German bishops: blessings of same -sex couples should be done with appreciation

The German Catholic bishops have published a brochure that offers guidance to priests about blessings for couples in “irregular” situations, such as same -sex relationships, urging the clergy to use blessings to “express appreciation” by people who seek recognition of Catholic priests.

The brochure, Blessings for couples who love each otherwas distributed earlier this month by the Joint Conference of Members of the German Episcopal Conference (DBK) and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK).

The guide quotes Confidence in supplicatingthe Vatican document published in 2023 and approved by Pope Francis. The German document allows the “blessing” of homosexual couples and other extramarital agreements. Was Initially reported by CNA Deutschnews agency in German News.

“Married couples who do not belong to the Church, divorced couples and revolt, and couples of all the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities are, of course, part of our society,” wrote the bishops, pointing out that “enough of these couples want a blessing for their relationship.”

“This request is an expression of gratitude for its love and an expression of the desire to capture this love from faith,” says the document, calling the blessings “an act of the Church, which is put at the service of the divine-human encounter.”

“The Church takes seriously the couple’s desire to put their future in life under the blessing of God,” says the brochure. “See in the request for blessing the hope of a relationship with God who can support human life.”

“Art and the way to perform the blessing, the place, all the aesthetics, including music and song, aim to express the appreciation of people who have asked for the blessing, their union and their faith,” stipulates the guide.

When it was published in 2023, Confidence in supplicating It generated a generalized international reaction by Church leaders around the world, although some bishops praised the guide and promised to allow blessings in their bishopics.

The document said that Catholic priests could bless same -sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condemning their sexual relations. The statement emphasized that blessings could only be taught “spontaneously” and not in the context of a formal liturgical rite.

Bishops of Europe, Africa and other places claimed that they would not allow priests to officiate such blessings. Some bishops from the United States, meanwhile, said would implement the guidelines in their dioceses.

Pope Francis defended the criticism document several times, arguing that blessings do not require “moral perfection” before being granted.

“The intention of ‘pastoral and spontaneous blessings’ is to specifically show the proximity of the Lord and the Church to all those who, being in different situations, ask for help to continue – sometimes to begin – a path of faith,” he said last year.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.