Pope cautions against “rigid” ideology

Pope Francis addressed the Vatican’s bureaucracy, the Roman Curia, on Thursday, days after releasing a controversial declaration allowing Catholic priests to bless, but not marry, same-sex couples. Francis told leaders to “remain on the move” and “not to stop searching or deepening the truth.” He also instructed the leaders to be “vigilant against rigid ideological positions,” saying that rigid ideology will “separate us from reality” and stunt growth in the church. Monday’s declaration reversed a 2021 Vatican policy that barred blessing same-sex couples under the reasoning that God “cannot bless sin.”

How has the church responded to Francis changing the policy? Many conservative Catholics oppose the new policy. Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò called Vatican leaders “servants of Satan” and said they are actively harming church members, ignoring “the danger of eternal damnation that weighs on those poor souls.” University of Notre Dame theologian Ulrich Lehner said the declaration may lead to a schism in the Catholic church. Less conservative Catholics praised the policy.

Dig deeper: Read my report with Kim Henderson in WORLD Magazine on Pope Francis’ censuring of conservative clergy.