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.
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.
