics with what may be his boldest pronouncement yet toward couples in “irregular situations” or of the same sex. The Vatican for the first time said that priests were permitted to bestow a simple blessing upon such couples, in certain contexts.

“For, those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection,” the declaration read.

When Pope Francis became the first person from the Americas to lead the Catholic Church a decade ago, he immediately began to emphasize the pastoral ministries of the church over what could be seen as a dogmatic insistence on the purity of its teachings.

That was the emphasis of his predecessor, Pope Benedict, a theologian and specialist in church doctrine. He believed the Catholic church must stand boldly against moral relativism or cultural change that might compromise the integrity of its immutable teachings.

So the newly elected Pope Francis immediately startled observers around the world in 2013 when he told a group of reporters, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?”

Why We Wrote This

During his 10 years as head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has placed an emphasis on charity over doctrine. This week’s ruling on blessings, experts say, shows efforts to extend a larger welcome.

Since then, his papacy has been defined by an unprecedented effort to expand the reach of the church’s pastoral ministries, including, and perhaps especially, the divorced, gay and lesbian couples, and transgender people. 

This week, Francis again startled Catholics with what may be his boldest pronouncement yet to couples in “irregular situations” or of the same sex. In a declaration Monday, the Vatican for the first time said that priests were permitted to bestow a simple blessing upon such couples, in certain contexts.

Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window at the Vatican Dec. 17, 2023. This week, the Vatican for the first time said that priests can offer blessings to same-sex couples.

“For, those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection,” the declaration read.

The declaration “represents a monumental shift” in the Catholic church, says Darby DeJarnette, manager of operations and mission services at DignityUSA, a group that advocates for the full equality of LGBTQ+ Catholics. “A blessing conferred on a same-sex relationship is a step forward – perhaps a half step – but it will be a great comfort to same-sex couples who wish to receive some sort of recognition from their religious community.”



Source link

Leave a Comment