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On Monday, December 18, the Vatican released the document Fiducia Supplicans – On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings. The document, in part, addresses pastoral care of people currently living in a way contrary to the commands of Christ. Many (if not most) secular news media outlets ran confusing headlines which made it sound like the Pope had attempted to change church teaching on same-sex “marriage.” I can assure you that this is not the case. In fact, the document specifically states that marriage is the “exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children,” (FS 4). The document goes on to remind us that “although it is impossible for us to bless a same-sex union, since any sexual-union outside of the marriage of one man and one woman is contrary to the Gospel, we may bless individuals who are not yet living in full accord with the Gospel, even those in a same-sex union,” (statement of Bishop Andrew Cozzens). Fiducia Supplicans makes clear, however, that such blessings must not, in any way, resemble a liturgical act, or be conferred in such a way as to confuse the Church’s unchanging teaching in this matter.
If you would like to know more about this, I would encourage you to read this document, or this statement from Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota. I would also recommend this explainer from The Pillar, a Catholic news media site I trust. If you have more questions, I am always happy to talk.
Every Blessing,
Fr. Chris
