The Vatican has officially approved the blessing of same-sex couples by Catholic priests.
On the 18th (local time), major foreign media including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Pope Francis made a decision to overturn the Catholic Church's tradition of rejecting homosexuality through a doctrinal declaration titled "Fiducia supplicans" (Supplicating Faith).
However, the blessing of same-sex couples must not be conducted during the Church's formal rites or Mass, and it is distinct from the sacrament of marriage. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated, "(The) blessing does not approve situations that violate all regulations, but it signifies that God welcomes everyone."
It added, "Priests must not hinder or prevent the Church from approaching anyone who seeks a blessing and God's help in any situation," and "Ultimately, blessings provide a means to nurture faith, so they should be fostered, not obstructed."
In 2021, the Vatican declared a doctrine stating that same-sex unions could not be blessed because they undermine the Church's teaching that only heterosexual marriage is recognized, but this new declaration replaces that.
Cardinal V?ctor Manuel Fern?ndez, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who announced this declaration, said, "Expanding the scope of who can be blessed is a genuine development and a clear and groundbreaking contribution to the pastoral meaning of blessings," adding, "It is a decision based on His Holiness the Pope's pastoral vision."
At the same time, he emphasized, "This declaration does not modify the Church's traditional doctrine on marriage because it does not permit worship rites that could be confused with the (heterosexual) sacrament of marriage."
He also explained, "This declaration fits precisely within the context of understanding the possibility of blessings for couples in 'irregular situations' and same-sex couples without changing the Church's long-standing teaching on marriage or proving the status of blessings."
In other words, it boldly attempts a partial doctrinal change that enables blessings for same-sex couples while not shaking the existing doctrine that marriage is only between a man and a woman.
The doctrinal declaration warned, "The Church must not define the form of (same-sex couple) blessings as a rite so that it does not cause confusion with the formal blessing of the sacrament of marriage."
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