In a preliminary response to the Vatican document, Pope Francis suggested same-sex blessings could be offered if the rituals don't resemble marriage.

Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it.

The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office, released Monday, elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.

The new document repeats that rationale and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding.

But it says requests for such blessings should not be denied full stop. It offers an extensive definition of the term “blessing” in Scripture to insist that people seeking a transcendent relationship with God and looking for his love and mercy should not be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” as a precondition for receiving it.

  • FfaerieOxide@kbin.social
    21·
    11 months ago

    Apparently alot, as the book we are seemingly relying on to effect our moral scaffolding says we have all “come short of the glory of God”, in addition to stating slavery is ok while two dudes getting married is not.

    • SSUPIIEnglish
      21·
      11 months ago

      This has nothing to do with the current topic.

      • FfaerieOxide@kbin.social
        21·
        11 months ago

        Doesn’t it? We’re justifying discrimination because apparently this book says so.

        If it’s important enough to treat our queer siblings poorly over surely we should listen to everything this “scripture” has to say?

        Real quick, can you tell me and this pile of rocks what fibres your clothes are made of?

        • SSUPIIEnglish
          2·
          11 months ago

          Pinpoint where in this discussion discrimination is being justified. I stated a fact, not an appreciation to that fact.

          • FfaerieOxide@kbin.social
            11·
            11 months ago

            That fact is being pointed to to engender and perpetuate discrimination, and you are “pointing to fact” to defend the pope against accurate charges of disingenuity in the face of his and wider society’s continued perpetuation of that harm.

            At best you are deflecting, but you are absolutely defending the continued harm done when you justify the pope’s position as adherence to scripture.