Pope Francis’ announcement Monday that now permits Roman Catholic priests to formally bless same-sex couples is being hailed as a landmark decision in equality for all. But it has also further rankled traditionalist Catholics who think the church is taking too many progressive stances.
Vatican officials acknowledged to Just the News that the announcement was significant but said it did not “transform traditional church doctrine” that teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman, since it allowed “blessings of couples in irregular situations” without endorsing their status or permitting any new liturgical rites.
“A blessing is much different than a sacrament,” referring to the church’s seven formal sacraments, which include baptism, marriage, and ordination.
“When people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it,” Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez wrote in the Vatican’s declaration Monday.
The declaration, which Vatican officials says was endorsed by the pope, leaves the decision over whether to bless same-sex couples to individual priests. It also came days after Fernandez – one of the pontiff’s strongest allies and a fellow Argentinian – encouraged single mothers to receive communion if they first go to confession.
The apparent trend, then the backlash, at least within the church, emerged publicly last month when the pope “relieved” Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland of his responsibilities after Strickland’s repeated criticisms of Francis’ reforms.
That move was in line with the pontiff’s comments about the “backwardness” of some Catholic officials in the U.S.
In October, Francis responded to criticisms from five conservative cardinals that he was “open to” blessing same-sex couples.
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