Pope Francis approves blessing same-sex couples in “major step forward”

The Catholic Church still maintains marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

Pope Francis
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

In a major development for Catholic LGBTQ+ couples, Pope Francis has approved the blessing of same-sex unions.

The new rule was included in a declaration issued Monday by the Vatican’s office of the Doctrine of the Faith and signed by Pope Francis. It allows priests to bless same-sex couples for the very first time.

The declaration does not amend “the traditional doctrine of the church about marriage,” according to Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the office of the Doctrine of the Faith, because there is no liturgical rite that could be confused with the marriage sacrament.

The Church still maintains that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

“It is precisely in this context that…

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