The Vatican has issued a new document regarding same-sex unions and the Catholic Church’s stance on them. The document states that Catholic priests can bless LGBTQ unions, but only under specific conditions.
The overall goal of the blessing is to make it clear that it does not resemble a marriage, as the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman.
The document also clarifies that the Catholic Church’s position on marriage and its opposition to gay marriage has not changed.
The new document aims to allow couples in an “irregular union” to seek and receive God’s love and mercy through a blessing. These blessings can be offered during a visit to a Catholic shrine, a meeting with a priest, a prayer recited in a group or a pilgrimage.
However, the blessing should not be offered in conjunction with a civil union ceremony, gay or straight, and should not include any clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding.
Are these prayers documented?
Dioceses or bishops’ conferences should not formalize the blessing through set procedures or rituals to avoid confusion with the church’s official prayers. Instead, priests should be instructed to offer blessings spontaneously, distinct from the church’s approved gifts.
Is there additional information forthcoming?
To emphasize the spontaneous and informal character of these blessings, the Vatican has stated that there are no intentions to regulate specific details or practical aspects of same-sex benefits or address further inquiries, entrusting these matters to individual priests.
