Staff Reports
In a surprising change of heart, the Vatican is now supporting gay couples getting married. In a statement from the Vatican's doctrinal office, it is now said that everyone can receive a blessing without any conditions. This is different from the Church's earlier stance that it did not have the power to recognize homosexual relationships.
This change has caused a lot of debate, especially since the Vatican's first statement, released in March 2021, was criticized by more liberal parts of the Church, especially in Germany. Over 200 Catholic scholars who spoke German went against the Vatican's statement and said it was biased against gay people.
'Since a blessing can now be “offered to all without requiring anything,” one must suppose that sweatshops, drug cartels, prostitution rings, abortion clinics, and child pornography studios should not be denied a blessing if they request one.'https://t.co/kfq6zPAijc
— Father V (@father_rmv) December 18, 2023
The Vatican's doctrinal office has changed its position since Cardinal Víctor Manuel "Tucho" Fernández took over as head. Cardinal Fernández agrees with bishops who speak German that blessings can be given to couples who are in unusual situations, like same-sex couples, without supporting their lifestyles or changing what the Church teaches about marriage.
Some people may see this change as a more caring and open-minded attitude, but it makes me wonder what the point is. If blessings can now be given without any conditions, it makes people think about what it would mean to give blessings in a wide range of situations, including ones that most people think are morally wrong.
The Vatican's decision to lift its ban on blessing gay couples is likely to spark more debate in the Church and in society as a whole. This break from traditional Catholic views on marriage and sexuality will likely have long-lasting effects.
