Headlines are supposed to get attention. That’s what these did:
- “Vatican approves blessings for same-sex couples in landmark ruling” (Reuters)
- “Pope Francis Allows Priests to Bless Same-Sex Couples” (The New York Times)
- “Vatican Issues Guidelines for Same-Sex Blessings” (The Wall Street Journal)
I’m not sure about “The ‘spirit’ of ‘Fiducia supllicans'” in The Pillar. Maybe it’s attention-grabbing for the publication’s demographic.
Anyway, what Pope Francis said — what he actually said, not what editors say he said — is not what I’m going to write about this week.
Important, Yes — Something I’ll do This Week, No
For one thing, I’ve talked about perceptions, popes, our current pope, and acting as if what I believe matters, before. Recently.
For another, Vatican News gives a pretty good overview about the current SHOCKING NEW UNPRECEDENTED DISRUPTIVE DECLARATION — or whatever the current adjustment of pastoral practice will be called.
I suspect we’ll get the usual fervently feverish screeds, denouncing what some reporter said the pope said.
And equally-imaginative ‘it’s about time’ declarations from daring defenders of creatively alternative lifestyles. Or whatever this month’s in-vogue term is. Followed in due course by laments that the Catholic Church doesn’t agree with everybody in the faculty lounge.
I recommend reading what Vatican News says about it And, if you’ve got time and patience, the almost-5,000-word English translation of Declaration ‘Fiducia supplicans‘ on the pastoral meaning of blessings. I lifted that link from this article:
“Doctrinal declaration opens possibility to bless couples in irregular situations“
“With the Declaration ‘Fiducia supplicans’ issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by Pope Francis, it will be possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualization or offering the impression of a marriage. The doctrine regarding marriage does not change, and the blessing does not signify approval of the union.”Vatican News (December 18, 2023)
“When two people request a blessing, even if their situation as a couple is ‘irregular,’ it will be possible for the ordained minister to consent. However, this gesture of pastoral closeness must avoid any elements that remotely resemble a marriage rite.
“This is what is stated the Declaration ‘Fiducia supplicans‘ on the pastoral meaning of blessings, published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by Pope Francis….”
If I see enough sound and fury in social media and my news feed, then maybe I’ll carefully read “Fiducia supplicans”, go over what the Church has been saying and — based on its two millennia track record — what I think it will continue saying.
I may read it anyway, since it’s a new Church document.
Besides, I occasionally talk about both why I see no point in complaining about the Catholic Church accepting imperfect people: and why I think some rules make sense.
Speaking of which, all those rules boil down to this: I should love God, love my neighbor, and see everybody as my neighbor. (Matthew 5:43–44, 22:36–40; Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31, 10:25–37; Catechism, 1789)
That’s everybody. Including that massive chunk of humanity who are not just like me. 😉
Allegedly-related posts, including a cursorily superficial look at why I’ve been out of step since my youth:
- “Free to Agree With Me: Cancel Culture and Freedom of Expression“
(November 18, 2023) - “Pope Francis, Politics and Being Catholic: Briefly“
(August 28, 2023) - “Pope Francis and an Open Catholic Church“
(August 12, 2023) - “Pope Francis and ‘The Virtue of Vigilance’“
(December 23, 2022) - “JWST: Names, Claims and Attitudes“
(December 3, 2022)
