Monday’s Vatican declaration “will long be remembered by LGBTQ people,” writes Father Martin, since it “opens the door, for the first time, for the official blessings of same-sex couples by ministers of the church.”
In his essay, Father Martin addresses and corrects the impression by some well-meaning Catholics that “nothing has changed.”
“But a great deal has in fact changed,” the priest notes. “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.”
While these blessings were already widespread in German-speaking countries, Martin notes, 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,” he concludes. READ MORE
