 Pope Francis has suggested there could be ways to bless same-sex unions. The pontiff, 86, has spent his time as leader of the Catholic Church slowly pushing the dial on once-taboo subjects for religious conservatives, such as atheism and immigration. But LGBTQ+ rights have long been on his agenda, with a letter published yesterday by the Vatican suggesting priests should not 'exclude' same-sex couples. The pope was pressed on whether blessing LGBTQ+ people could be done without altering the church's teaching on marriage in a 'dubia', a request for clarity lodged with the Vatican. In the response, dated September, the pontiff reaffirmed that 'the Church has a very clear understanding of marriage: an exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to procreation'. But he also advocated for 'pastoral clarity'. Pope Francis has gradually loosened up the Roman Catholic Church, to the annoyance of conservatives. Progressives, however, feel he's slow at best (Picture: Getty Image/AFP) 'The defence of objective truth is not the only expression of this charity; it also includes kindness, patience, understanding, tenderness and encouragement,' he said. 'Therefore, we cannot be judges who only deny, reject and exclude.' For Pope Francis, this means priests must 'adequately discern whether there are forms of benediction, requested by one or more persons, that do not transmit a mistaken conception of marriage'. 'Because when a benediction is requested, it is expressing a request for help from God, a plea to be able to live better, a trust in a father who can help us to live better.' New Ways Ministry, an LGBTQ Catholic outreach group, said Francis' response 'significantly advances' efforts to make LGBTQ+ Catholics more welcome in the church. Francis DeBernardo, the ministry's executive director, said in a statement posted to X: 'Though the V){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Pope Francis has suggested there could be ways to bless same-sex unions.
The pontiff, 86, has spent his time as leader of the Catholic Church slowly pushing the dial on once-taboo subjects for religious conservatives, such as atheism and immigration.
But LGBTQ+ rights have long been on his agenda, with a letter published yesterday by the Vatican suggesting priests should not ‘exclude’ same-sex couples.
The pope was pressed on whether blessing LGBTQ+ people could be done without altering the church’s teaching on marriage in a ‘dubia’, a request for clarity lodged with the Vatican.