Pope Francis received praise from Germany for his permission to bless same-sex couples. There was criticism elsewhere. Now the Vatican is once again explaining exactly what is allowed and what is not.
Pope Francis has rejected some harsh criticism from the conservative camp of his new guidelines for blessing same-sex couples. The Vatican Office for the Doctrine of the Faith published a further statement in Rome.
It emphasizes again that such blessings are in no way to be equated with a church blessing at a wedding between a woman and a man. The Vatican also wants to give the Catholic churches in different regions of the world some leeway in how and when the guidelines are applied.
Cardinal Müller: “Blasphemy”
As the head of more than 1.4 billion Catholics, shortly before Christmas, Francis surprisingly allowed Catholic priests to give their blessing to “couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples” – but only under strict conditions. From Germany there was for them Erklärung “Begging for confidence” (roughly: “Begging Trust”) received mostly praise, even if for many in the Catholic reform movement the explanation did not go far enough.
However, massive criticism came from other countries – especially from Africa, where homosexuality is still punishable in many places. Kenyan Bishop Paul Kariuki was angry that Francis had “opened a dangerous door.” The local bishops’ conferences in Uganda, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia also rejected the paper. The conservative German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller even spoke of “blasphemy” or blasphemy.
Blessings only outside churches and for a few seconds
The Office for Doctrine of Faith now defended itself against such criticism. The declaration “does not provide a framework for distancing oneself from it doctrinally or viewing it as heretical, contrary to church tradition or blasphemous.” At the same time, the Vatican also emphasized that such blessings neither condone nor justify relationships outside of marriage. In addition to same-sex couples, this also applies to relationships in which one or both partners have been divorced.
Just like the declaration itself, the Explanations written by Cardinal Prefect Victor Manuel Fernández. The head of the authority for religious doctrine, who like the Pope comes from Argentina, expressly referred to regional peculiarities. It literally says: “In some places there is nothing to prevent immediate application, while in others it seems necessary not to renew anything and to take as much time as necessary to read and interpret the declaration.” The decision rests with the local bishop.
The Vatican once again emphasized the difference to weddings between a woman and a man and other forms of ritual blessing. This particularly means that such blessings can only take place outside of churches and can only last a few seconds. The appropriate time period is “10 to 15 seconds”. An example of a blessing text is given: “Lord, look upon these your children. Give them health, work, peace and mutual help. Deliver them from everything that contradicts your gospel and grant them to live according to your will. Amen .”
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