Pope Francis Approves Blessings For Same-Sex Couples, Says Shouldn’t Be Subject To 'Moral Analysis'

A new document from the Vatican's doctrine office asserts that requests for blessings for same-sex couples should not be outright denied.

File Photo of Pope Francis

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In a significant move, Pope Francis has officially endorsed the blessing of same-sex couples, marking a radical shift in Vatican policy. A new document from the Vatican's doctrine office, released on Monday, elucidates on the Pope's earlier communication to two conservative cardinals, underscoring that individuals seeking God's love and mercy should not undergo an "exhaustive moral analysis" as a prerequisite, news agency Associated Press reported.

The document reaffirms that marriage remains a sacrament between a man and a woman, emphasising that blessings should not be equated with the sacrament of marriage and should not coincide with civil unions. Furthermore, it discourages the use of wedding-related clothing and gestures during such ceremonies.

While upholding the traditional definition of marriage, the document asserts that requests for blessings for same-sex couples should not be outright denied. It offers an extensive scriptural definition of the term "blessing" to emphasise that individuals seeking a transcendent relationship with God, love, and mercy should not be burdened by exhaustive moral scrutiny.

According to the document, a blessing serves as a means for individuals to enhance their trust in God, AP's report mentioned. It contends that the request for a blessing signifies and nurtures openness to transcendence, mercy, and closeness to God in various concrete circumstances of life. The document highlights the importance of not hindering this seed of the Holy Spirit but nurturing it.

"Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God. The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the 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 document states, as quoted by the report.

“It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered,” it adds.

The decision signals the Pope's effort to bridge a more compassionate understanding in line with the changing societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ issues.