Pope Francis opens the door for same-sex couples to receive certain blessings

The Vatican released a document on Monday that clarifies that priests in the Catholic Church can offer certain blessings to same-sex couples.

The statement states that ordained priests may offer non-liturgical blessings to same-sex couples or in “irregular situations”, but explicitly states that the blessing should not be confused with blessings related to the Sacrament of Matrimony; nor does the blessing constitute an endorsement of homosexual union. The Vatican has been harassed with questions about his stance on same-sex relationships for years.

“Within the horizon outlined here appears the possibility of blessings for couples in an irregular situation and for couples of the same sex, the form of which should not be ritually fixed by the ecclesiastical authorities in order not to cause confusion with the own blessing of the Sacrament of Matrimony,” the document says. to the destitute and in need of their help, they do not claim a legitimization of their own status, but that all that is true, good, and humanly valid in their lives and relationships be enriched, healed, and uplifted with the presence of the Holy Spirit”.

The document reiterates the position of the Catholic Church that marriage is only between a man and a woman, and notes that any blessing given that “might create confusion between what constitutes marriage … is inadmissible.”

In addition, the document warns priests not to promote blessings for “couples in an irregular situation”, but also states that the church “must not prevent or prohibit the closeness of the Church to people in all situations in which they may seek God's help by a simple blessing.” “

Several conservative Catholic bishops he wrote to Pope Francis in July and then again in August, asking the Holy Father to clarify the church's position on same-sex marriage and female ordination.

“God never rejects anyone who comes to him! Ultimately, a blessing gives people a means to increase their trust in God,” the document states. “The request for a blessing thus expresses and nourishes the openness to transcendence, mercy and closeness to God in a thousand concrete circumstances of life, which is no small thing in the world in which we live.”

The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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