So Pope Francis Has Deigned to ‘Bless’ Gay Marriages? That’s Not a Blessing, It’s an Insult

THE GUARDIAN: The Catholic church made my young queer life hell. Now they accept and damn my union in one breath

Matt Cain (left) with his husband on their wedding day. Photograph: Joseph Scanlon Photography
On the day I celebrated the first anniversary of my wedding, Pope Francis announced his “conditional approval” for Catholic priests to bless same-sex marriages – under certain circumstances – although he was keen to add that these blessings should not be seen as validation of same-sex relationships. “It will be possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualisation or offering the impression of a marriage,” the Church announced in a report published on Vatican News, adding that “the blessing does not signify approval of the union”. In the eyes of the Catholic church, it seems, queer love is still a sin.

Well, you can stick your blessing, Pope Francis. It’s a fig leaf, a PR exercise, a means of laundering your prejudice to make it seem like a step towards acceptance.

I was brought up Catholic, went to Catholic schools and mass every Sunday, and served as an altar boy for years. From an early age I also knew I was gay. But some of my teachers made me believe that being gay was wrong. When the other kids called me “poof”, “pansy” and “queer”, it didn’t occur to me to report them to a teacher. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to my sin. It was my own fault I was being bullied. I was consumed by guilt. » | Matt Cain | Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Pope Francis Approves Blessings for Same-sex Couples — If the Rituals Don’t Resemble Marriage

NEW YORK POST: ROME — 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. » | Associated Press | December 18, 2023

Vatican gives conditional approval to blessings for same-sex couples: Landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis would be a sign that God welcomes all, says Vatican »

Anglican Groups Revolt against Same-sex Blessing Plan

THE GUARDIAN: Conservative body in Church of England encourages dioceses to protest, and says opposition is growing

The C of E’s governing body voted in February to support a proposal by bishops to offer blessings on a voluntary basis for clergy. Photograph: Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty
Conservative clergy and parishioners have launched a small but vocal revolt against the Church of England’s plan to offer to bless the civil marriages of same-sex couples, a move that some Christians believe is contrary to biblical teaching.

In Buckinghamshire, a large group parish plans to refuse to offer blessings to same-sex couples in its seven churches and is taking steps to withhold its annual contribution of £235,000 to the diocese of Oxford in protest.

A group of traditionalist clergy in the City of London have unilaterally formed an independent structure within the C of E as an act of “resistance” to blessings. » | Harriet Sherwood | Monday, April 10, 2023