A former Methodist minister has apparently sought a blessing on her same-sex union from a priest at a parish within the Archdiocese of Chicago, months after the Vatican issued a document on the possibility of giving spontaneous, non-liturgical pastoral blessings to couples
In its first detailed analysis of the Vatican's pre-Christmas declaration "Fiducia Supplicans," Russia's Orthodox Church has accused Pope Francis of "rejecting the Christian moral ideal" by allowing the blessing of same-sex couples.
"While affirming the inviolable understanding of marriage as a union of
The Vatican's document permitting blessings for those in "irregular situations," including same-sex relationships, has continued to spark controversy and varied responses from bishops around the world.
On Feb. 9, Bishop Liam S. Cary of Baker, Oregon, said he has asked the priests of
"The most serious sins are those that are disguised with a more 'angelic' appearance. No one is scandalized if I give a blessing to an entrepreneur who perhaps exploits people, which is a very serious sin. Whereas they are scandalized if I
Controversy sparked by a recent document from the Holy See on blessings for people in "irregular situations," including same-sex relationships, "gives all of us an opportunity to go deeper in our concern and outreach to individuals who are living in irregular/sinful relationships,"
Making a list of which sinners are welcome in the church and which sinners are not goes against the teaching of the Gospel, Pope Francis told an Italian newspaper.
The pope said more than one person had asked him why he approved the
After authorizing blessings for homosexual couples, the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, is facing backlash from multiple national churches and certain clerics across the globe.
The newest reaction came from the former bishop of
Responding to questions from priests and deacons ministering in the Diocese of Rome, Pope Francis said the possibility of blessing gay couples regards "people, not organizations" or their agendas.
The pope spent about three hours Jan. 13 with some 800 priests and deacons
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the debate surrounding the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's declaration on the possibility of blessing gay couples shows that deeper reflection is still needed.
At the same time, he said, the reaction is
Remember Humpty-Dumpty? He turns up in Lewis Carroll’s fantasy “Through the Looking Glass” and makes this famous assertion: “When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less." Thoughts of this come up