Same Sex Couples Receive Blessing From Catholic Bishops

In an article published in the Catholic News Agency newsletter on April 23, 2025, Daniel Payne reports "The German Catholic bishops have published a handout that offers guidance to pastors on blessings for couples of 'irregular' situations. He specifically notes same sex relationships as part of this group and urges clergy to show appreciation for all individuals seeking recognition from catholic priests. This guidance, Payne states, cites a document that was published by the Vatican and approved by Pope Francis in 2023, Fiducia Supplicans.

In reading the Fiducia Supplicans, one must understand that the bishops are not legitimizing same sex relationships as marriage, but rather focusing on the theological-pastoral understanding of blessings. In the 21st paragraph of the document, the late Pope Francis explained that "when one asks for a blessing, one is expressing a petition for God's assistance, a plea to live better, and confidence in a Father who can help us live better". He goes on to say, "People who come spontaneously to ask for a blessing show by this request their sincere openness to transcendence, the confidence in their own hearts that they do not trust in their own strength alone, their need for God, and their desire to break out of the narrow confines of this world, enclosed in it's limitations".

Later on, the document speaks of such concepts of authoritarian elitism, grace and moral perfection. One will read the Pope's preaching to his clergy to shy away from judging and ecumenical snobbery (my interpretation) when approached for a blessing. Only God can truly bless, bless unconditionally, though humans also give blessings. Receiving God's blessing does not require that one has prior moral perfection. This type of blessing is descending in nature. However, there is another type of blessing, from the perspective of being ascending in nature. This occurs when one becomes aware of God's gifts, the grace bestowed upon us and the fact that no one is excluded from this type of blessing. All that is required is heartfelt and uplifting praise to God by the seeker and their gratitude to God.

It is in this sense that the bishops support giving blessings to same-sex couples that seek it, and believe that the blessings should be given with appreciation. Appreciation by the church that people are seeking God's blessings, for no one who seeks with a grateful heart is undeserving of God's unconditional love.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/263583/german-bishops-blessings-of-same-sex-couples-should-be-done-with-appreciation

https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20231218_fiducia-supplicans_en.html#

P.S. This blog article was written in memory of Pope Francis who died Monday April 22, 2025. He was dubbed the people's Pope by former President Biden, and I think the papal approval of the requests from the German bishops in 2023, and his agreement to teach his clergy to be more inclusive and less judgmental is one example of the legacy he left behind.

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