In a significant departure from traditional Vatican policy, Pope Francis has formally sanctioned the blessing of same-sex couples, emphasizing that individuals seeking God's love and mercy should not be subjected to exhaustive moral scrutiny. The Vatican's doctrine office released a document on Monday, expanding on Pope Francis' preliminary response to conservative cardinals in October, as reported by PTI.
The document reaffirms the possibility of blessing same-sex couples under specific circumstances, provided it does not equate to the sacrament of marriage. While underscoring that marriage remains a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman, the document emphasizes that blessings should not be administered concurrently with civil unions or resemble wedding rituals.
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Crucially, the document asserts that requests for such blessings should not be summarily denied. It provides a comprehensive definition of "blessing" in Scripture, emphasizing that those seeking a transcendent relationship with God should not face exhaustive moral analysis as a prerequisite for receiving it.
"The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to 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. Pope Francis views the blessing as a seed of the Holy Spirit that should be nurtured rather than hindered.
