On Thursday, the Vatican made an effort to provide clarification about the Catholic Church’s recent endorsement of blessings for same-s*x couples, denying that it had deviated from teaching and advising “prudence” in some nations.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified its position in response to criticism from some bishops, mainly in Africa, about a recent pronouncement that allowed priests to bless same-s*x and “irregular” couples in some situations.
Published in December, that declaration was seen by some conservative Catholics, especially in Africa, as reversing course on the Church’s positions on homos*xuality and gay marriage.
But on Thursday, the Vatican stood by its recent document, saying it was “clear and definitive about marriage and s*xuality.”
“There is no room to distance ourselves doctrinally from this Declaration or to consider it heretical, contrary to the Tradition of the Church or blasphemous,” the Dicastery wrote.
Priests could only bless same-s*x couples, divorcees, or single couples in “non-ritualized” contexts—never in connection with civil unions or weddings—according to the original pronouncement.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia have all seen notably significant opposition to the Vatican’s recent action.
The Dicastery stated that “understandable” responses to the decision had been made by several bishop’s conferences around the globe, “highlighting the need for a more extended period of pastoral reflection.”
It noted that in certain circumstances, the blessing of same-s*x couples would be inappropriate.
“If there are laws that condemn the mere act of declaring oneself as a homos*xual with prison and in some cases with torture and even death, it goes without saying that a blessing would be imprudent,” said the Dicastery.
When implementing the measure, it recommended “prudence and attention to the ecclesial context and to the local culture.”
It stated that in a number of them, “there are strong cultural and even legal issues that require time and pastoral strategies that go beyond the short term,” without naming specific nations.
The 87-year-old Pope Francis has insisted on welcoming all of the faithful, including the LGBTQ and homos*xual communities, into the Church ever since his election in 2013.
However, its conservative and traditional fringe has fiercely opposed his attempts.