Arr, the Vatican be sayin' them bishops can be keepin' their distance from blessin' same-sex unions, ye scurvy dogs!
2023-12-28
Arr, hear ye, mateys! The Vatican be sayin' that them Catholic bishops across the seven seas be havin' the freedom to decide whether to grant or deny their blessed approval for ye landlubbers sailin' in same-sex love. Avast, me hearties!
The Vatican has clarified that bishops are free to decide whether or not to adopt its recommendation for the "spontaneous" blessing of same-sex relationships. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the prefect for the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, stated that bishops must discern for themselves whether to implement the sanctioned blessings. He emphasized that the guidance does not deviate from traditional Catholic doctrine and supports the perennial teaching on marriage and sexuality. However, Fernández also acknowledged that blessings could be misunderstood or cause confusion and scandal in certain contexts. He expressed sympathy for African bishops who reject the idea of blessing individuals in open homosexual relationships due to laws that penalize homosexuality in their countries. Fernández stated that it is appropriate for each local bishop to make their own discernment and provide further guidance. The controversial document titled "Fiducia Supplicans" reaffirms the Catholic Church's stance on marriage as an exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman. It allows for "spontaneous" blessings given to individuals in same-sex relationships seeking to live morally but clarifies that the union itself cannot be blessed. African bishops have been the most vocal opponents of the document, citing cultural and legal reasons for not implementing it. Episcopal conferences in Zambia and Malawi have explicitly stated that same-sex blessings are not permitted in their countries. In contrast, the majority of bishops in the United States support the document's language, finding it consistent with church teaching and tradition.