Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular church rituals or liturgies, the Vatican has said in a landmark ruling approved by pope Francis.
A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office said such blessings would not legitimise “irregular situations”, but would be a sign that God welcomes all.
It said priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and “should not prevent or prohibit the church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing”.
The pope hinted in October at an official change in response to questions by five conservative cardinals at the start of a synod of bishops at the Vatican.
While the response in October was more nuanced, Monday’s eight-page document, subtitled ‘On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings’, outlined specific situations.
An 11-page section was titled ‘Blessings of Couples in Irregular Situations and of Couples of the Same Sex’.
The Catholic church teaches that same-sex attraction is not sinful, but homosexual acts are.
Since his election in 2013, Francis has tried to make the 1,3 billion-member church more welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people without changing moral doctrine on same-sex activity.
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