Pope Francis suggests gay couples could be blessed in the Vatican
Pope Francis has suggested same-sex unions could be blessed, in response to a challenge from five conservative cardinals to affirm the church’s stances on homosexuality.
On Monday (2 October), the Vatican published a new letter from Francis outlining that blessings could be given if they were not confused with sacramental marriage and that a same-sex union is not deemed as equivalent to a heterosexual marriage.
He further reiterated that matrimony is a union between a singular man and a woman. Priests are to have the autonomy to evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether a “situation” is “morally acceptable”.
Francis stated that priests could not become judges “who only deny, reject and exclude,” rather priests are encouraged to use “pastoral charity”.
