Pope Approves Blessings for Same-sex Couples
2023-12-20
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1Pope Francis officially approved letting Catholic clergy bless same-sex couples, the Vatican announced Monday.
2The move is a complete change in church policy that aims to make the church more welcoming while continuing its ban on gay marriage.
3Some have cheered the Vatican statement as a step to break down discrimination in the Catholic Church.
4But LGBTQ+ supporters say the policy means that the church still considers gay couples as less than heterosexual partners.
5The Vatican document expands on a letter that Francis sent to two conservative cardinals last October.
6In that letter, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered if they were not seen or mistaken as marriage ceremonies.
7The new document repeats that condition and reaffirms that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman.
8It stresses that the blessings must not be tied to any Catholic celebration or religious service and should not be performed at the same time as a marriage ceremony.
9Also, the blessings cannot use ceremonial acts, clothing or movements that belong in a wedding.
10But it says requests for such blessings for same-sex couples should not be denied.
11"For, those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection," it said.
12The document added, "There is no intention to legitimize anything, but rather to open one's life to God, to ask for his help to live better..."
13The Vatican holds that marriage is a union between man and woman.
14As a result, it has long opposed same-sex marriage and considers homosexual acts to be "disordered."
15Nothing in the new document changes that teaching.
16In the new document, the church says a blessing is about helping people increase their trust in God.
17"It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered," it said.
18It stresses that people in "irregular" unions of extramarital sex - gay or straight - are in a state of sin.
19But that should not keep them from God's love or mercy.
20"Even when a person's relationship with God is clouded by sin, he can always ask for a blessing, stretching out his hand to God," the document said.
21The document is the latest attempt by the Pope to welcome gay Catholics.
22In 2013, he said, "Who am I to judge?" when asked about a gay clergy.
23Earlier this year, he told The Associated Press that "being homosexual is not a crime."
24Ramón Gómez oversees human rights for the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation in Chile.
25He said the statement was a step toward breaking down discrimination in the church and could help LGBTQ+ people in countries where even civil unions are not legal.
26But he said the document "gives the signal that same-sex couples are inferior to heterosexual couples."
27The Reverand James Martin supports welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics.
28He praised the new document as a "huge step forward" and a change from the Vatican's 2021 policy.
29"Along with many Catholic priests, I will now be delighted to bless my friends in same-sex marriages," he said in an email.
30In Germany, clergy have been blessing same-sex couples for years.
31And the head of the German Bishops Conference welcomed the document.
32Bishop Georg Baetzing said, "This means that a blessing can be given to couples who do not have the opportunity to marry in church, for example due to divorce, and to same-sex couples."
33In the United States, the Reverand John Oesterle, a Catholic priest in Pittsburgh, said many priests would probably not be open to offering such a blessing, but he welcomed Francis' action.
34He said, "When I was growing up, the assumption was that God made everyone straight. What we have learned is that is not true. In accepting people as God made them, and if Jesus' primary teaching is we should love and serve one another in the community, I think that's what gives Pope Francis the openness to God's presence in those relationships."
35Traditionalists, however, expressed shock and anger.
36Luigi Casalini of Messa in Latino (Latin Mass) blog wrote that the document did not follow the church's teachings.
37"The church is crumbling," he wrote.
38University of Notre Dame theologian Ulrich Lehner was also concerned.
39Lehner called it: "The most unfortunate public announcement in decades."
40He said it could lead to division in the church.
41I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1Pope Francis officially approved letting Catholic clergy bless same-sex couples, the Vatican announced Monday. 2The move is a complete change in church policy that aims to make the church more welcoming while continuing its ban on gay marriage. 3Some have cheered the Vatican statement as a step to break down discrimination in the Catholic Church. But LGBTQ+ supporters say the policy means that the church still considers gay couples as less than heterosexual partners. 4The Vatican document expands on a letter that Francis sent to two conservative cardinals last October. In that letter, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered if they were not seen or mistaken as marriage ceremonies. 5The new document repeats that condition and reaffirms that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman. It stresses that the blessings must not be tied to any Catholic celebration or religious service and should not be performed at the same time as a marriage ceremony. Also, the blessings cannot use ceremonial acts, clothing or movements that belong in a wedding. 6But it says requests for such blessings for same-sex couples should not be denied. "For, those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection," it said. 7The document added, "There is no intention to legitimize anything, but rather to open one's life to God, to ask for his help to live better..." 8The Vatican holds that marriage is a union between man and woman. As a result, it has long opposed same-sex marriage and considers homosexual acts to be "disordered." Nothing in the new document changes that teaching. 9In the new document, the church says a blessing is about helping people increase their trust in God. "It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered," it said. 10It stresses that people in "irregular" unions of extramarital sex - gay or straight - are in a state of sin. But that should not keep them from God's love or mercy. "Even when a person's relationship with God is clouded by sin, he can always ask for a blessing, stretching out his hand to God," the document said. 11The document is the latest attempt by the Pope to welcome gay Catholics. In 2013, he said, "Who am I to judge?" when asked about a gay clergy. Earlier this year, he told The Associated Press that "being homosexual is not a crime." 12Reactions to the announcement 13Ramón Gómez oversees human rights for the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation in Chile. He said the statement was a step toward breaking down discrimination in the church and could help LGBTQ+ people in countries where even civil unions are not legal. But he said the document "gives the signal that same-sex couples are inferior to heterosexual couples." 14The Reverand James Martin supports welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics. He praised the new document as a "huge step forward" and a change from the Vatican's 2021 policy. 15"Along with many Catholic priests, I will now be delighted to bless my friends in same-sex marriages," he said in an email. 16In Germany, clergy have been blessing same-sex couples for years. And the head of the German Bishops Conference welcomed the document. 17Bishop Georg Baetzing said, "This means that a blessing can be given to couples who do not have the opportunity to marry in church, for example due to divorce, and to same-sex couples." 18In the United States, the Reverand John Oesterle, a Catholic priest in Pittsburgh, said many priests would probably not be open to offering such a blessing, but he welcomed Francis' action. 19He said, "When I was growing up, the assumption was that God made everyone straight. What we have learned is that is not true. In accepting people as God made them, and if Jesus' primary teaching is we should love and serve one another in the community, I think that's what gives Pope Francis the openness to God's presence in those relationships." 20Traditionalists, however, expressed shock and anger. Luigi Casalini of Messa in Latino (Latin Mass) blog wrote that the document did not follow the church's teachings. "The church is crumbling," he wrote. 21University of Notre Dame theologian Ulrich Lehner was also concerned. Lehner called it: "The most unfortunate public announcement in decades." He said it could lead to division in the church. 22I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 23Nicole Winfield and David Crary reported this story for the Associated Press. Hai Do adapted this story for VOA Learning English. 24Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. 25______________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27bless -v. to ask God to care for and protect someone 28couple -n. two people who are married or have an intimate relationship 29gay (homosexual) -adj. sexually interested in the same sex 30prior -adj. taking place earlier 31intention -n. a plan or aim 32legitimize -v. to make acceptable and normal 33mercy -n. kind treatment where it is not expected or deserved 34inferior -adj. not as good as something else 35assumption -n. an opinion that is not based on direct knowledge but is thought to be the case