Lynna Lai has more on the response by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland to Pope Francis' affirmation of blessing same-sex couples.
In a landmark document released Monday, Pope Francis formally affirmed the ability of Catholic clergy to bless certain people in what he called "irregular situations," particularly same-sex couples.
It's the latest, and perhaps most significant, move for a pontiff who has consistently attempted to reach out to LGBTQ+ individuals during his 10-year tenure. However, the declaration does come with a number of restrictions, as such blessings cannot take place during regular Church rituals or liturgies, "[n]or can it be performed with any clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding."
"God never turns away anyone who approaches him!" the document read. "Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God. The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy, and closeness to God in a thousand concrete circumstances of life, which is no small thing in the world in which we live. It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered."
The announcement has sparked a wide range of reactions across the world, including right here in Northeast Ohio, where the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland appeared to respond favorably to Francis' words. Still, the Diocese affirmed that today's action "in no way changes Church teaching, including that marriage is reserved to one man and one woman."
The diocese's full statement can be read below:
"The Holy Father, Pope Francis, approved a recent document issued by the Vatican that has made it clear that anyone who has the intention of seeking God's help in living holy lives may request a blessing from the Church. Such people, including those who are in marriages not recognized by the Church and those in same-sex relationships, can be spontaneously blessed by the Church's ministers when they ask for God's strength and help in responding to His will. When people ask for a blessing from the Church, the Holy Father rightfully calls us to see it as a sign that they wish to do God's will and that they, like all of us, need God's help to do it. As the document states explicitly, this in no way changes Church teaching, including that marriage is reserved to one man and one woman."
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