Same-Sex Blessings Major Step for LGBTQ Catholics

Today the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, headed by Cardinal Víctor Fernández, issued a declaration that will long be remembered by L.G.B.T.Q. people. Entitled “Fiducia Supplicans” (from the first two words in Latin, meaning, “Supplicating trust”), the declaration opens the door, for the first time, for the official blessings of same-sex couples by ministers of the church, something that has long been desired by L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics and their families and friends. ...But a great deal has in fact changed. Before this document was issued, there was no permission for bishops, priests and deacons to bless couples in same-sex unions in any setting. This document establishes, with some limitations, that they can. Of course, some may say that there are many restrictions (as noted above), while others will note that in some places (most notable in the German church) these blessings were already widespread. (One German bishop told me during the synod that he himself blessed unions outside his cathedral.) The change here is that these blessings are now officially sanctioned by the Vatican. Today, with some limitations, I can perform a public blessing of a same-sex couple. Yesterday, I could not.