Pope Francis Allows Catholic Priests to Bless Homosexual Couples

In a historic ruling approved by Pope Francis on Monday, Roman Catholic priests were allowed to administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies.

A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all. It should in no way be confused with the sacrament of heterosexual marriage.

Monday’s eight-page document, whose subtitle is “On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings”, spelt out specific situations. An 11-page section was titled “Blessings of Couples in Irregular Situations and of Couples of the Same sex”.

The Church teaches that same-sex attraction is not sinful but homosexual acts are. Since his election in 2013, Francis has tried to make the Catholic Church more welcoming to LGBT people.

The recent document said the blessing should not be linked with or timed to a civil marriage ceremony and be performed with none of the “clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding”.

It was signed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, the head of the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by the pope in a private audience with Fernandez and another doctrinal office official on Monday morning.