The Vatican said on Monday in a landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis that Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular church rituals or liturgies.
A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office said such blessings would not legitimize irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.
It said priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and “should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God's help through a simple blessing.”
The pope hinted that an official change was in the works in October in response to questions put forward by five conservative cardinals at the start of a synod of bishops at the Vatican.
While the response in October was more nuanced, Monday's eight-page document, whose subtitle is “On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings,” spelled out specific situations. An 11-paragraph section was titled “Blessings of Couples in Irregular Situations and of Couples of the Same Sex.”
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that same-sex attraction is not sinful but homosexual acts are. Since his election in 2013, Francis has tried to make the 1.3 billion-member church more welcoming to LGBTQ+ people without changing moral doctrine on same-sex activity.
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