Catholic Church - Pope rejects criticism of blessings for homosexual couples
Pope Francis has rejected some harsh criticism from the conservative camp regarding his new guidelines on the blessing of same-sex couples. The Vatican's Office for the Doctrine of the Faith published a further statement on this in Rome.
It emphasizes once again that such blessings are in no way to be equated with a church blessing for a marriage between a man and a woman. The Vatican also wants to give the Catholic churches in the various regions of the world some leeway as to how and when the guidelines are applied.
Cardinal Müller: "Blasphemy"
As the head of more than 1.4 billion Catholics, Francis had surprisingly allowed Catholic priests to give their blessing to "couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples" shortly before Christmas - but only under strict conditions. From Germany, the declaration "Fiducia supplicans" (roughly: "imploring trust") was largely praised, even if many in the Catholic reform movement do not think the declaration goes far enough.
However, there was massive criticism from other countries - particularly 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", of blasphemy against God.
Blessings only outside churches and only for a few seconds
The Office for the Doctrine of the Faith has now defended itself against such criticism. It said that the declaration offered "no framework for distancing oneself from it doctrinally or for regarding it as heretical, contrary to Church tradition or blasphemous". At the same time, however, the Vatican also emphasized that such blessings neither approve nor justify unions 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 were also written by Cardinal Prefect Victor Manuel Fernández. The head of the Office for the Doctrine of the Faith, who, like the Pope, comes from Argentina, expressly referred to regional particularities. He said: "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 lies with the local bishop.
Once again, the Vatican emphasized the difference between weddings between a man and a woman and other forms of ritual blessing. This includes, in particular, that such blessings may only take place outside of churches and may only last a few seconds. The appropriate length of time is said to be "10 to 15 seconds". The following is given as an example of a blessing text: "Lord, look upon these children of yours. Give them health, work, peace and mutual help. Deliver them from all that is contrary to your gospel and grant them to live according to your will. Amen."
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- Despite the criticism from Cardinal Ludwig Müller in Germany, who labeled the decision as "blasphemy," the Catholic Church continues to support Pope Francis's new guidelines on blessings for homosexual couples.
- The Pope's guidance for blessing same-sex couples has sparked various reactions within the Catholic Church, with some Italian clergy expressing their enthusiasm for the new guideline during the upcoming Christmas celebrations.
- In the midst of this debate, a woman from Italy shared her personal story of seeking a blessing from her Catholic priest after her same-sex partner's cancer diagnosis, hoping to receive the Church's spiritual support during this challenging time.
- The Catholic Church in Italy emphasizes the significance of religious freedom and acknowledges the importance of offering blessings to all couples in the spirit of compassion and care, regardless of their sexual orientation.
- As the Catholic Church navigates these changes, many individuals from across the world are closely following the developments, with many people in Germany expressing their hope that Pope Francis's new guideline will foster a more inclusive and welcoming community within the Church.
- Meanwhile, Pope Francis has emphasized the differences between the sacrament of marriage and the blessing rituals, clarifying that blessings may only take place outside of churches and last just a few seconds.
- In the face of strong opposition from conservative figures such as Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, who criticized Francis's mandate as "blasphemous," the Catholic Church in Germany has continued to affirm its commitment to love, acceptance, and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals within its faith community.
- Amidst these ongoing conversations surrounding religious beliefs and LGBTQ+ rights, Pope Francis's decision to bless same-sex couples has illustrated the Church's continued journey toward greater inclusivity and understanding.
Source: www.stern.de
