A cardinal near Pope Francis defends a recent ruling by the Holy See that priests cannot bless same-sex unions, as the Vatican has a clear difference of opinion from some Catholic clergy and questions about the role of the pope in the approval of the document.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, head of the lay office in the Vatican, agrees with the ruling that a “blessing” is a sacramental action related to the sacrament of marriage, which according to the Catholic Church can only be celebrated between husband and wife. word.
Farrell said that although civil unions are not ‘marriages’ as the Catholic Church understands the term, I want to insist that no one, no one should ever be excluded from the pastoral care and love and concern of the church. “
Pope Francis delivers Angelus’ afternoon prayer in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican on 28 February (AP)
((AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia))
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Farrell spoke at a news conference launching an annual celebration of Francis’ view of family life, set out in a 2016 document titled ‘The Joy of Love’.
His comments come amid ongoing criticism of the document released Monday by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which states that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions because God cannot bless sin. ‘.
In Austria, a group of dissident Catholic priests, known as the Pfarrer Initiative, or, the Pastoral Initiative, said they were ‘deeply upset’ about the new decision and would not follow it.
“This is a return to times when we, together with Pope Francis, hoped to pass,” the priests in Austria said in a statement. “We will, in solidarity with so many people, in the future reject any loving couple who ask to celebrate God’s blessing, which they experience every day, also in a worship service.”
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The group, which was founded by nine priests in 2006 and today claims that 350 members are ‘of the official Roman Catholic Church’, said the decision “discredits Jesus’ liberating message”.
A Belgian bishop, Bishop of Antwerp, Johan Bonny, apologized to believers on Wednesday for what he said was a ‘painful and incomprehensible’ decision.
In Germany, Mainz Bishop Peter Kohlgraf also expressed dismay, saying he was “bothered” by the Vatican’s position and took seriously the criticism he heard from his herd. In a statement on his diocesan website, Kohlgraf said he stood by views he expressed in writing last month, apparently endorsing various liturgical blessings for gay couples that some priests have been using.
“The blessings arose as a result of pastoral guidance of the people affected. Most of them are not formulas that repeat church marriages, nor are they intended to develop a uniform liturgy,” he wrote. “No, I’m not asking for a form of blessing similar to marriage. But I am asking for guidance – instead of judging.”
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The launch of the document was unusual. The Vatican’s press office did not give prior notice that it would come out. The document itself states that Francis was only ‘informed and gave his consent to the publication’.
Other documents from the Vatican’s Orthodox Office have a much more authoritative endorsement of the pope. One published on June 24 on the validity of some baptisms, for example, said Francis ‘approved these answers and ordered their publication’.