New declaration makes provision for limited same-sex blessing
In a declaration released Monday by the Vatican titled, “Declaration Fiducia Supplicans” on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings, Pope Francis has approved limited blessings for same-sex couples, while not approving of the actual union of any same-sex marriage and not in context to any marital ceremony.
The declaration is coined by the Vatican as an “innovative” contribution to the pastoral meaning of blessings and a departure from the 2021 decision by the Pope that God can not bless sin, in regards to same-sex blessings.
Now, however, the Pope has approved prayers and blessings for those in what he calls “irregular situations” while still seeking God’s intervention and help. The declaration does not change the meaning of marriage between one man and one woman but makes provision for ministry to those in a same-sex situation. NPR reports that some are calling this a “major step forward” from the Catholic church toward LGBTQ people.
The declaration continues, “Within the horizon outlined here appears the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex, the form of which should not be fixed ritually by ecclesial authorities to avoid producing confusion with the blessing proper to the Sacrament of Marriage.”
The declaration goes on to distinguish between a blessing of approval and a blessing of “supplication” or prayer for those in need to receive “actual grace.”
“These forms of blessing express a supplication that God may grant those aids that come from the impulses of his Spirit—what classical theology calls “actual grace”—so that human relationships may mature and grow in fidelity to the Gospel, that they may be freed from their imperfections and frailties, and that they may express themselves in the ever-increasing dimension of the divine love.
“The Pope has gone woke,” said evangelical leader and Hold the Line founder, Sean Feucht, on NewsMax.
“This is a massive exposing of what we already knew… The Pope has gone woke. He’s bowed to the cancel culture mob. He’s bowed to the LGBTQ mafia and he’s gone against the Bible. It’s very clear. The Bible is not complicated and not blurry around this issue.”
