3 ms·

Misleading headline. The document states a priest can bless them without relationship intent. This is similar to how a dog, a statue, a drug addict, or similar

Misleading headline. The document states a priest can bless them without relationship intent. This is similar to how a dog, a statue, a drug addict, or similar may be blessed.

dragontamer 3y ago
Humans have a soul as per Catholic theology and therefore human blessings carry far more weight. The issue here, theologically, is that Catholics believe that marriage and sex are both for procreation. That's a core tenant, and same sex couples cannot procreate. EDIT: I think that the Church accepting that same sex couples can have blessings and a life filled with love and togetherness is still important. And I also think that's mostly what (Catholic) same-sex couples want.
- gjsman-1000 3y ago
  I completely agree, which is why more conservative Catholics, and myself reading what the Church teaches, don't think this makes any pastoral sense. If it was about blessing the people, why not pull them aside individually? Much less confusing.
  - dragontamer 3y ago
    Because blessing the love that they share requires both of them to be blessed together.
    - gjsman-1000 3y ago
      To which the document issued today explicitly states, "in the fine print", that nobody must be under any misimpression that they are blessing the "love that they share."
      - dragontamer 3y ago
        > although in a union that cannot be compared in any way to a marriage, desire to entrust themselves to the Lord and his mercy, to invoke his help, and to be guided to a greater understanding of his plan of love and of truth This fine print? It seems to be a blessing over the love they share, even if we cannot give them formal marriage rites.
- neverartful 3y ago
  I think you meant core 'tenet'.
tomashubelbauer 3y ago
Was it previously explicitly disallowed to bless gay couples but not drug addicts or cars? Or is this a case of the Pope clarifying something the priests weren't sure would be okay but wasn't explicitly forbidden for them to do?
- gjsman-1000 3y ago
  > Was it previously explicitly disallowed to bless gay couples but not drug addicts or cars? The issue is the Catholic Church teaches that sexuality is only legitimate in a "lifelong partnership of the whole of life, of mutual and exclusive fidelity, established by mutual consent between one man and one woman, and ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring." You can see why blessing a "gay" couple, even without intent to approve of their situation, would appear to contradict the teaching, or at a minimum cause confusion.
  - akomtu 3y ago
    A priest may bless a sinner, to help him overcome his sins. Priests don't need to betray their faith to bless homosexual couples.

Misleading headline. The document states a priest can bless them without relationship intent. This is similar to how a dog, a statue, a drug addict, or similar may be blessed.

dragontamer 3y ago

Humans have a soul as per Catholic theology and therefore human blessings carry far more weight. The issue here, theologically, is that Catholics believe that marriage and sex are both for procreation. That's a core tenant, and same sex couples cannot procreate. EDIT: I think that the Church accepting that same sex couples can have blessings and a life filled with love and togetherness is still important. And I also think that's mostly what (Catholic) same-sex couples want.

gjsman-1000 3y ago
I completely agree, which is why more conservative Catholics, and myself reading what the Church teaches, don't think this makes any pastoral sense. If it was about blessing the people, why not pull them aside individually? Much less confusing.
- dragontamer 3y ago
  Because blessing the love that they share requires both of them to be blessed together.
  - gjsman-1000 3y ago
    To which the document issued today explicitly states, "in the fine print", that nobody must be under any misimpression that they are blessing the "love that they share."
    - dragontamer 3y ago
      > although in a union that cannot be compared in any way to a marriage, desire to entrust themselves to the Lord and his mercy, to invoke his help, and to be guided to a greater understanding of his plan of love and of truth This fine print? It seems to be a blessing over the love they share, even if we cannot give them formal marriage rites.
neverartful 3y ago
I think you meant core 'tenet'.

tomashubelbauer 3y ago

Was it previously explicitly disallowed to bless gay couples but not drug addicts or cars? Or is this a case of the Pope clarifying something the priests weren't sure would be okay but wasn't explicitly forbidden for them to do?

gjsman-1000 3y ago
> Was it previously explicitly disallowed to bless gay couples but not drug addicts or cars? The issue is the Catholic Church teaches that sexuality is only legitimate in a "lifelong partnership of the whole of life, of mutual and exclusive fidelity, established by mutual consent between one man and one woman, and ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring." You can see why blessing a "gay" couple, even without intent to approve of their situation, would appear to contradict the teaching, or at a minimum cause confusion.
- akomtu 3y ago
  A priest may bless a sinner, to help him overcome his sins. Priests don't need to betray their faith to bless homosexual couples.