Pope Indicates Possibility of Blessings for Same-Sex Unions in Reply to Five Conservative Cardinals

Pope Francis has intimated that there might be avenues to confer blessings on same-sex partnerships. This statement came in response to inquiries from five conservative cardinals who urged him to uphold the church’s existing teachings on homosexuality prior to a significant meeting where LGBTQ+ issues within the Catholic Church are set to be discussed.

The Vatican released a letter on Monday that Pope Francis had penned to the cardinals on July 11, following their submission of a series of five questions, known as “dubia,” just a day before. In the letter, the Pope suggested that the possibility of such blessings could be explored, provided they are not mistaken for sacramental marriage.

New Ways Ministry, an advocacy group for LGBTQ+ Catholics, asserted that the Pope’s letter represents a substantial progression in efforts to make LGBTQ+ individuals feel welcomed within the church. The organization described it as a significant move toward eliminating the marginalization of these individuals within the Catholic community.

While the Vatican maintains that marriage is an unbreakable union between a man and a woman, it has consistently opposed gay marriage. However, Pope Francis himself has shown support for civil legislation that offers legal benefits to same-sex couples. Additionally, in certain European regions, Catholic priests have been blessing same-sex partnerships without facing disciplinary actions from the Vatican.

This recent communication from Pope Francis marks a departure from the Vatican’s existing formal stance. A 2021 clarification from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith categorically stated that the church could not bless homosexual unions because such unions were considered sinful.

In his recent correspondence, Pope Francis reaffirmed that marriage is an institution between a man and a woman. Nevertheless, he stated that “pastoral charity” necessitates patience and understanding, and that clergy should not serve as judges who solely “deny, reject, and exclude.” He added that proper pastoral discernment should be exercised to avoid conveying a distorted view of marriage when blessings are requested.

He acknowledged that some situations are “objectively not morally acceptable,” but emphasized that the same “pastoral charity” mandates treating individuals as sinners who might not be entirely culpable for their actions. Pope Francis indicated that there is no need for dioceses or bishops’ conferences to codify such pastoral approaches into fixed norms, stating that these matters could be dealt with on an individual basis, “because the life of the church operates through channels that transcend norms.”

Francis DeBernardo, the Executive Director of New Ways Ministry, praised Pope Francis’s openness, stating that this allowance for blessings of same-sex couples indicates the church’s acknowledgement of the existence of sacred love between such couples, thereby reflecting divine love.

The five cardinals who challenged Pope Francis hail from diverse regions including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. They are conservative figures and had requested that the Pope affirm the church’s teachings on multiple issues, including homosexuality, women’s ordination, and papal authority, in their letter.

The cardinals made their challenge public just two days before the commencement of a three-week-long synod at the Vatican where LGBTQ+ issues are on the agenda. These cardinals are among Pope Francis’s most strident critics and belong to a more doctrinal generation appointed either by St. John Paul II or Pope Benedict XVI.

The cardinals did not find the Pope’s response satisfactory and resubmitted their questions, requesting a straightforward yes or no answer. Failing to receive this, they decided to disclose the texts and issue a warning notification to the faithful. The Vatican’s doctrine office subsequently made the Pope’s response public, albeit without his introductory remarks in which he encouraged the cardinals to embrace the forthcoming synod without fear.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Blessings for Same-Sex Unions

More about Blessings for Same-Sex Unions

• Pope Francis’ letter on same-sex unions
• Vatican’s 2021 note on blessings for gay unions
• New Ways Ministry, LGBTQ+ Catholic advocacy group
• Background on the five conservative cardinals challenging Pope Francis
• Vatican synod addressing LGBTQ+ issues