Pope: ‘Ask for blessings for a better life’
Same-sex marriage will not be recognized because it is considered a sin.
Foreign media “Use euphemism to respond to sensitive issues”
Pope Francis has left open the possibility that some same-sex couples may receive a priest’s blessing.
According to the BBC in the UK and CNN in the US on the 3rd (local time), Pope Francis stated that it is possible for Catholic Church clergy to give blessings to some same-sex couples depending on the situation.
Last July, the College of Cardinals addressed five issues: ▲the inability to reinterpret divine revelation, ▲the impossibility of blessing same-sex couples, ▲the hierarchical authority of bishops, ▲the ordination of women to the priesthood, and ▲the need for repentance on the Feast of the Eucharist. A clear explanation was requested from the Vatican.
Regarding the blessing of same-sex couples, Pope Francis responded, “It is an issue that must be dealt with with clerical tolerance.” He added, “Priests cannot just act as judges who deny, reject and exclude.”
The Pope said people usually ask for blessings to ask God for help to live better lives. For this reason, he stated that he should not reject those who wish to receive blessings.
The BBC reported that Pope Francis’ statement that “the decision to exercise clergy prudence in a particular situation should not necessarily become the norm” meant that requests for blessings should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
However, he added that the church still objectively considers same-sex unions to be sins and will not recognize same-sex marriages. The church views marriage as an exclusive, stable and inseparable union between a man and a woman, and “rites that run counter to this belief should be avoided,” he said.
He emphasized, “Church law should not and cannot encompass everything.” He also said the church should always approach its relationships with people with “kindness, patience, understanding, tenderness and encouragement.”
Foreign media such as the BBC reported that Pope Francis’ actions appear to be an effort to gently adjust the church’s linguistic expressions on important doctrine-related issues such as sexual identity.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.