Vatican gives five-page defense on blessing same-sex couples

The Vatican’s doctrine office released a document on Thursday insisting that last month’s declaration allowing priests to bless same-sex couples is neither “heretical” nor “blasphemous.” Catholic leaders across the globe have spoken against the new policy, namely church leaders in Africa. Bishops in Zambia and Malawi said they would not be giving the blessings. The Vatican’s new document clarifies that the policy is “far from being a sacrament or a rite.”

How is the Holy See defending the policy? The Holy See insists a blessing is meant to bring people closer to God and is “not an endorsement of the life that they lead.” It once again notes the difference between “simple pastoral blessings” and Biblical marriage, which it emphasizes is still reserved for a man and a woman only. The Vatican did admit that it would be “imprudent” to bless same-sex couples in places where homosexuality is illegal or met with violence. It still encouraged priests to find “different methods of application” in these areas and not completely deny the new practice.

Dig deeper: Listen to John Stonestreet on The World and Everything In It podcast discussing whether the pope is still faithful to the Catholic religion.